The pioneer express., 1910-08-12

. charges made by Senator Gore
= at Muskosee. =
"The story that comes to me
about the charges made by SEN =
ator Gore at Muskogee 10 ab- .,
. soiuteIy without the slightest
> shadow Of foundation" q
= . 81
Muskogee, Okla.-What happened
In the private Office of United States
Senator Thomas P. Gore at Wash.
lngton at noon last May 6, formed the
basis of sensational charges involving
the names of WicePresident Sher-
man, Senator Curtiss of Kansas, Con-
gresham B. s. MCGUIRE, of Oklahoma,
and others, in a hearing before spe-
cial congressional investigating COM
mittee here.
In the 30 or 40 minutes of a confer
ence held in that Office, Senator Gore
testified he had been approached by
Jake L. Hamon, former chairman Of
the Oklahoma territorial Republican
committee and former chairman of
the Oklahoma state Republican com.
mittee. and had been offered bribe
of $4,000 or $4,000, to remove GER
tain legislation pending in congress
so that s3,00O,OO0 might be paid ].
F. McMurray, an attorney at McAles-
ter, Okla, and his associates. The
money was to represent attorneys
fees" of ten per cent of $50, 100000 to
be secured from New York syndi-
cate for 100000 acres of coal and as.
phalt lands now owned by the Choc-
taw and Chickasaw Indians in this
state.
Vice-President Sherman's name was
mentioned by Mr.. Hamon, Senator
Gore testified as being interested in
the land deal to the extent of favor
Ing the approval by congress of what
are known as the McMurray contracts
with the Indians.
Creager Offered "Interest."
What happened in another private
room in Washington and also where,
It was alleged, Harmon made more
"overtures" relative to the land deal,
was told by Congressman c. E. C-ea.
ger of the Third Oklahoma district.
Congressman Creager supplemented
the testimony of Senator Core He
said on June 16 last he had been in.
vited by Hamon to meet him in a
private room at the Occidental hotel
In Washington.
Having gone there, Mr.. Creager tes-
titled, he was informed he could have
substantial interest" in the land
deal, if he would withdraw his oppo-
sition to the approval of the McMur-
ray contracts by congress.
Hard Cash offered.
Senator Gore, in his testimony, as
serted that the offer of bribery went
30 far that Hamon said the $4,000 or
$4,000 would not be paid over in the
form of check or marked money
but that 1T would be all clean, hard
cash.
Congressman Creager's appearance
on the witness stand followed a sse.
ries of sensational statements. Among
Senator Cores assertions were the fol.
lowing:
sherman's Name Comes In.
That Hamon told him man high
Or up" in the government was inter-
ested in the approval Of the contracts
and, therefore, there was, no reason
why Senator Gore should not be; that
when asked who was the man high.
eT up'' Hamon had replied Vfce.Pres.
ident Sherman.
That Hamon told him Senator Cur.
lis Of Kansas was Interested" in the
deal.
That Hamon told him Congressman
Mcclure Of Oklahoma also was "in.
terested."
That former Senator Long of Kan.
sas, acting as counsel for McMurray.
had gone to President Taft on April
%. to urge the approval Of the con.
tracts. but that the president has said
1T would take good deal of argu.
ment to convince him that the amount
asked by McMurray was justified.
Senator Curtis sent telegram to
the committee denying he was in any.
way interested in the contracts ana
Offering to appear before the commit.
tee. Chairman Burke said Senator
Curtis would be eubpoenaed.
Explaining what led up to his op.
posing the approval of the contracts
with the Indians. Senator Gore in his
testimony asserted that as far back
as 1905 he wrote letter to Senator
Ry. Strikers Return to Work.
Montreal, Can. - About 50 per cent
81 the 5000 Grand Trunk conductors.
trainmen and yardmen who struck on
July 1S are reinstated. The develop
ments tended to show 2 liberal policy
on the part Of the railroad toward the
strikers. the delay.in placing many Of