The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-05
VICE-PRESIDENT SAID TO
HAVE BEEN INTERESTED"


Continued from Page One,
good deal OF argument to convince him
that the amount OF fees asked for in the
contracts (S3. 600. 000) was just. In fact.
I think the president made 1t plain he
was opposed to the contracts
Hamon and Gore Friends
Senator Gore testified that he and Ha-
mon had been friends and had been In
terested together in business transactions
at Lawton, okla, In which money loans
were invested; Mr. Hamop Is an 2ore aS.9r
home town. Hamon Is 81 years old and
married. Aside from Republican chair
manships. he has been, city attorney OF
Lawton, and has practiced law in kan-
sas. Oklahoma and Texas
Explaining what led up TO his oppos-
ing the approval of the contracts with
the Indians. Senator Gore. in his testi-
mony, asserted that as far back as 1905
he wrote a letter to Senator La Toilette
calling attention TO the great wealth OF
the coal and asphalt lands owned by the
Indians. He said the United states geo
logical survey had estimated the mineral
deposits TO be worth Sl60.0OpoOo.
In 1905, he said. McMurray had OBJ
tanned contracts with the tribes of In
dians for the sale OF the lands on 10
per cent basis. In 1908 President Koose-
welt had registered his disapproval OF the
contracts. In the same year Mr.. McMur-
ray obtained contracts individually with
10000 Indians, there being at that time
no law against the execution OF contracts
with individual Indians, 1t was this con-
ditIon that aroused him to introduce Il
resolution In congress declaring that all
Indian contracts must be approved by
congress before they became valid.
Objected to High Fee.
'McMurray then came to my office, "
said the senator, Il told him / had no
objection to just attorneys fees, but l
thought 10 per cent on land valued By the
government at $l6O.OO0,O 900 certainly was
too high. Also l said 10 per cent on
,,,iN In
formed a New York syndicate was ready
TO pay the latter amount for the lands.
said l saw no reason why the Indians
should pay attorneys fees in this instance
at all. since the government by treaty
already had agreed TO dispose OF the land
and give the Indians the full profits
wrote letters 10 the president ard to
called an attempt TO plunder and rob
these Indians.
"A great many interests were at work
that former Senator Long was
acting in behalf of McMurray
was one day when ,r, i walked
began to protest against the contracts
and was told not to talk so loud. as MIR.
Long was present and he was Interested
in them.
"On last May my bill holding up the
Indian contracts was reported out OF the
committee favorably, the report being
submitted by Senator Hughes or Colo
RADIO. Inc very next DAY MCMurrdy came
to me and asked me to have Mr.. Hughes
not to press the measure. 7 told him
would press 1t, l have been pressing 1t
ever since.
McMurray's Side.
Mr. McMurray in an interview said:
II have never approached any one IN
this matter except upon Its merits.
took the contracts in good faith be-
lieye they are legitimate and the compen7
Iv,di in no A.
saw nations want their land sold
II do not know anything about the In
cident OF which Senator Gore and Con-
gresham Creager spoke. l have gone TO
them many times. but / went To them In
person and did not send an agent"
References to invitations 10 frog-leg
banQuets and to assertions by Hamon
that Senator Gore was going back on
his friends were made in the testimony
of D. f. Gore. private secretary and
brother to Senator Gore,
D. r Gore said that he was in his
brothers private office at noon on May
| 6 when Hamon appeared.
II stepped into an adjoining office and
left the senator and Hamon alone, except
that once in a while l went in and out.
When they, quilt talking. In about thirty
my room. Well he said, Dick, the sena-
| tor is getting awfully hard on his friends.
[ want TO make lot of money. Dick,
and / don't care how l make it,.
Brothers. Explanation.
| Il didn't know then what they had
| been talking about, but when Hamon left
the senator said he had been talking
about the McMurray contracts, and Ha-
mon had offered him $4,000. The senator
said Hamon offered to. Increase the
amount. That's all that was said TO me
about the matter at that time. Later
| McMurray came 10 me and said he was
sure that Senator Gore did not under
stand those contracts and wished he
knew of some way OF making him under
stand. He Invited me 10 the hotel TO
He also wanted to know il l would at
tend frog-leg banquet which he was
| arranging. / declined all OF these invita-
tions."
j. Leroy Thompson. stenographer to
! Senator Gore: testified he also was in and
out Of the senator's room when Hamon
was present He. too. was invited to the
''frog-leg" banquet. he said. but declined
Congressman Campbell; How long
We're the senator and Hamon at con-
ference together2"
Thompson: About thirty or forty min
utes- When Hamon came out l over
heard him say he wanted to make a lot
made it,
Did you hear anything that was said
at tho conference?"
mo. did not. Usually when Hamon
called l heard everything that was said
There never before had been an effort
70 conceal it. But this time II was diff
ferent,"
in what way was 1t different? Did
Hamon act differently"
Attempt at Secrecy.
Yes. he appeared not to want to say
ANYTHING when ! vas in the room. which