Arizona republican., 1910-08-06
NO INTEREST IN DOING 50
He Tells of Earlier Deal In eliminating Himself and the Good Blind Senator, Then Less Solicitous for Indian Welfare.

Muskogee, okla, Aug. 5.-With Senator Thomas P. Gore reasserting the charge that he had been offered a bribe of $25,OOO to S5O,O0O to influ- ence his action in congress, and with Jake L. Hammon, accused by the senator of having offered the bribe, denying that he had ever done any such thing, the investigation of the Oklahoma Indian lands contracts by a committee of the house of repre- sentatives today simmered down to a mass of denials.
 For four hours Hammon, former chairman of the Oklahoma republican state committee, entered d continuous series of denials as to his alleged re- lation with what is known as the McMprray contracts.
 Hammon answered Congressman Creager with d denial Replying to the congressman's charge that Ham, mon suggested that an 'interst' in the contracts might be available to the congressman if the latter helped remove opposition to congressional approval, Hammon testified: Tt was just this way: I was down here in Oklahoma attending to my business, when q friend told me that Creager said had approached him improper ly in regard to the McMurray con- tracts. So 1 hopped on the train and went to Washington. l got hold of Creager and said: Look here, you know | never said any such thing.
 linen Creager said: Now, Jake, f,Ix inn got-that you suggested that l might get an interest in the contracts
 T replied: You certainly are mis- taken Then Creager said: Well, if you say I should not, l won't go before that investigating committee at Muskogee and testify that you ap- preached me. '"
 Interrogating the witness, Congress- man Saunders, a member of the com mittee, said: Now, MT. Hammon, you have denied the testimony of all the witnesses who have preceded you. You have branded the assertions of the senator, his brother. his clerk and the congressman as absolutely false. It would appear from your denials that a conspiracy has been entered into. grossly misrepresenting you. How do you account for that?"
 That's beyond my power to con lecture" replied Hammon. "I never had one penny's worth of interest Tn the MeMurray contracts and never offered a bribe to anyone.
 Tt is barely possible that l did see MT. Gore on May 6. when he says the offer of the bribe was made saw him frequently. but this time believe he took me up into the library of the senate and closed the door. He wanted to talk over with me the coming campaign and see how could help him financially Although I am republican and he demo- crat. have been in the habit of helping him out"
 You and Senator Gore have been good friends?' asked Chairman Burke
 Yes, I have known him as a friend about nine years, and have had business dealings with him.
 Asked to explain some of the busl- ness dealings, Hammon said that sev- eral years ago. at Lawton, Oklahoma, when the government decided to sell at public auction some lands belong ing to the Indians, he, Senator Gore, and others entered into a combina- ton not to bid against each other, so that the property might be obtained cheap4y. All of them secured some land. he said.
 Chairman Burke: Don't you know that there is a federal statute against a combination to prevent competition in bidding?"
 Hammon: q did not know of that law then. but I have since thought of it It was just desire on our part to get the land as cheaply as possible. It was understood between us not to bid against each other"
 Congressman Miller: You knew the proceeds from that sale were to go to the Indians. Do you think that was honorable toward the Indians?'
 Hammon: We did not look at it that way. In fact, we don't do things out west just the same way you dc in the east
 In some of the business transac- tions with Senator Gore, Hammor testified. money loans were involved Just before congress adjourned said Hammon, "the senator came to me and said he had to pay $6,00O which he owed Senator owen. He had s1 GOO in cash and wanted me tc raise the other s5.0OO for him from g client of mine"
 More evidence from Senator Gore will probably be heard The senator announced that he intended to ac- company the committee to McAlester