Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1910-08-18
CECIL LYON MADE
TO REVEAL SHARE
IN BIG FEE CRAFT
His Friendship With Roosevelt
Vainly Thought TO Be Worth
a Money Considera-
ton.

[ L
tivity at Washington for the approval
Of she old tribal McMurray contracts
! for the sale Of Indian lands was des-
| erihed by Mr. Lyon in the hearing
| before the congressional Investigating
| committee today. These contracts were
| disappToved by President Roosevelt in
! 1903. The contracts, which are the
cause Of the present investigation. Mr..
/ Lyon said he had no interest IN.
| Asked IL he thought he was asked TO
| join In the old contracts because OF
/ his political influence and acquaintance
/ with President Roosevelt. Mr.. Lyon
said:
IT was entirely possible"
| In 1905 Mr.. Lyon said he Joined with
H. r., McMurray's law firm IN the con-
tracts by which 10 per cent attor-
neys' fee was to be obtained for the
| sale Of the land Mr.. Lyon went to
Washington. and In company with
| Francis Leupp. commissioner Of Indian
affairs, discussed the subject with
President Roosevelt. There was some
discussion concerning making the In
dams stockholders in the land. but this
plan was not gone into
was 1t possible that your conuec-
ton with the president and your pO-
litical influence induced McMurray to
get you to Join him." asked Chair
man Burke.
1T is possible. but fiatter myself
that 1t was partly my business abil-
ity."
But Il was known that you we're a
welcome visitor at the White House?'
Yes. believe so"
1T was known then. that you were
good friend of the president and that
you called on him often? That was
publicly known, wasn't it?'
Yes, ! suppose SO"
do you think this prompted McMur-
ray to ssk you to join him, that is, be-
cause of your political influence and
your friendship with the PRESIDENT"
"As I said, II may have been partly
this, but I fatter myself Ii was be
cause of my business experience"
Told Garfield Of II.
Mr. Lyon continued: II told Secre-
tary Garfield that my employment in
the matter was to be open and above
board, and IL there was anything not
exactly proper with the contracts /
would have nothing to do with them"
Mr. Lyon testified he made efforts to
have investigated certain indictments
against the McMurray law firm The
indictments had been returned In con-
nection with the Indian affairs. 1t was
represented to Mr.. Lyon. he said. that
the indictments were unjust.
mended to the president that the In
dictment be dismissed The indictments
subsequently were dismissed.
What was your idea in bringing the
matter to the attention of the authori-
ties at Washington"
well, we had a president then, as
we have now, who believes I'm a square
deal, and IL these indictments were
not fair they should have been inves-
tlgated."
Hired Out AFterward.
ibid YOU enter into the Indian land
contract deal with McMurray prior to
or after the indictments were dis
miased2"
II think afterward. I took up the
McMurray contracts purely as bust
ness deal After they were dlsapproved
had nothing further to do with them
there. had absolutely nothing to do
with the present contracts McMurray
has.
"on the floor OF the House, during
the last session, Representative Muir
ply, OF Missouri, unjustly attacked me
by saving that McMurray, in lobbying
for the present contracts, was ably as
Sisted by myself. That statement by
Mr.. Murphy was made either in ignor-
ance or desire to misrepresent. / have
done nothing with the contracts now
under investigation"
McAllester, okla. Aug. Is.--rt was
brought out in the congressional in
Vestigatlon OF the Gore bribery charges
today that baby Indians, as well as
adult ones. had signed" the McMurray
contracts providing for the sale OF ss0.-
00o.0O0 worth of land on 10 per ccEe
attorney fee" basis,
The names of the little 'papooses''
were signed by the parepts or guar
dams, witnesses testified. 1t was Incl
aentaily developed that race suicide Is
far from threatening among the In
dams, as families OF six TO nine chill
tlren are common.
Nine in One Family Sign.
J. M. Perkins, a Choctaw, testified he
had nine children, all OF whom had
.'signed" the contract.
We were led to believe that the con-
tracts were a good thing" said Per-
kins. We considered that McMurray
knew better than our congressman and
senators how to go about selling the
land. We believed that by signing the
contracts we would realize quicker on
our claims against the government.
That's why and the children signed
up"
IN. J. III. Miller, d choctaw BY Inter
marriage. testified that ne and his
eight children had signed the con-
tracts
The present great wealth OF the
Oklshorna Indians was brought out in
testimony. Although the Ch0ctaw and
ChscRasaw tribes OF Indians are sarht-
ing for their individual shares OF the
land now held for them by the govern
ment they are at present accounted
among the richest people tn the world.
Indian witnesses took the stand ana
told OF measuring their lana hy Ire
thousand acres. Another testified that
hts Family owned 1y2D0 acres Of which
1000 acres were under cultivation.
with cotton. corn and potatoes. Tne
land fs rented out, he said. giving hin
sane- quarter OF the cotton e.ron ana
one third the corn, without labor "a
him.
Before Carter lett the stand McAEur-
rays attorneys gained from him Nests-
1noEly tending 1o show that McGnire
IN Tndian matters, had supported meas
!, ures In congress opposed rs the frtarasa
ct McMurFay
~ !