Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-08-05
NEWPORT NEWS. VA. FRIDAY. AUGI ST 5 1910.


charged by MIR. Gore being interest
cd" in the McMurray contract was
said by Mr.. Creager in his testimony
that at the time of his visit an oecn-
pant of the same suite OF rooms met
him and McMmrray AT the hoel.
Clerks Testify.
Clerks of Senator Gore testified to
having teen invited by McMurray
aud Hamon to frog Lex suppers at
Washington. at which the Indian con
tracts sWere To be talked over. These
invitations. II was declared. were all
turned down"
On one occasion. one Of the clerks
testified. Hamon said Senator Gore
was awfully hard on his friends.
Senator Gore, in his testimony assert
cd that the offer of bribery went so
lar that Hamon said the S25, 1000 or
$50 900 would not be paid over in the
form of a check or marked money
but that I'll would be all clean, hard
cash.
The committee that heard the
charges was appointed by resolution
Of the house of representatives to In
vestigate the McMurray contracts
which are declared to have been
made by McMurray individually with
ten thousand Indians. ecah OF whom
agreed 10 turn over ten per cent of
bis profits from the sale of land.
provided the contracts were approved
by congress.
The Committee.
The committee. headed by Con
gresham Charles II. Burke. OF South
Dakota. chairman. is composed Of
congressman Philip p. Campbell. IT
Kansas; Charles b. Miller. OF Min
Iesota: John H. Stephens. OF Texas.
and f. w. Saunders. of Virginia.
Its initial session was held today.
Congressman Creager's appearance
on the witness stand followed a series
ots sensational statements. Among
Senatos Cores assertions were the
following: That Hamon told him that
man higher up in the government
vas interested in the approval OF
the contracts and therefore there was
no reason why Senator Gore should
not be. and when asked who the
man was. Hamon replied Vice
President Sherman.
An account of that part OF Senator
Cores testimony referring to Vice
President Sherman follows;
His Reference to Sherman.
Mr. Burke-In your conversation
with Mr.. Hamon you stated he named
very high official that he said was
interested in these contracts. You
omitted his name.
Mr.. Gore-I say again that should
very much prefer not 10 name it.
am. however, subject TO the will OF
the committee.
Mr. Burke-The committee is here
10 get the facts and we must have
ali this conversation.
Mr. Gore-fie suggested that Vice
President Sherman was interested in
The contracts.
Thomas Wood. counsel for Mr.
Gore-In that connection you spoke
OF an article appearing in a Kansas
City newspaper that two gentlemen
had called on the President. | wish
you would say who was mentioned in
that article.
Mr. Gore-In the newspaper OF
April IA. Vice-President Sherman and
Senator Curtis were named as having
called to discuss the segregated coal
and asphalt lands. / think before
the senate met the next day the in
formation came to me-.
Senator Gore explained that he be-
lieved Vice-President Sherman was
favorable to contracts and a short
time later he introduced a resOlu-
ton in the senate that would require
further action of congress before the
contracts would be approved.
Gresger Textiles.
Asked IL he had ever met Hamon.
Congressman Creager replied:
Yes. I met him by appointment at
his rooms at the Occidental hotel in
Washington. He invited me there.
saying he wanted to talk over a little
matter.
AT that time efforts were being
made to have the Presidents approx
al Of the McMurray contracts. y
already had gone on record as being
opposed to their approval. Well.
when got to the >otel and was sit
ting in a room with Hamon. he be-
gan to urge me 10 work with my on
position He said might have an
interest in the contracts"
Congressman Miller-Were any fig
ures mentioned Did he say how much
interest you might have?
Mr.. Jresger--No. ! did not lei 81
20 as Jar as that ! made my Ian
guage pretty emphst's that ] was op-
POSED to the contracts and would not
be Influenced.
Congressman Stephens-lou mean
20 say that You regarded the offer
% such character as to arouse your
Indignation
Mr.. Creager Yes. That's II. ] re-
gerded IL as an offer to influence my
sstitude toward the contracts. u
yfas even surrestcn thai I call 90