Norwich bulletin., 1910-08-05

Muskogee. Okla. Aug. 4.-What haN. pened in the private office of United States Senator Thomas P. Gore at Washington at noon last May sixth formed the basis of sensational charg- es involving the names of Vice PresI- dent Sherman. Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas. Congressnan B. S. Me Guire Of Oklahoma, and others Tn a hearing before special congressional Investigating committee here today.
 s5,o0o.oo0 Involved.
 During the thirty or forty minutes of conference held in that office Senator Gore testified that he had been approached by Jake L. Hammon, for -rner chairman of the Oklahoma terri Ioriai republican committee ana also former chairman of the Oklahoma state republican committee. and that he had been offered a bribe of s25,000 or s50.000 to remove certain legisla- rion pending in congress so that $3.- DOC. .0Oe might be paid to J. F. McMur- ray. attorney at McAllester. Okla, and his associa tes.
 The money was to represent "attor-' neys fees of ten per cent. of ESQ., 900 900 which was to be obtained from a New York syndicate for 45e.000 acres of coal and asphalt lands now owned by the Choctaw and Chickasaw h. dians in this state
 Vice President sherman's Name
 Brought In.
 Vice President Sherman's name was mentioned by Mir Hammon Senator Gore testified. as being interested in the land deal to the extent of favoring known as the McMurray- contracts with the Indians
 What Congressman Creager Told.
 What happened in another private room also in Washington and where ft was alleged Hammon made more --overtures" relative to the land deal was told by Congressman C. E. Crea- ger of the Third Oklahoma district Congressman Creager supplemented the testimony of Senator Gore He said that on June. Is last he had been invited by Hamnon to meet him in -rivate room at the Occidental hotel in Washington
 Having gone there, Mir Creager tes- -fied he was informed he could have a substantial interest in the land deal If he would withdraw his opDosf- ion to the approval of the McMur- ray contracts by congress-
 Nef6pen to infIuenco That Way.
 a-A1d the question: Were any fg- tres mentioned as to how much you were to receiver NIT. Creager replied: No. did not let it go so far as that I mace 1t plain that I was not open 10 being influenced in that way. I had already gone record being firmly opposed to the granting of such an enormous fee to attorneys"
 Invited to Frog Leg" SuPpers.
 Congressman B S. McGuire who was ch7rEed oy senator Gore as be- interested" in the McMurTEy contract was said by Mir. Creager in his testi- rnony to have been at the time of his visit. an occupant of the same suite 1 of rooms with Hammon and McMurray | at the hotel
 Clerks of Senator Gore testified to 1 having been invited by McMurray and l Hammon to frog leg suppers in | Washington at which the Indian con | tracts were to be talked over" These 1 invitations. it was declared, were all | turned down"
 On one occasion. one of the clerks was awfully hard on his friends
 All Clear, Hard Cash.
 Senator Gore in his testimony as- serted that the offer of bribery went | % far that Hammon said the s25, 1000 | or 900 would not be paid over in l but that it would be all clean, hard cash
 The Inquiry Committee.
 The committee that heard the charg- es was appointed by resolution of the house of representatives to investigate the McSfurrzy contracts, which are de- c1zre6 to have been made by McMur- ray individually with 10000 Indians each of whom agreed to turn over ten per cent of his profits from the sale af land provided the contracts were 1 approved by congress
 The committee. headed by Congress man. Charles E. Burke of South Da- 1 kotz- chairman is composed of Con- Ereszman Philip B. Campbell of Kan 1 Sas. Charles B. Miller of Minnesota John H Stephens of Texas and E. W. Saunders of Virginia Its initial ses- sion was held today. Congressman Creager's appearance on the witness stand following d series of sensational statements
 Congressman Mcclure Also.
 Senator Gore also said that Ham of Oklahoma was interested" in the deal
 That he was told an employe of the department of justice at Washington was --interesteds in the deal: that he CSenztor Goree knew the name of the enploye. but would not divulge his name or the name of his informant, I especially because the latter would lose his position
 Senator Curtis Also Makes Denial.
 Senator Curtis today sent tele- gram to the committee. denying that he was in any way interested in the contracts and offering to appear be- fore the committee Chairman Burke naed to testify.
 Senator Cores Testimony Referring
 10 Mir. Sherman.
 An accouut of that part of Senator Cores testimony referring to Vice President Sherman follows.
 MT Burke=.-In your conversation 1 with Nr Hammon you stated he named . very high official that he said was |, Interested in these contracts. You omitted his name" Ii afr G0re-.I say again that should very much prefer not to name If I am. however. subject to the will of the committee" AFr Burke-sThe committee is here Ia get the facts and we must have an | this conversation-'
 1Ir- Gore@-IIe suggested that Vice President sherman was interested in l he ecntracfs- Thomas H. Owen. counsel for MT ] zcre-In that connection you spoke f z1 article appearing in Kansas ] -<r newspaper that two gentlemen (