New-York tribune., 1910-08-21
ee,,tor Curtis Also Exonerated
of improper Relation with
Indian Contracts.
STATEMENT BY COMMITTEE
Only Mention of Their Names
Made by Hamon, Says Okla
houa Senator. Who Re-
peated Conversation
Relucta ntly.

err arnointed hy the House Of Represen-
...,,,es n investigate Indian land affairs
ar ,1e eo-caIled NCNurray contracts
end vhich has also been investigating Il
Dc Core bribery charges. issued the fol-
,o.iue statement tonight ahsolving
ytce-President sherman and Senator
Curtis from improper acts;
The co--,,ittee has heard and carefully
considered all Of the testimony subnitteo
snc IS unanimous IN the opinion that
,lere Is and was no warrant foT any per
e., 70 use TIE rer7es of Vicepres;oe II
eb.-r,ar and Senator Charles S. Curtis
!, connection with snv improper reIa-
.;on with any InGian contract ~-na
This Is the opinion Of the committee
s.te- hearing scores Of witnesses who
,n,eared following the testimony of Sen
,tor T. p. Gore Senator Gore said he
bed been approached by Jake" l.
Harmon. and that HamCn. acting in the
interest of J Z McA1urray. had offered
him senator GcreD $4,000 or $4,000 as
h-ibe 10 promote ia Congress the con-
tracts bv which McAIurrsy was to re
feice 10 per cent attorneys fee on the
sale q S30 o00, ,00f worth Of Indian lands
The Senator testified Hamon had men
+ianed Senator Curtis and Vice President
Sherman as being interested" in the
deal Mr. sherman being named as the
man higher UP" Hamon. on the stand
denied he had ever said anything about
the contracts TO Gore.
The Committees report was signed by
Representa- tives charles H. Burke. South
DAKOTA: {. 3. Miller. Minnea polls; Z. ".
Saunders. Virginia; j. H Stevens. Texas.
and Phillip P Campbell. Kansas.
In giving its decision to-day. the com
rnittee announced that ii had received
from Senator Gore 4 statement relative
TO Vice-President Sherman and Senator
Curtis. and that the committee com
rnended" Senator Cores statement
Senator Cores Statement.
This statement from Senator Gore.
which vas read and inserted in the Off
Cial record Of the investigation follows:
To the Inves1igaJin Committee:
feel in duty and in honor bound to make
The following statement. 1t is also die
iated by considerations Of common jus
tics toward rhe parties concerned.
Neither the name of Vice President
shernlan nor Senator Curtis was men
tened by ne on the floor of the United
States Senate. That the name of either
Of these parties MAS alluded 10 by Mr..
hamon Was SteadfaStly withheld from
the public until this investigation began.
No public mention Of their names WAS
eTsr made either directly or indirectly.
bE me- until ] was required and obliged
= -
path and detailing the conversation
which occurred between Mr.. Hamon and
myself. 7 then made formal protest
against Introducing their names. but the
committee in the proper pursuit of its
duties required NE to make a full
answer without reservation.
Their names We're disclosed not with .
an view uf inculrating them nor with
any NieT o. suggesting guilt but merely !
ln order that the truth and the whole I
truth might be related with reference to /
TIE details OF the converse ton on the /
question The public must realize that /
tle name II any man could be used or /
nlsused in the same connection. either (
e an argument or otherwise. and no /
public Official can have immunity and I
Protection against such an injury and 1
Injustice
n my last remarks in the Senate l I
se1d tnat The integrity OF no man can /
interested or untrustworthv witness"
mat was NY conviction then. That is 1
nv conviction now. am sure that in /
ue court of public ol,inion no judgment /
verdict has been returned either |
eseIns1 the Vice President or Senator /
L9fuS on account Of the misuse of their |
helfeS IN The manner above referred TO. |
lne investigation II now practically |
t9hciuded- Mann witnesses have been |
O. Il r-r.7rr
@@h adduced and there i no testimony I
FAoiAs 10 establish any improper con-
rell7A en tho part Of either official with
ulr approval OF the so-calIed McMurray
tontr3ets
Asks Complete E1oneration
ME th4 public has had no reason TO /
e-apfct any such improper connection.
- would venture TO suggest and IL
. may he uardole d would request hat !
= committee ~ she earliest s,,;Icti-
-, ege moment make An authoritative |
1--S ana statement to tie effect that /
), ia-,of has leen presented tending
H. 4,iisa any improper conduct on
-. part ~ either Vice Pres ident Shcr- (
- or Senator Curtis respecting the
lt'l q his Investigation.
"halor Core. who has attended all IF /
committees sessions left SUtrfen to- |
1'E ''r Paxton M. 10 i'll a lecture en-
s'''en'- ReIr, sentative r. W. Saun- /
= oi Virginia. d member of the com |
.'''--- deI'artcd for his home
ne committee announced. however. /
'ne Investigation had not been con
'1ea' NcMurray VIII continue his |
iohy Oh Monday. Much of McMur-
testimony to-day related To Rich /
g Adams. an attorney Of Washing
Ail"r President Taft had permitted !
MADE public q letter in which he !
ttssed belief that the Indian en-
s,-iient should not be reopened and |
's tne Indians now Oh the rolls should
:. ''"ed 10 part 'cipate in the division !
. lands, McMurray had many of |
'hoiens send teiegrams to Adams |
iiaIng tie Presidents attitude and /
'aliy reeommending the McMur-
sE contracts.
a, t'4eSfafis afterWsrd were turned |
70 the Attorney General bv ex-Sen- /
y, Sorn l. Thurston. of Nebraska. Nc
gst counsel as being the "unso-
~. sentlH ent of the Indians The /
,,r- ss Said Mr. Thurston probably was |
-. 'keh when he said the teleSams
ie Unsolicited
be- uifay also stated il to be his be- |
s.. President Taft and the Attor- /
~. heral were not aware that Adams |