Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-04

Muskoses, Aug. 4.-viee Prssi-
dent Sherman was named by Sen
McMurray Indian land contracts,
the Investigation Of which was be-
nun hsrs today. Gore, after do.
clarina he had been approached
by Jacob Hammonwith an offer Of
. bribs Of $4,000 to remove all
congressional opposition to tho
contracts, asserted that Hamman
had said q man "higher up" in
government WAS HinterestedV in
tho contraets. Gore at first said he
was reluctant to name the man
mentioned as "higher up" but iat-
or; on being pressed by Congress
man Burke, chairman Of the COM
mittse, declared that Harmon had
used the name Of Vice President .
Sherman.
Muskosee. Okla, ,Aug. 4-When the
special committee appointed by the
house Of representatives TO Investigate
the McAdurray. contracts with the choc-
law and Chickasaw Indiana Involving
the sale Of lands estimated to be worth
$50 100000 convened today. Senator
Gore announced. that l1e was ready TO
name st1ae indsvadra, who, he said. of
fered fiim and e. member Of tho house
each $4,000 to withdraw the opposi-
tion to the scheme whereby $3.ooo,oo0
would be paid for attorneys fees"
Ton Per Cent sfhe Money.
This latter sum, he declared. repre-
sented 10 per cent of the amount which
the syndicate was prepared to pay for
coal and asphalt lands now belonging
to the Indians. and It was to be paid
in conformity with contacts made in
dividually with 10000 Indians. provided
the contracts would receive the ap-
( proval Of congress. It was with the
PURPOSE Of having the contracts ap-
proved and thus diverting the 10 per
cent into the hands OF certain attor-
news that Gore declared tho brdbe was
offered him to have withdrawn amy
legislation which would tnvalidabe the
contracts.
"As a matter of fact" Gore said to-
day previous to the opening OF the in
yeetigation, "the government already
had guaranteed to sell the lands for
the Indians without the expense Of any
{ attorney fees, and 1t would be absurd
Tor congress to sanction the McMurray
contracts" ...;.
10000 Acres Involved.
The land involved includes 100000
lcres in the Choctaw and Chichasaw
nations. and according to the geological
survey the mineral deposits therein are
worth $4,000, 900. J. F. McMurray, an
attorney, OF McAlester, Okla. an
bounced thru his cousel that he would
contend that the contracts were valid
without the sanction Of congress, and
That he was unaware Of any bribery
having been offered In their connec-
lion. It Is the purpose Of the commit
tee, according to Congressman Burke.
Of South Dakota, chairman. TO visit
parts Of Oklahoma to secure evidence
bearing on the Gore charges.
Politicians Offered Bribe.
Carrying out his purpose to disclose
al he knew concerning the dAeSeu oA-
fer Of q bribe Of $4,000 for which he
said he was to promote the $4,000, 900
Indian land deal. Senator Gore today
named Jacob Harmon. former nation
II republican committeeman from Ok
! ,ahoma. as the man who oeffred the
bribe. The bribe was offered at Wash
.ngton, the senator testified, May 6.
Gore Was Astounded.
"when he named tho person higher
up / held up my hands In astonishment,
md said: "1s 1t possible a person so
high in the government could lay him.
self open to such imputation ?" WELL .
replied Hammon "This is lots OF
money, you see"
Gore declared that when he frowned
apon the bribery proffer, Harmon said
the amount might be- raised to $780,
300, ,000 'Hammon also told me that
Senator Charles Curtis. Of Kansas. and
Congressman Mcclure. OF Oklahoma,
were Interested In the McNfurray con-
tracts" testified Gore, "and while am
sbout Il might as well tell that he