The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-05
SENATOR T. p. GORE.


matter. At that time efforts were be-
Ing made to have the President APP
prove the McMurray contracts. 1 al
ready had gone on record as being
opposed to their approval. Well, when
got TO the hotel and was sitting in
room with Hamon, he began to urge
me to withdraw my opposition. He
suggested ! might have an interest in
the contracts"
Congressman Miller: Were any fig
ures mentioned? Did he say how much
interest you might have?"
Mr.. Creager: NO. did not let it go
as far as that made my language
pretty emphatic that i was opposed
to the contracts and would not be in
huenced
Congressman Stephens: You mean
to say that you regarded the offer of
such character as to arouse your in
dignation?"
WIS Indignant.
Mr.. Creager: Eyes. that's it. 1 re-
garded 1t as an offer to influence my
attitude toward the contracts. 1t was
even suggested that 1 call together all
the officials I could and defeat the
measure, opposing the approval of the
bills.
Congressman Miller: What kind or
rooms did Mr.. Hamon and Mr.. McMur
ray have at the hotel?"
Mr. Creager: ooh. three or four from.
rooms. Representative Mcguire, of
Oklahoma, occupied part OF the Hamcr
and McMurray suite. / met Hamon q,
different times. When he heard tina,
was coming to testify before this
committee he urged me not to. He
lay hot txa
no statement before this committee"
| Recalled to the stand, Senator Gore
| was asked to mention the name of the
employe of the Department of Justice
who had told him that another employe
AN official in that department-was
interested in the contracts.
THAT l could not do" replied Sena-
tor Gore. THE, matter was impaired to
me in confidence. and regret that 1t
was mentioned here at ALL"
Now, Senator" interposed Congress-
man Campbell, don't you think 1t un-
fair to go as far before this commit
tee and yet not tell all you know? You
know we are here to learn the truth.
and we would like to have all of it
made known
NO, l would rather not. 1t is we'll
known that heretofore employees OF that
department have lost their positions
for giving information. and l would
rather that this feature of the inves-
tigation be dropped"
Had Long Been Friends.
Senator Gore testified that he and
Hamon long had been friends and had
been interested in business transact
tons at law in Oklahoma in which
money loans were involved. Mr.. Ha-
mon is an attorney Of Lawton, which is
Senator Cores home town. Hamon is
thirty-seven years old and married.
Why He Opposed 1t.
Explaining what led up to his OPP
posing the approval of the contracts
with the Indians. Senator Gore. in his
testimony. asserted that as far back as
1905 he wrote q letter to Senator La
Toilette calling attention to the great
wealth of the coal and asphalt lands
owned by the Indians. He caid the
United States Geological Survey had
estimated the mineral deposits to be
worth Sl60,o00,000 In 1905. he said.
McMurray had obtained contracts with
the tribes of Indians for the sale of
the lands on 10 per cent. basis. In
1908 President Roosevelt had regis
tered his disapproval of the contracts.
In the same year McMurray obtained
contracts individually with 10000 In
dams, there being at that time no law
against the execution of contracts with
individual Indians. 1t was this condi-
tlon that aroused him to Introduce a
resolution in Congress declaring that
all Indian contracts must be approved
by congress before they became valid.
''McMurray then came to my Office"
said the Senator. II told him had no
objection to just attorneys fees, but
that / thought 10 per cent. on land VAL
ued by the government at s16O,0O0,000
certainly was too high. Also l said 10
per cent on s30.000.o0O was too high,
as was informed that q New York
syndicate was ready to pay the latter
amount for the lands said / saw no
reason why the Indians SHOULD pay at
torney's fees in this instance at ALL
since the government. by treaty, al
ready had disposed OF the land and
given the Indians the full profit.
wrote letters to the President and to
various other officials describing what
called an attempt to plumber and rob
those Indians.
"a great many interests We're at
work in promoting contracts. The first
/ knew that former Senator Long was
acting in behalf Of McMurray was one
day when walked into the office of
Secretary of the Interior Ballinger. i
began to protest against the contracts
and was told not to talk SO loud. as
MT. t14OH6t Wuo PtSoSAl, dIu ne was IN
terested In them.
ION last May 5 my bill holding up
the Indian contracts was reported out
of tho committee favorably. the report
being submitted by Senator Hughes.
of Colorado. TheEvery next day Nc
Murray came to me and asked me to
have Mr., Hughes not to press the
measure, / told him would press 1t.
i have been pressing itsever since"
Mr.. McMurray said: II have never
approached any one in this matter ex-
capt upon Its merits, ~ took thu con-
no 1T i. In rood En- 4