The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1910-08-14
INDIANS
GAVE: Up
BIG FEES
McElurray and Associates Get
Cash From the irresponsible
Red Men.
PROMINENT POLITICIANS
DRAWN INTO THE DEAL
National Committeeman of Texas
on the Stand-Most of Wit
nesses Were Indians.

SULPHUR, OKLA, Aug, 13.-Wit-
nesses testified before the congress
sional Indian investigating committee
today that II the Indian lands in Okla
homa were sold and The 10000, ,0l0
proceeds were turned over TO the In.
disns In cash, the state within ten
years would be flooded with paupers
II Was asserted that many of the
Indians who signed the McMurray
contracts. allowing n ten per cent ~at-
torneys fee" 10 i. T. McMurray and
his associates. were irresponsible in
financial affairs. Tney would soon
sQuander the cash, II was declnred,
and within few years the country
would be confronted With the prob
lem Of how 10 take care OF them
Except for the appearance on the
stand OF Cecil A. Lyon, national Re
publican committeeman of Texas. the
Witnesses today we're all Indians.
Mr. Lyon told of his financial Inter
est In the old tribal McMurray con-
tracts. which provided for a ten per
cent fee. but which we're disapproved
By President Roosevelt In 1908 He
said he had talked with President
Roosevelt IN regard to the contract.
Asked II he had .peen. invited by
McNuiray TO Joint In the deal because
of his political influence and his ac-
0ualntance with the president. Lyon
sold he supposed he was. but he also
attributed the invitation TO his busi-
ness ability. II was his purpose. he
said, soon as the contracts were ap-
proved by the president TO induce the
money interests OF New York and
London to buy the property which In
cludes about $4,000 acres OF coal lard
and asphalt lands. AS soon as the
president dlsapproyed Of tho con-
tracts, said Mr. Lyon. his connection
with McMurrny ceased. and he was
not interested in the present con-
tracts
Although he had signed the pres
cnt contracts and was willing that
McMurray should receive S3.000,000 as
a fec for selling the land. and thereby
rendering service which the govern.
ment had promised TO do without
cost. ]. F Meyers, Chickasaw In
dian by intermMriage. declared that.
in his opinion. many Indians would
soon spend their share of the money
and become dependents. or the u.s..
000 Choctaws and The $500 Chicka,
saws who would share in the pro-
ceeds. many would collect from 3d.,
600 10 $4,000 each.
Instead OF using this money to I'm
prove the farms on which they live
and which they still would retain ar
ter their surplus lands were disposed
Of. great many would be parted
from their cash
is that not so7" asked Represen.
tatiyc C. p. Miller
Yes, In ten years lot of them
would not have anything was the
reply. They would become paupers
a1d with the national government no
longer TO look to, they world become
charge on The state In disposing OF
the lands. congress ought TO consider
that probability At the same time
there should be a distinction In favor
Of those Indians VINO have become
thoroughly civilized and are able as
while men TO take care CT their own
affairs
Many Chiclasaws testified they were
willing 10 give McMurray As hi7h as
- per cent attorneys fees II it would
sell Inc land within year.
DO YOU mean to say You would be
"'ll'ng to pay McMurray from So.
'0O.O00 10 s9.00o.)0O for doing some.
'ning which the government has
rroUlsed to do for it?" asked Sem.
l7r GcTe OF Benjamin Dourlan. a Chi;
okasaw.
Yes, we would to get quick
rettlement'
IN the two years since these con
;recis have heen signed have yet
Rwn of McMurray having done any