Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-08-07
Choctaw Chief Tells Commit
tee He Was Offered One
Fourth of Big Sum to With
draw Opposition
ANOTHER TRIBES MAN
WAS OFFERED S25, 900
!, F, McMurtay, Holder of the
Three Million Dollar Con-
tracts Specifically Named as
Would Be Bribe Giver,
Try Morning Journal epcciai r~sssa wirei

Try Morning Journal eoeciai feasea wirel
Muskogee, Okla, Aug G.-Not only
Jake l.. llamon, but j. f. McMurray
was named as would-be briber in
the investigation of the $4,000, 600
oklahoma Indian land deal before the
special congressional committee to-
day.
McMurray is the holder of the con-
tracts with the Choctaw and Chicka-
saw Indians. to promote which in con-
gfess. Senator Thomas r. Gore, charg-
ed he was offered a bri5e.
.. c. McCurtain, a Choctaw Indian,
and delegate to Washington for his
tribe, charged that McMurray in 1906
offered him a bribe of $25,000 to
withdraw opposition to the old tribal
McMurray contracts which were sub
sequently disapproved by President
Roosevelt.
Greene McCurtain chief OF 1900
GhoetaWs and a venerable Indian Of
~ years with gray hair aud brown
plump cheeks, then took the stand
aud told the committee that one
George w. Scott whom he believed
1cttd in tive interest Of McMurraV,
had offered him one-fuurth OF the
profits to be realized from the land
deal provided he induced the tribe to
withdraw all opposition to it. This
offer referred to new contracts held
nS w Ahlrrdy winch q Z the cause OF
the present investigation.
The amount of the hribe mentioned
BY -. g, MCCurtain, who is q son of
the CHIEF, is the same as that which
Senator Gore alleges was rendered
him on May 6 by Jake Hamon to
put through the pending contracts
which, according to Senator Gore,
would result in the selling Of $3.50, 600
acres Of coal, asphalt and timber
lands owned by the Indians to any
syndicate on a basis that would give
McMurTa. and his associates an "at-
tor1eys' fee Of ten per cent Jr S3,
G00C0O
The presentation Of the charges
against McMurray followed another
day Of sensational testimony during
which Senator Charles Curtis of Kan
sas and Congressman b. S. Mcclure
Of Oklahoma, appeared on the stand
to refute statements that they We're
Interested in the deal. The name of
N,co President Sherrtan WAS hgpin
mentioned and conferences held by
President Taft over the McMurray
contracts were referred to.
Both President Taft and Vice Pres
dent sherman, according to Senator
curtis. had declared that the ten per
cent attorneys fee asked for Was eX
cesslve. The opinion was unanimous
at the presidents conference, he said,
tnat IN the sale of the land no at
t1taeNs assistance was neor;.sl as the
government treaty already stipulated
70 sell the land on its own responsi-
bility.
Scmetf ng OF a spirit of an l:,til n
council was presented when Chief Nc
curtain. known as the governor
squalted himself in d chair before the
committee and brushing the flies off
MS head with d large handkerchief,
gave his testimony
long time ago" he said, many
vi the Choctaws protested against the
biB Tees that would be allowed un
uer the McMurray contracts. J. my
sell, sent protest to the secretary of
the interior. Just before the aq-
Journmeut of the last congress,
george w. Scott came to my home ana
asked me TO sign a letter. | refused
70 10 so, Then he came again and
teid me he wanted me to write let
yer TO the secretary of the interior,
NondraWing my protest against the
McAurray contracts.
When | said | would not do that,
Nc said he was authorized to agree to
give mo one-fourth of the profits If |
uiu' Yes" he said We are going to
sc' ten per cent fee out of 1t and
you VIII get one-fourth of the tenth.
now YOU sign the letter and 1t viii
oe great bargain | absolutely refus-
gu TO do 1t and he went away"
good many of your tribe did
slsn the contracts with McMurray,
uiunt they?" asked Congressman c.
Yes. they did that because they are
losing all faith in the government.
iheN have lost all faith in government
.iueiais and in their tribal officials,
too' It's because they have been Civ
"a so many promises and the promises
nave not been kept. The government
Promised IL would sell the land and
sunoute the profits in 1906. It hasn't
ephe SO yet. The Indians are be-
sYinihs disheartened over the govern
meht promises and that's why they
sheu the contracts. They thought
= would be better To get some of the
money than none at all"
are they in hurry to get money
les they certainly are. They need
y, IReN ire poor. for the nave bee'r
"'lng on promises SO long
T. why do you Indians have 50 many
Because We want to get the
meneyS
- YOU estimate how much your
~ has paid ont in attorneys fees in
r last ten years p"
pur tribe in that time has paid out
soout 100000"
We're.
senator Curtis told Of having been
-lnHhened TO the White House To dis
Saas with President TAFT and Vice