Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-09
PROSECUTION TO RECLAIM
OKLAHOMA INDIAN LANDS
To Be Instituted by Government, in Face
OF Which Senator Cores Charges Look
Silly===Creager Indignantly De-
MES HamOn' Latest Attack.
AN INDIGNANT DENIAL.

AN INDIGNANT DENIAL.
MuskOgee, Okla, Aug Sin reply to
the charges made by Jake L. Hamon
at McAlster today that Congressman
c. E. Creager rad attempted under the
guise of loans to obtain money from
j. F. McMurray, Mr. Creager tonight
gave OUT a statement in, which he said:
Before leaving Muskogee in Novem-
Der tried to trade certain property for
so acres of farm land, worth $4,000,
agreeing to pay the difference, which
amounted to $4,000. I found that could
not meet the requirements Of the tran
sactons; so / made application to the
state for a loan from the school fund.
In December, after my arrival at
Washington. 1 received letter from
Guthrie denying the request.
Mr.. McMurray happened to be in
my Office at this time and l explained
the situation to him and asked If he
knew where Tcculd get the money. He
replied that if he had the money on
hand he would be gald to make the
| loan himself.
"A few days later McMurray told me
| that he had the necessary money and
could make the loan. but questioned the
propriety Of our entering into a deal of
this kind. This was the first time that
| the matter was brought to my atten-
ton in that light, and it was dropped
| then and there. Mr. McMurray never
loaned me the money"
| Mcalister, Okla, Aug S.-A charge
that Congressman c. E.. Creager of the
| Sd Oklahoma District had solicited
sums of money" from J. Y. McMur-
ray. holder of the Indian land con-
tracts that are being subjected to a
| Congressional investigation. was made
] Monday by Jake L. Hamon before the
special committee appointed by the
HCdse of Representatives. The charge
developed in connection with the in
quiry into Senator T. p. Cores declara-
ton that he had been offered q $25, 900
or $4,000 bride to help put through"
Congress the McMurray deal by which
he asserted McMurray and his asso-
ciates would be able to obtain $3,000,-
600, or 10 per cent. as attorneys fees
in the sale of 100000 acres of coal, as
phalt and timber land now belonging
| to the Indians in this state. Senator
Gore said Hamon had offered the bride
in McMurray's behalf and Congress
man Creager also had testified that
| Hamon had suggested that he (Creag-
err might get an interest in the con-
tracts if he helped to remove all op-
position to their approval by Congress
and President Taft.
Hamon, appearing before the COM
mittee today. made the counter charge
against Creager. He said the con-
gresham had solicited money from
McMurray during the tendency in
Congress of a bill which had been
drawn up by McMurray and which
Creager introduced. This bill provided
for the sale of the surface lands to
private individuals and for the sale
of the mineral wealth to the govern
ment. Although the McMurray con-
tracts We're not referred to in the
bill. Hamon said, it was so termed that
McMurray might have been enabled to
put in a claim for the attorneys fees.
The measure. however. was not
passed.
81 want Mr.. Creager recalled to the
stand to answer these charges" said
Hamon. II want him to explain why.
Just after he introduced that bill he
went to McMurray and under the guise
large sums of money. l think it will
thrown considerable light on the In
dian Land situation at Washington if
Creager is recalled and asked about
the repeated demands Of money from
McMurray.
On being informed by Congressman
Charles H. Burke, chairman OF the
committee. that it was doubtful if
la Ia
asked to be allowed to introduce wit
nesses as to his charges. His request
was taken under advisement.
1t was Indian" day at the hearing.
Many Indians testified that they had
signed the McMurray contracts. allow
ing 10 per cent. attorneys fees. be-
cause they had been impatient with the
government. AS government wards
lthey said they had concluded they had
to employ attorneys to fight the gov
eminent in order to obtain what money
had been promised
1t was pointed out that s. per cent.
IF the Choctaws and Chickasaws had
| signed the 10 per cent. agreement.
That McMurray's agents had gone
among the Indians and asked them to
sign the contracts and to send tele-
grams to President Taft urging him
to approve the sale of tile land on
10 per cent attorneys fee was the
burden of most of the Indian testi-
mony.
1--WE have become used to the 10
per cent. idea," declared Parke Ander-
son. a Chocktaw Indian. Most of the
Indians in this state have to pay 10
per cent On all debts and borrowed
money. We have become so dependent
upon attorneys that they have hand
in almost everything we do"
do you mean to say that to sell your
land you are willing to give McMurray
$1,000 900. or enough to hire all the law
yers in Oklahoma" asked Congressman
c. B. Miller.
Yes. we have waited so long for the
government to act that we would give 25
q, per cent. il that would cause quick
sale. We need the money to develop the
land on which we live
| 1t was estimated by c.. c. Choate, an
other Choctaw. that his land was sold
through the McMurray contracts his
Isbo Al.