The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-08-06
.eetly or indIreetIy in the indian oon.


tracts
For four hours Friday Jake Hamon,
former chairman Of the Oklahoma re-
publican state committee, entered a
continuous series Of denials reiativs to
I his alleged relation with what are
known as the MeMurray contracts by
which. according 10 Senator Gore, So
OOO.000s or the ten per cent Of $780,
100000 would be realized from sale d
Indian lands to a New York syndicate.
was to be diverted from the Indians
ia the shape oil attorneys fees
Hamon also answered Congressman
G. p. Creager with deniel. Reply
ing to the congressman's charge that
Hamon had suggested that an "iuter-
est in the contracts might be avail
able to the. Congressman if the latter
helped to remove the opposition to a
congressional approval Hamon testi-
fed:
1T was just this way: vas down
here in oklahoma attending to my
business, when a friend told me that
Creager had said that had approach
ed him improperly in regard to the
McAIurray contracts. So l hoped On
train and went to Washington |
got hold of Creager and said, look
here, you know never said anything.
Then Creager. said, Now, Jake, that
certainly was the impression got that
you suggested might get an interest
in the contracts replied, You are
certainly mistaken, and then Creager
said, Well If you say ] should not, I
won't go before that investigating
committee down at Muskogee and tss-
tify that you approached me-"
lannon's denials were the follow
ing:
He denied that he ever at any time
had been eloseted with Gore in the
senator's private Office at Washing
ton to urge the approval Of the con
tracts.
He denied that he ever mentioned
Vice President Sherman, Senator
Charles Curtis. of Kansas, or Con-
gressman Mcguire, as being inter.
ested" in the contracts as charged by
Gore.
He denied that he ever spoke Of q
bribe to anybody about any legisla-
ton or that he was ever interested in
the McMurray contracts.
He denied that at the time the con!
tracts were being discussed that be
called Up Congressman Creager On
the telephone at Washington, asking
for an appointment, but he said Crea-
ger. called him up.
Creager previously testified that
Hamon had asked for an appointment
at which his interest in the con-
tracts was spoken of.
He denied that he had ever said,
"Dick, the senator is becoming mighty
hard on his friends in the presence
of D. F. Gore. brother of Senator
Gore.
D. F. Gore had testified that Ha-
mon had made the remark just af-
ter the senator refused the alleged
bribe.
He denied that he had ever said,
Il want to make lot Of money and
/ don't care much nor how make it. :
in the presence Of J. Leroy Thomp-
son, Cores stenographer.
Thompson had previously testified
THAT Hamon made the remark.
Interrogsting the witness, Congress-
man e. W Saunders, member Of
the committee. said:
Now Hamon, you have denied the
Testimony of all the witnesses who
preceded YOU You branded the as
|sertions of the senator, his brother,
his clerk and the congressman as be-
ing absolutely false. It would appear
from your denials that conspiracy
has been entered into to grossly mis-
you How do you account
for that?"
That's beyond my power of conjec-
'ture, replied Hamon. Il never had
one penny's worth Of interest in the
McMurray contracts and never offered
a bribe to anyone.
1T is barely possible that ibid see
Gore in May when he says the offer
OF bribe was made. ! saw him fre-
quently, but at this time believe he
took me up into the library Of con-
gress ald closed the doors He want
ed to talk Gyer with me his coming
campaign and see how / could help
him out financially. Although ! am