The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-05
BRIBERY INVESTIGATION

Called "Man Higher Up"-The 0klaho-
man appalled, When He Heard
It--POlitician Offered
Money.
ALuskogee, okla, Aug 5.--vice- Presi.
dent Sherman was named by Senator
4. P. Gore in connection with what
are known as the Mcsiurray Indian lano
contracts, an Investigation Of which was
begun here yesterday by a special com
mittee OF the House Of Representatives.
Senator Gore, after declaring he had
been approached by Jacob Harmon,
former national Republican committee.
man from Oklahoma, with an offer Of
bride Of $4,000 to remove all con
gressional opposition to the contracts,
asserted that Hammon had said man
higher up in the government was I'm
terestedn in the contracts. Senator Gore
az first said he was reluctant to name
the man mentioned as higher up but
later on, being pressed BY Congressman
Burke, chairman OF the committee, de.
clared Harmon had used the name Of
vive- President sherman
when / scoffed at the offer Of
bride even II It were raised to $4,000,
as Harmon suggested il might" tes-
tilted Senator Gore, my visitor Ham.
mon) az my Office in Washington, went
on to say other members Of Congress
were interested in the contracts He
said Senator Curtis was interested and
Congressman Mcclure Of Oklahoma was
interested, and then he mentioned the
name Of man higher up in the govern
ment, was appalled, when heard that
name"
Says President Sherman"
@what was the name Of that man
higher upia asked Chairman Burke.
ewell,v replied Senator Gore, Il don't
ike to say Indeed, ] could not repeat
it without great deal Of reluctance.
eNow, Senator Core explained Mr..
Burke, "this COMMITTEES has come here.
to get all the facts, and we want you
to tell all you know"
eWen, as that Is the case" RESPOND
"a Mr.. Gore. Il will tell all I know.
The man mentioned BY Hammon as be-
ing higher up and interested in the Me-
Murray contracts was President
Sherman"
On cross examination by G. ,. Ames,
counsel for Mr.. McMurray, Senator Gore
testified as to the relations existing BE-
tween himself and Harmon.
He said these relations had always
been extremely friendly and he fro
auently had business dea1s with Ham
mon which entailed loans OF money.
DO YOU regard Harmon as a truth.
full mani" asked Attorney Ames.
in most cases ! do, but / think he
would deriate little on occasions"
When the committee adjourned AZ
noon, Senator Gore was still on the
stand
Senator Gore declared that when he
frowned upon the bribery prefer. Ham
mon said the amount might be raised
to $4,000
Harmon also told me that Senator
Charles Curtis Of Kansas and Congress
man b. S. Mcclure Of Oklahoma wer
interested in the McMurray contracts
testified senator Gore. And, while
am about it | might as well tell that
lie said an official higher up in the gov
eminent was also interested in the deal.
"When he named the person higher
up, held my hands in establishment,
and said: Is it possible that a person.
30 high in the United States govern
ment could lay himself open to such an
imputationi
"That Is Lots Of Money"
eWen, replied Harmon, this is lots
Of money, You see"
The bribery offer, Senator Gore ex-
planned, followed his opposition to the
approval BY Congress Of what are known
as the McMurray contracts, which af-
feet the Clloctaw and Chickasaw tribes
Of Indians.
BY these contracts, he said, j F.
NfeMurray, an attorney, and associates
were to receive 10 per cent Of the profit
on the safe Of 100000 acres Of coal and
asphalt lands belonging to the Indians.
AS a New York syndicate stood ready