Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-08-11

ment last night concerning the
charges made by Senator Gore
at Muskogee.
"The story that comes to me
about the charges made by Sem
ator Gore at Muskogee is abb
solutely without the slightest
shadow of foundation"
Muskogee, Okla-What happened
in the private Office of United States
Senator Thomas P. Gore at Wash
ington at noon last May 6, formed the
basis of sensational charges involving
the names of WicePresident Sher-
man, Senator Curtiss of Kansas, Con-
gresham B. S. Mcclure, of Oklahoma,
and others, in hearing before spe-
cial congressional investigating COM
mittee here.
In the 80 or 40 minutes of a confer
ence held in that Office, Senator Gore
testified he had been approached by
Jake l.. Hamon, former chairman Of
the Oklahoma territorial Republican
committee and former chairman of
the Oklahoma state Republican com
mittee, and had been offered a bride
of $4,000 or $4,000, to remove GER
tain legislation pending in congress
SO that 100000 might be paid j.
F. McMurray, an attorney at McAles-
ter, Okla, and his associates. The
money was to represent attorneys
fees" of ten per cent of $30,000,000 to
be secured from a New York syndi-
cate for 100000 acres of coal and as,
phalt lands now owned by the Choc-
taw and Chickasaw Indians in this
state.
Vice-President Sherman's name was
mentioned by Mr.. Hamon, Senator
Gore testified as being interested in
the land deal to the extent of favor,
ing the approval by congress- of what
are known as the McMurray contracts
with the Indians.
Creaaer Offered "lnterest"
What happened in another private
room in Washington and also where,
it was alleged, Harmon made more
"overtures" relative to the land deal,
was told by Congressman G. e. C-ea-
ger of the Third Oklahoma district.
Congressman Creager supplemented
the testimony of Senator Gore. He
said on June 16 last he had been in
vited by Hamon to meet him in
in Washington.
Having gone there, Mr.. Creager tes-
tilted, he was informed he could have
a substantial interest" in the land
deal, If he would withdraw his oppo-
sition to the approval Of the McMur-
ray contracts by congress.
Hard Cash offered.
Senator Gore, in his testimony, as
serted that the offer of bribery went
so far that Hamon said the $4,000 or
| $4,000 would not be paid over in the
form of a check or marked money
| but that 1T would be all clean, hard
cash."
| Congressman Creager's appearance
on the witness stand followed a Sc
ries of sensational statements. Among
| Senator Cores assertions were the fol-
lowing;
| 0uSItudI1 INdTC NOTHeS IN.
That Hamon told him man high
er up" in the government was inter-
ested in the approval of the contracts
and, therefore, there was no reason
! why Senator Gore should not be; that
when asked who was the man high
er up Hamon had replied Vice-Pres.
ident Sherman
That Hamon told him Senator Cur.
tbs of Kansas was interested" In the
deal.
That Hamon told him Congressman
MCGUIRE of Oklahoma also was Gin
terested.'
That former Senator Long of Kan
sas, acting as counsel for McMurray
had gone to President Taft on April
| 2S, to urge the approval of the con.
tracts, but that the president has said
st would take good deal of argu.
ment to convince him that the amount
asked by McMurray was justified.
A Senator Curtis sent telegram to
4 the committee denying he was in any
way interested in the contracts and
!. Offering to appear before the commit
4 tee. Chairman Burke said Senate,
Curtis would be subpoenaed.
Explaining what led up to his op
posing the approval of the contracts
with the Indians, Senator Gore III his
testimony asserted that as far bach
= as ;19ass he wrote letter to Senate,
. BY. Strikers Return to Work,
Montreal. Can About so per cen,
of the 5000 Grand Trunk conductors
trainmen and yardmen who struck 81
Il July Is are reinstated. The develop
J, ments tended to show a liberal polio,