Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-08-10
INDIANS BACK
Of M'MURRAY
SCHEME
IMPATIENT WITH THE
GOVERNMENT FOR DELAY
Choctaws Readily Sent TeIe-
grams to Washington Urging
Favorable Action by Congress
on Ten Per Cent Contracts,

4
McAlester, Okla. Aug 9.--while j
+. McMurray was I'm Washington last
May urging the approval of his con-
tracts by which he and his associates
would be abe 10 secure ten per cent
attorneys fees on the sale OF $50, 900.
600 worth of land owned by the In
dians, the Indians themselves were
urged to send kilograms to Washing
ton recommending the sale.
A few DAYS before May on which
Senator Gore charges he was offered
bribe of $25 goo or $50, 900 to induce
congress to approve the contract, Me-
Murray telegraphed to oklahoma
Send not less than fifty letters and
telegrams and keep up the work for
week at different towns. Looks
better. We will win, | know
This evidence was brought out IN
the investigation Of the land deal be-
fore the congressional committee to-
day. Senator Gore said he introduced
il to show the activity at Washington
at the time the bribe is alleged to have
been made.
Many Choctaw Indians went on the
stand to show that not long after Nc
Murray sent his telegram, they were
visited by George w, Scott, McMur-
rays agent Scott asked the Indians
10 sign kilograms approving the sale
of the 10000 acres of coal and as
phalt land on the 10 per cent "attor-
ney fees" basis. The Indians tele-
grams were addressed to Richard G.
Adams. an attorney at Washington
who was supposed by the Indians TO
give the messages to President Taft.
The Indians readily sent the tele-
grams. they testified, because they
were impatient at the delay Of the
government in disposine OF the land
according to treaty promises.
References to Vice President Sher-
man and Senator Charles Curtis Of
Kansas City We're made in letter IN
troduced by Senator Gore. II had
been explained BY Cohgiesskiini 9. ~.
Creager that he and Richard Adams
had called upon President Taft and
that the president had announced his
disapproval Of plan TO reopen the
tribal rolls so that more claimants
might enter, and his approval Of set
tling the Indian land question.
President Taft il was said. wrote a
letter to that effect and declared his
Willingness to have il given wide pub
licity.
After the letter was made public,
George Scott wrote to Mr.. Adams ~
Washington. please say TO the pres
ident that his course is to he com
mended, he has placed himself on
record in his letter to you, as against
the opening of the rolls and ar 10
settlement of our affairs. His office
will give prestige to our demands.
with Mr. McMurray there to state
our claims, with Mr.. Curtis and Mr..
sherman, who understand better than
others what we want and with the as
sistance Of the president, 1t begins to
look like we are coming into our
own"
Senator Gore said he had not In
troduced the letter because Of the
mention Of Vice President Sherman
and Senator Curtis. The latter, to-
gether with President Taft Il had al
ready been shown in previous testi-
mony had declared themselves
against the 10 per cent fee clause in
the McMurray contracts
Much amusement was caused by the
testimony Of James r. Logan.
lone day last November" said Lo-
gan. "a certain Tom Sanguin called
on me to have me sign the McMurray
contracts. / asked him how MeMur-
ray was going to do anything"
"He said. Well. Mac has got pow
erful influence at Washington. We
can aiiofu 10 send lOts OF money. FOR
instance. II he makes s3.000,00 out
Of these contracts he can afford 10
spend 81 1900 900 10 get II. Out Of
his 10 per cent he can give one per
cent to one senator. one or two 70
another. a couple Of per cent to some
congressman. and still he viii have
a fortune left. In that wnv he viii
get the land sold. ! tell you some
body is going 20 get a lot out of ihis
snyway and we might rs wen ie- Nc
Murray have IL