The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-08-06
HAMON names GORE
FOR ANANIAS CLUB
Sweeping Denials of Bribery
Charges Made Before the
House Committee

MUSkOGEE, Okla, Aug. with
Senator Thomas P. Gore reasserting his
charge that he had been offered bribe
of $4,000 or $4,000 to influence his ac-
ton in congress and with Jake L. Ha-
mon, accused by the senator of having
offered the bride, denying he had ever
done any such thing. the investigation
of the Oklahoma Indian lands by a
committee of the house of representa-
tives today simmered down to mass
of deniaIs.
For four hours Hamon, former chair
man of the Oklahoma republican state
committee, entered a continuous series
Of denials as to his alleged relation
with what are Known as the McMurray
contracts, by. which. according to Sena-
tor Gore, $3,00O,0 900 or 10 per cent of
S30,00o,000 to be realized from the sale
of Indian lands to a New York syndi-
cate. was to be diverted from the In
dians in the shape of attorneys fees"
LANNON'S TESTIMONY
Hamon testified:
s II was down here in Oklahoma at
tending to my business when friend
told me Creager said 1 had approached
him improperly in regard to the Me-
Murray contracts So 1 hoped on a
train and went to Washington l got
hold of Creager and said: Look here,
you know l never said any such thing
Then Creager sal ID: Now, Jake. that
certainly was the Impression / got
that you suggested 1 might get an in
terest in the contracts. ] replied: You
certainly are mistaken Then Creager
said: Well, if you say 1 shouldn't,
won't go before that investigating COM
mittee down at Muskogee and testify
that you approached me- .
Interrogating the witness, Congress |
man E. w. Saunders, a member of the |
committee. said: Now. Mr. Hamon, 1t
would appear from your denial that
conspiracy had been entered into gross |
ly to misrepresent you. How do you !
account for that?''
SAYS GORE WANTED MONEY
That's beyond my power to con-
lecture" replied Hamon. 81 never had |
one penny's worth of interest in the |
McMurray contracts and never offered |
bride to any one.
ut is barely possible that I did see !
Senator Gore on May last. when he |
says the offer of a bride was made |
saw him frequently, but at this time /
believe he took me up into the library |
of the senate and closed the door. He /
wanted to talk over with me his com
Ing CdIupdlSI anu see NOW Il COQlQ uclQ
him out financially"
You and Senator Gore had been good !
friends, had you not?" asked Chairman
Burke.
Yes l had known him as a friend !
for about nine years and had business
dealings with him."
QUEER LAND DEAL
Hamon said that several years ago,
at Lawton. Okla, when the govern
ment> decided TO sell at public auction
some lands belonging to the Indians.
he, Senator Gore and others entered
into combination not to bid against
each other, so that the property might \
be obtained cheaply.
All of them secured some of the
land, he said.
Chairman Burke: Don't you know
that there is federal statute against /
combination to prevent competition
in bidding?"
Harmon: * did notk now of that
law then, but I have since thought of /
II. 1t was just a desire on the part of
all of us to get the land as cheaply as
possible
Congressman Miller: You knew
that the proceeds from that sale were
to go to the Indians. Do you think
that was honorable toward the In
dians?"
HIS IDEA OF HONOR
Hamon: 1--WE did not look at it that.
way In fact, we don't do things out |
west just in the same way you do in |
the east.
In some of his business transactions
with Senator Gore, Hamon testified, |
money loans were involved
"Just before congress adjourned"
said Hamon, 1.-The senator cameto me
and said he had TO pay $4,000, which
he owed to Senator Owen. He had |
81. 900 of cash and wanted me to raise
the other $1,000 for him from client
of mine.
More evidence from Senator Gore
probably will be heard. The senator
announced he intended to accompany
the committee to McAlester where sea
sions will be held Monday. Senator
Curtis and Congressman Mcclure prob
ably III testify tomorrow
Detailing the plans o fthe investiga-
ton committee, Chairman Burke to-
night said:
Roosevelt Silent
NEW YORK. Aug. 5.-Colonel
had nothing to say TODAY re-
garding the charges made by Senator
Gore of attempted bribery in the In
dian contracts in which the name of
Vice President Sherman was men
toned. The colonel came down TO his
Office from Oyster Bay and saw a few