The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-08-06
ACCUSER NOW
IN BAD LIGHT
Continued from Page One.)


the assertions of the senator, his broth
er, his clerk and the congressman as
| absolutely false. II would appear from
your denials that a conspiracy had been
you. How do you account for that?"
| That's beyond my power to under
stand" replied HamOn. Il never had
/ one penny's worth OF interest in the
McMurray contracts, and never offered
/ a bride TO anyone.
1T is barely possible that I did see
| Senator Gore on May last, when he
says the offer OF a bribe was made. I
saw him frequently, but at this time
/ believe he took me up into the library
OF the Senate and closed the door. He
wanted to talk over with me his com
| ing campaign. and see how 1 could help
him out financially. Although 1 am
Republican and he Democrat, l was
in the habit of helping him out"
You and Senator Gore had been good
friends, had you not?" asked Chairman
Burke.
Yes. I had known him as a friend
for about nine years, and had business
/ dealings with him."
business Dealings With Gore.
Asked to explain some Of his bush
ness dealings Hamon said several
years ago at Lawton, Okla, when the
government decided TO sell at public
auction some lands belonging to the
Indians he, Senator Gore and Others
entered into a combination not to bid
against tdcn OLuGfs so LHaL 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 10 prevent competitive
Hamon-I did not know Of that law
| then. but I have since thought of il.
/ II was just a desire on the part of all
of US to get the land as cheaply as
! possible. 1t was understood between
US that we would not bid against each
| other.
Congressman MiIIer-You knew that
the proceeds from that sale were to go
TO the Indians. Do you think that was
honorable toward the IndiansT'
HamOn-We did not look at il that
way. In fact, We don't do things out
west just in the same way you do in
the east.
Gore Wanted TO Borrow Money.
In some of his business transactions
with Senator Gore, HamOn testified,
money loans were invested.
Just before Congress adjourned, I"
said HamOn, "the senator came. to me
and said he had TO pay $4,000, which
he owed to Senator owen. He had
1000 Of cash. and wanted me to raise
the other $4,000 for him from a client
of mine"
Explaining what he was doing in
! Washington when Senator Gore said he
| was Offering brides, Hamon stated he
| was attending, among other things, TO
the interests OF Gov. c. n. Haskell of
/ Oklahoma, who was under federal in
dietment in the Muskogee town-lot
cases.
Senator Gore had introduced a reso-
luton asking that the Senate commit
/ tee appointed TO investigate third de-
gree methods practiced in various
| parts OF the country be also empowered
/ TO investigate the circumstances lead
ing up to the indictment OF Governor
/ Haskell.
More evidence from Senator Gore
/ probably Will be heard. The senator
| announced he intended to accompany
/ the committee to McAlester, where ses-
/ sions VIII be held Monday Senator
Curtis and Congressman Mcclure prob-
ably viii testify tomorrow
Plans OF Committee.
Speaking OF the plans OF the COM
mittee, Chairman Burke said: Under
the House resolution ordering the in
VestigatiOn the committee is ordered
70 investigate not only the McMurray
contracts, but all contracts made with
the Indians which are known as the
Five Civilized tribes in this state.
Almost each tribe has a contract
with an attorney. For instance
one attorney with headquarters in New
York received a salary of $4,000 a
year. such a contract is made with
the Indians and approved by the gov
ernment. 1t shall be our purpose to
investigate the conditions behind all
contracts.
In regard to the Gore bribery
charges, we are also expected to gath
er all available data. and, If possible,
70 come 10 some conclusion. so that
our findings may be of use to Con-
gress. SO FAR as any action in The
bride matter is concerned, that OF
course, would be a question for a fed
eral grand jury TO take up. Our in
vestigatton could be OF use only in
suggesting legislation.
I'VE probably viii be a week or ten
DAYS longer in this state, visiting every
section where information is to be
had"