Arizona republican., 1910-08-05

Muskogee, Okla, Aug. 4.-Whai happened in the private office of Sen ator Gore at Washington at noon. on May 6, formed the basis of sensational charges involving the names of Vice President Sherman, Senator Curtis of Kansas, Congressman Mcclure of Ok lahoma and others, in the hearing be- fore the special congressional investi- gating committee today
 During a conference held in his of flee, Senator Gore testified that he had been approached by Jake liar mon, former chairman of the Okla homa territorial republican committee, who said he had been offered a bribe of $25,00O to $5O,OO0 to remove his objections to certain legislation pend ing in congress so that $30.000, 900 might be paid to J. F. McMurray, an attorney of McAlester, Oklahoma. and his associates.
 The money was represented as at to1ney's fees" of 10 per cent of $30,- GOO. .OO0 which was to be secured from d New York syndicate for 450,000 acres of coal and asphalt land, now owned by the Choctaws and Chicka saws of this state. MT Sherman's name was mentioned by Hamon. Sena- tor Gore testified. as being interest ed' in the land deal to the extent of favoring the approval by congress of what was known as the McMurray contracts with the Indians.
 What happened in another private room in Washington also, where it was alleged Hamon made more over tures," was told by Congressman Creager of the Third Oklahoma dis trict
 CREAGER HAD AN OFFER.
 Creager supplemented the testimony of Mr Gore. He said that on June It he had been invited by Hamon to meet him in a private room of the Occidental hotel at Washington. Hav- ing gone there, CreaSer testified that he was informed he could have sub stantial interest" in a land deal if he would withdraw his opposition to the AcMurray contracts. He was asked the question, Were any figures men tioned as to how much you would re- ceiVeY' Creager replied: T did not let it go as far as that. It made it plain that l was not open to being influenced that way. l had already gone on record as firmly opposed to the granting of such an enormous fee 10 the attorneys"
 Congressman Mcclure of Oklahoma, who was charged by Senator Gore as being interested" in the McMurray contracts, was said by Creager in his testimony to have been at the time of his visit an occupant of a suite of rooms with Hamon and McMurray at the hotel
 MT. Gore testified to having been invited by McMurray and Hamon to ''fHogleg" suppers at Washington at which the Indian contracts were talked over. These invitations, it was de clared, were turned down" One time, one of the clerks testified" Hamon said that Gore was awfuily hard on his friends
 IN CLEAN HARD CASH"
 MT. Gore, in his testimony, asserted that the offer of bribery went so far that Hamon said the $25,00h or S50,000 would not be paid over in the form of check or marked money. but would be all clean hard cash"
 The committee that heard the charges was appointed by resolution of the house of representatives to investigate the McMurray contracts, | which it was declared had been made | by McMurray with 10000 Indians, each | of whom had agreed in turn to turn | over 10 per cent of the proceeds of the | sale of the land, provided the con- | tracts were approved by congress.
 CURTIS WOULD BE HEARD.
 Senator Curtis today sent a telegram | Co the committee denying that he was | in any way interested in the contracts | and offering to appear before the com | mitte. Chairman Burke said that Sen | ator Curtis would be subpoenaed to l testify.
 An account of that part of Senator | Cores testimony referring to Vice | President sherman was as follows:
 Chairman Burke-In your converse ton with Hamon, you stated that he | named a very high official that he said | was interested in these contracts. You | omitted his name
 Senator Gore-I say again that I | should very much prefer not to name him. am, however, subject to the will | of the committee.
 MT. Burke-The committee is here | to get the facts and We must have all | this conversation.
 MT. GOre-He suggested that Vice | President Sherman Was interested in the contracts
 Thomas H ogen tcounsel for MT Gore)-In that connection you spoke J