The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-08-07
Son Of the Head Of the Choctaws Says Thai
McMurray Tried to Buy Him
OFFERED HIM TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
Testimony Third Day Of Congressional Investigation Of
Gore Charges Is as Sensational as That Of the
Frst---Curtis On Stand Denies
Senator's Allegations

cent attorneys fees asked FOR was cx-
ccssivc. The opinion was unanimous
at the presidents conference, he said.
that In the sale Of the land no attor-
ney's assistance was needed. as the
government by treaty already had
stipulated to sell tho land on It's own
responsibility.
Chief Testifies.
| Something of Il spirit of Indian war
council was presented when Chief
\ McCurtuin, known Us the governor"
! squatted himself In "A chair before the
/ committee. and, brushing the flies off
| his head with large handkerchief.
] gave his testimony.
IA long time ago." lie said. many
Of the Choctaws protested against the
big fees that would be allowed under
! the McMurray contracts. I. myself,
| sent protest to the secretary of the
interior. Just before the adjournment
of the last congress George W. Scott
! came to my house and asked me to
sign a letter. refused to do so.
Then lie came again and told me he
wanted me to write a letter to the sec
retary OF the Interior, withdrawing my
protest against the McMurray con-
| tracts.
when ! said that | would not do
| that. he said he was authorized to
agree to give me one-fourth of the
profits IL j did. Yes he said. we are
going to get 10 per cent fec out Of II
and you will get one-fourth of ths
tenth. Now you sign the letter and 1t
| will be a great bargain absolutely
refused to do IT, and he went away"
Needed Money.
"a good many of your tribe did sign
4 the contract with McMurray. didn't
they" asked Congressman c. b. Mil
1 Ter.
Yes, they did that because they
We're losing all faith in the govern
ment They have lost all faith In the
| government officials and In their tribal
officials. too. 1t Is because they have
been given so many promises and the
promises have not been kept. The gov
ernment promised 1t would sell the
/ land and distribute the profits In 1906
II hasn't done so yet. The Indians are
becoming dlsheartened over the gov
ernment's promises. and that's why
they signed the contracts. They
thought 1t would be better to get some
Of the money than none at all
Are they In a hurry to get money? -
Yes, they certainly are They need
II. They are poor. for they have been
living on promises for. so long,
why do you Indians have SO many
lawyers"
because we want to get the money"
Can you estimate how much your
tribe has paid out IN attorneys fees in
the last 10 years"
Our tribe In that time has paid out
about 100000"
Among the Developments of today
were:
Curtis Tcstifies.
Senator Curtis told of having been
summoned TO the White House to dis
cuss with President TAFT and Vice
President Sherman the merits of the
McMurray contracts. President Taft
had expressed the belief that the 10
per cent fee was too high, and his
visitor agreed with him. This. the SEN
ator thought. sufficiently rcfuted the
imputation that he was "interestcd''
In the land deal. The senator knew
McMurray for years. and he had never
known of his attempts to Influence
legislation"
Senator Curtis also testified that he
also knew of no anmosity existing be-
tween himself and Senator Gore except
that Mr.. Gore had remarked that Cur
tbs was meddling too much in okla
homa affairs by fair means and by
foul.
Hamon Attacked.
Congressman c. n. creager of Okla.
homa attacked the testimony prevI-
ousy given by Hamon. whom he ac-
cused Of having suggested that hi
might obtain an "lnterest'' In the con.
tracts. This Hamon denied. Hamon
had asserted that before the conference
at washington, creager had called
him up on the telephone and made thu
appointment. Creager, In long cir
cumstantial narrative OF riding OF
\ street cars. meeting at restaurant
and going to the Occidental hotel. EN-
phatlcally declared that Hamon hat
called him up and that the meeting
was at Hamon's solicitation.
Congressman Mcguire denied that h.
was ever Interested" In the contract.
, or had sought their approval by con
, gress. He said he kned McMurra,
ands Hamon. Hamon hal sometimes
stopped at his suite of rooms at hi
gress. He said he knew McMurra.
asked him II he had opposed the con
tracts, and on his answering that Ii,
, had not, he agreed with McMurray I,
tell President Taft that the entir,