Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-09
KANSAS SENATOR SAYS ALSO
THAT VICE PRESIDENT SHER-
MAN OPPOSED PAYMENT OF
BIG FEES TO ATTORNEYS.
CHOCTAW INDIAN
ON THE STAND
ATTORNEY FOR TRIBES SAYS kiE
WAS OFFERED BRIDE TO KEEP
HANDS OFF ON A FORMER
LAND DEAL.

LAND DEAL.
y Muskogee, Okla, Aug. 6.-Senator
Curtis of Kansas, testifying before the
congressional committee Investigating
the McMurray contracts, today de.
clared in substance that not only he,
but also Vice President Sherman, dis
approved of the contracts whereby at
torneys' fees of 100000 were to be
allowed on the sale of InGian lands In
Oklahoma
Curtis told of conference between
himself, President Taft and Vice Pres
ident Sherman at which the sale of In
dian lands was discussed. It was point
ed out to the president that under the
treaty with the Indians the govern
ment was obligated to act as sales
agent for them and that Ito give at
torneys' fees in this instance would be
simply to deprive the Indians out OF
that r,uch profit guaranteed to them
by the government"
choctaw Indian Testifes.
4, D. G. McCurtain, a Choctaw Indian.
the son of the governor Of the Choc-
/; taw nation and the attorney of that
| tribe, testified that in 1908 McMurray
! personally offered him $4,000 not to
/, oppose certaint land contracts. These
contracts werel for the sale Of 100000
! acres Of INDIAN land and we're con-
tracts which Nere disapproved by
President Roos kvelt. McCurtain was
then Chotaw d1legate to Washington
and had opposed the contracts. The
McMurray contracts now pending are
! new and we11 obtained after disap-
1 prevail by Psesident Roosevelt of the
/ oid ones.
Former National Committeeman
i Hamon concluded his testimony last
night after entering continuous
series Of denials.
Denies Naming Sherman.
Among lannon's denials were the
following:
/. He denied that he at any time had
been closeted with Senator Gore In the
senator's office at Washington to urge
the approval of the contracts.
2. He denied that he had ever mem
toned Vice President Sherman, Sena-
tor Charles Curtis of Kansas or Con-
as being interested In the contracts,
as charged by Senator Gore.
8. He denied he had ever spoken OF
q bride to anybody about any legisla-
!, ton, or that he ever was interested In
the McMurray contracts.
4. He denied that at the time the
| contracts were being discussed he had
! called up Congressman Creager on the
Z telephone at Washington asking for an
appointment. but said Mr.. Creager had
called him up. Mr.. Creager previously
! had testified that Hamon asked an ap-
{ pointment, at which the interest in
the contract was spoken Of
5. He denied he had ever said, Dick
the ;senator is becoming mighty harl
on his friends" in the presence Of D. F.
Gore, brother of Senator Gore. D. F.
Gore had testified that Hamon made
/; the remark just after the senator had
refused the alleged bride.
6. He denied that he had ever said.
IT want to make lot OF money and
don't care much how ! make it, IN the
presence of J. Leroy Thompson, Sena-
/ tor Cores stenographer. Thompson
previously had testified Hanon made
the remark
Can't Explain Accusations.
Interrogating the witness, Congress
man e. w. Saunderj member of the
committee. said:
i Now, Mr.. Hamop. you have denied
/ the testimony of all the witnesses who
have preceded you. You have brand
ed the assertion Of the senator, his
/ brother, his clerk and tn: congressman
as being absolutely false. 1t would ap-
pear from your derjals that conspir-
acy had been entered into grossly to
misrepresent you. How do you ac-
count for that?"
That's beyond my power Of conjec-
ture,' replied Hamon. Il never had one
penny's interest in the McMurray con-
tracts, and never offered a bride to any
one"
"!t is tarn'y in.::Lle that I lid s"';
Senator Gore on May last, when he
says the offer Of a bride was made. I
saw him frequently, but at this time
believe he took me up into the library
of the senate and closed the doors. He
wanted to talk over with me his COM
ing campaign and see how could help
him out financially. Although I am
republican and he democrat l was
In the habit Of helping out"
"You and Senator Gore had been
good friends, had you not?' asked
Chairman Burke. s !.
"Yes. had known him as friend
for about nine years, and had business
dealings with him"
Loaned Money to Gore.
Asked to explain some Of his bust,
ness dealings, Hamon said several
years ago at Lawton. Oklahoma, when
the government decided to sell at pub
| lie auction some lands belonging to the
tldiz.:s, he, Senator Gore and others
entered into combination not to bid
against each other so that the property
might be obtained cheaply.
All Of them secured some of the land
he said.
Chairman Burke-Don't you know
that there Is a federal statute against
a combination to prevent competitive
bidding?"
Hamon-I did not know Of that law
then. but have since thought of it. 1t
was lust a desire on the part Of all of
MS to get the land as cheaply as posi-
bic. It was understood among us that
we would not bid against each other.
CongrezyzseN lNtller-You knew that