The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-08-16
BIC MONEY IN
OKLAHOMA CRAFT
Big Row Started by the Blind
Senator from the State Of
Oklahoma.
THE FEES RUN INTO MILLIONS
Congressional Investigation of
Cores Charges Develops
Sensations.
THE FEES RUN INTO MILLIONS

SULPHUR, oklahoma, August r.
Testimony brought out today by the
congressional committee which is in.
vestigating the charges made by Gore,
the blind senator from Oklahoma, that
he was offered brides to act in the
senate in favor of the McNIurray land
contracts in Oklahoma, was to the
effect that fees amounting to four and
a half million dollars would have been
paid out by the parties favoring the
contracts had favorable legislation been
secured.
Cores charges we've as follows;
"'That j. L. McMurray Of McAles.
ter, Oklahoma, and his associates had
obtained 10000 individual contracts
with Chicbasaw and Choctaw Indians
for the sale of 100000 acres of coal and
asphalt lands, estimated to be worth
from SSO,0OO,OOO to $lGO 100000.
"That the profit to McMurray and
his associates was to be 10 per cent,
or a sum ranging from 100000 to
$4,000 900.
"'That New York syndicate already
was prepared to take over the land at
$50 900 600.
What happened in the private Office
of United States Senator Thomas P.
Gore at Washington at noon on May
last formed the basis of sensational
| charges involving the names Of Vice
President Sherman, Senator Charles
Curtis of Kansas, Congressman b. S.
Mcclure Of Oklahoma and Others in n
hearing before a special congressional
! Investigating committee in Oklahoma
August 4.
During conference held in that of
fee. Senator Gore testified, he had been
approached by Jake l.. Hamon, former
chairman of the Oklahoma territorial
republican committee and also former
chairman of the Oklahoma State repub-
lican committee, and said that he had
been offered n bribe of $4,000 or $780,
600 to remove certain legislation pend
ing in congress so that 100000 might
he paid to i. f. McMurray, an attorney
of McAlestor, Oklahoma, and his asso'
ciates.
The money was to represent Gator.
ney's fees" of 10 per cent. on 100000,
600 which was to he secured from a
New York syndicate for 100000 acres
Of coal and asphalt land now owned
by the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians
in this State.
Sherman Interested"
Vice President Sherman s name was
mentioned by IIamon. Senator Gore ties
tilted. ms being "intercsted in the
land deal to the extent Of favoring thC
approval by congress of whnt are
known ms the McMurray contracts will
the Indians.
What happened in another privat,
room in Washington whore, it was al
legged, IIamon made more overtures, >
was told by Congressman G. n. Creage
of the third Oklahoma district. Con
gresham Creager supplemented the ties
timony Of Senator Gore. He said tina
last juno 10 he had been invited b.
{ llamOn to meet him i'm a private room
, at the Occidental Hotel in Wash ngton
Having zone there. Croager testified
he was informed he could have "sub
startial interest," In the land deal If h,
= would Withdraw his opposition TO thu
. approval Of the McMurray contracts b,
, congress.
Asked the question: "Wcro any fg
urcs mentioned rs to how much yor
were to roccivo?v Creagcr replied
, Ono. ] did not let It 90 50 far as that
made it plain I was not open t.
bcing Influenced in that way. hat
, already gone on record as bcing firmly
opposed to the granting Of such m
enormous fee to attorneys
BTccuiro Cccunied Suite
Congr Mcclure Of Oklahoma
who was charged by Senator Gore will
being ''interestcd y in the McNIurra,
contracts. was said by Creaaer in hi.
testimony. TO have been. at the time o.
his visit. an occupant of the same suit,
Of rooms with Hamon and McNIurra,
p mt the hotel.
Creagor said Hamon had urged hin
not 70 testify before the committee.
Clerks Of Senator Gore testified &
Hamon TO "froa leg" suppers at Wash
lngton, at Whlc6 the indian ~, contraet'