Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-08-07

MtMuTTaN contracts. ffeSiutHt ldtt
had expressed the belief that the ten
per cent fee was too high and his vis-
itor agreed with him. This, the sem
ator thought, sufficiently refuted the
imputation that he was interested in
the land deal. The senator knew Nc
Murray for years and had never
known of his attempts to Influence
legislation
Senator Curtis also testified that he
also new of no animosity existing be-
tween himself and Senator Gore ex-
cept that Mr., Gore had remarked that
Curtis was neddling too much In the
celebrated Oklahoma affairs by fair
means and by foul
Congressman e. G. Creager of Ok
lahoma attacked the testimony prevf-
ously given by Hamon whom he ac-
cused of having suggested that he
might obtain an Interest" in the con-
tracts. This Hamon denied Hamon
had asserted that before the confer
ence at Washington. Creager had call
ed him up on the telephone and made
the appointment. Creager in a long
circumstantial narrative of riding on
street cars, meeting at a restaurant
and going to the Occidental hotel. en-
phatically declared that Hamon had
called him up and that the meeting
was at lannon's solicitation.
Congressman Mcclure denied he
was ever interested" in the contracts
or had sought their approval by con
gress. He said he knew McMurray
and Hamon. Hamon had sometimes
stopped at his suite Of rooms at his
hotel in Washington. McMurfay had
asked him If he had opposed the con-
tracts and on his answering he had
not. he agreed with McMurray to tell
President Taft that the entire Oklaho-
ma delegation was not opposed to the
contracts. He said he never had bena
interested in them, ito the extent of
one penny"
r. l.. Murray Of the Chickasaw ;iibe
said Governor johnson of that tribe
had repeatedly urged him TO Induce
as mfny Indians as possible =, send
kilograms to Washington 60 have the
contracts approved, which he had re-
fused to do.
ID. l.. McCurtain, who described
himself as delegate to Washington
for the Choctaws preceded his faith
er on the stand lie testified that he
fore the approval of the old tribal
contracts by President Roosevelt in
1908 and while they were still pend
ing he was approached bv McMurray
in the lobby of the Raleigh hotel al
Washington. McMurray had been
talking with Cecil Lyon, national re-
publican committeeman of Texas, but
Lyon went away before the subject Of
the $4,000 was discussed.
ID. G, McCurtain testified
"T met Mr.. McMurray in the lobby
and said:
You know YOU have contract
for the sale Of the lands.
Il said, heard II. but had never
seen copy of the contract. He said
We have decided we will give YOU
$4,000 If YOU will not oppose the con-
tract.
He said IF the secretary of the in !
terror approves the contract in its
present form, we will give YOU $500 |
IF he scales the contract then the |
$25 900 probably win be cut down ac- |
cordingly. | want to talk to you fur
ther about this matter.
~ didn't see MeMrrray for several
daNs but in the meantime, | got to |
about the proposition and |
knew that they were going to bring |
powerful political influences to bear
In support of that contract / thought |
maybe If / didn't manifest too much |
opposition to that contract | would be !
In a position ultimately to defeat il |
but If | became too antagonistic, 7 /
might have no opportunity to get my
forces together and that they might |
the contract
Several DAYS after that | saw Me- |
in the capital and / saws j |
have decided to accept your PROPOSE
ton but / didn't learn any more |
about the contract by that means
The matter went on for some time
and no effort was made to get the |
contract approved. Then the matter
went along until the CONSTITUTIONAL
Of Oklahoma appointed a
to investigate whether il
were possible to purchase the coal |
lands from the Indians.
"McMurray became active again: he
wanted to appear before this commit
Tee 90 the representative of the Choc- |
Iuw Indians. He endeaVord to obtain
4 written statement from Governor
McCurtain to the effect that McMur-
ray represented the Choctaws and |
they so recognized him. McMurrayI
came out to my 1ouuse to see me, he
stated he thought he was in a position
to do the nation a great deal Of good.
Then | says, 'McMurray, don't want
anything to do with your contracts.
Mr. McMurray in an interview de-
7ied he made the offer. lie said Lyon
had been financially interested with
him in the contracts.
Much of Congressman McGuire'sI
testimony related to whether he oe-
supied part of a suite at Washington
hotel with Hamon. He said he paid
Tor the apartment and II was the Gus
om for his friends from oklahoma to
stop there. Hamon. he said, had stop
Ded there two or three times
"TIave YOU ever received any finan- |
,ial assistance from anv person hav-
ng a contract with the Indians p
Chairman Burke asked
"I have never" replied Mr.. Me- !
fuire. There never was the sugges-
ion of aid to be given me by McMur-
ray or any one else
"Is there any reason why Senator
Gore should feel unfriendly toward
fou9"
None that | know of Yet he has
lone his utmost to givee me a black |
.ye. Moreover. he has done q good
iesl Of fabricating. He showed this
n his attitude toward our efforts to
secure appropriations for federal |
at Guthrie. Blackwell and
Okla. He wrote letters
saying he would do all he could to
help get the buildings and then he
wrote letters saying he had done all
be could 10 get them but to dead
certainty he did all he could to have
he appropriations knocked out"
How many times did Hamon stop
1t YOUR apartments at Washington
well. / never locked the door at
hose apartments. Anybody from Ok
ahoma could come and make them
lelves at home. Hamon came there
,pcauee / had known him for wears. |