Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-08-14
RED BROTHERS
LACK THRIFT
IS SAID
PREDICTION THAT THEY
WOULD SOON BE PAUPERS
Cash Obtained Under McMur-
ray Contracts Would Soon Be
SQuandered Congressional
Committee Is Told by Wit
poconn

neSSeS,

| tBy Morning journal speciaI Leased wirel
| sulphur. okla. Aus. Witnesses
! testified before the congressional In
dian land investigating committee to-
day that If the Indian lands in Okla
homa were sold and the $50, 900, 600
proceeds were turned over to the In
dians in cash the state within ten
years would be flooded with paupers
1t was asserted that many OF the
Indians who signed the McMurray
contracts. allowing a 10 per cent at
torney's fee" to j. r. McMurray and
his associates, we're irresponsible in
financial affairs. They would soon
squander the cash, it was declared,
and within a few years the country
would be confronted with the prob
lem of how to take care of them. Ex-
cent for the appearance on the stand
of Cecil A. Lyon, national republican
committeeman of Texas. the witnesses
today were all Indians.
Mr.. Lyon told of his financial In
terest in the old tribal McMurray con-
tracts which provided for 10 per
cent fee, but which were disapproved
by President Roosevelt in 1908 He
said he had talked with President
Roosevelt in regard TO the contract
Asked IL he had been invited by
McMurray to join in the deal because
of his political influence and his ac-
quaintance with the president, Mr..
Lyon said he supposed he was, but
he also attributed the invitation to his
business ability. 1t was his purpose,
he said, as soon as the contracts were
approved by the president. to induce
the money interests of New York and
London to buy the property, which
includes about 100000 acres OF coal
and asphalt lands AS soon as the
president dsapproyed of the con-
tracts, said Mr. Lyon, his connection
with McMurray ceased and he was
not interested in the present contracts
Although he had signed the present
contracts and was willing that Nc
Murray should receive $4,000, 900 as
"a fee for selling the land and thereby
rendering service which the govern
ment had promised TO do without cost
a. #. Myers, a Chickasaw Indian by
1ntermarriage declared that, in his
fopinion, many Indians would soon
spend their their share of the money
and become dependents. OF the 49,
600 ChOctaws and the 5000 Chicka-
saws who would share in the proceeds,
<many would collect from $50 to
500 each.
Instead of using their money to
improve the farms on which they live
and which they still would retain af-
ter their surplus lands were disposed
of, a great many would soon be parted
from their cash Is not that so?"
asked Representative C. b. Miller.
Yes. In ten years a lot of ,em
would not have anything" was the
reply. They would become paupers,
and with the national government no
longer to look to, they would become
charge on the state. In disposing
of the lands, congress ought to con
slider that probability AT the same
time there should be distinction in
favor of those Indians who have be-
come thoroughly civilized and are as
able as white men to take care of !
their affairs
Many Chickasaws testified they
were willing to give McMurray as
high as 20 per cent attorneys fees If |
il would sell the land within year
do you mean to say you would be |
willing to pay McMurray from $3,- !
600, 900 to $1,000. 900 for doing some |
thing which the government has |
promised to do for nothing?" asked |
Senator Gore of Benjamin Bourian, !
Chickasaw.
yes, we would to get quick set
tlement."
In the two years since these con-
tracts have been signed have you |
known OF McMurray having done any |
thing at Washington that would has
ten the sale?"
No but We felt he had the in /
fluence and the experience TO work |
with congressman there"
Robbers Roost. "A town of so pop-
ulation and one store. in southern /
Oklahoma. again figured in the hear
ings.
william Bales told of having been 4
visited by McMurray's agents who got /
him 10 sign contracts 1t was also /
the point from which McMurray /
agent started one day to attend a
war council Of Indians. where COO
contracts were signed at one time.
Near Robbers Roost is n place
called Desperate Springs
Cecil Lyon was on the stand all 1
morning
In previous testimony ID. q. McCur-
tain. a Choctaw chief, had declared
that in 1908 in the lobby Of a hotel /
at Washington. McMurray had Of
fered him $4,000 bribe to with
draw opposition to the contracts. At
the time the offer was made. McCur-
tain testified. McMurray had been
talking with Mr. Lyon. but the latter
had walked away. Mr.. Lyon today
declared II any bribery had been at
tempted he knew nothing OF H. Mfr.
Lyon related his connection with the
old contracts.