The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-05
GORE ACCUSES SHERMAN
AS THE MAN HIGHER up

AS THE MAN HIGHER UP"
Muskogee. Okla. Aug. 4-The special
committee of the House Of Representa-
tives investigating the McMurray Indian
sion to-day, when Senator Gore named
Vice President Sherman as the man
higher up" in the scandal.
Senator Charles Curtis Of Kansas. and
Representative B. s. Mcguire. OF Okla
homa, were also mentioned by the blind
Senator from Oklahoma in connection
with the alleged attempt 10 bride him
just before Congress adjourned.
Senator Gore at first declined 10 men
ton the name Of the Vice President, de-
clarng the high Office made him reluctant
20 offer II when il had come 70 him as
secondhand testimony. The persistent
questioning Of Representative Burke.
chairman Of the committee, finally ex-
plodcd the sensation OF the investigation.
when I scoffed at the offer Of a bride.
even If raised TO $4,000. as Harmon
suggested it might be- testified Senator
Gore, my visitor CHammon) al 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 Nc
CURE. of Oklahoma. was interested. and
then mentioned the name OF man
higher up in the government. was APP
palled when heard that name"
What was the name OF that man
higher up7" said Chairman Burke
Well replied Senator Gore. Il don't
like TO say. Indeed I could not repeat
II without a great deal OF reluctance
NOW. Senator Gore explained Mr.
Burke, this committee has come here
to get all the facts. and we want you to
tell all you know"
We'll as that is the case" responded
Mr.. Gore, Il will tell all I know, The
man mentioned by Harmon as being
higher up and interested in the McMur.
ray contracts was Vice President Sher.
man"
No further questions were asked con-
corning the mention Of Vice President
sherman.
Senator Gore explained that the offer OF
$4,000 for his vote followed his opposition
in Congress to the ratification Of the In
dian contracts in which the clique was
interested. They affected the Choctaw
and Chickasaw tribes. which are the most
industrious and home loving Of the last
Of the red men,
In l9OS,' said Senator Gore, President
Roosevelt refused to give his approval TO
certain contracts which McMmray had
procured from the Indians as tribes. Tn
der the law the contracts made with
tribes OF Indians we're not valid until ap-
proved by the President In the same
year McNurray procured contracts indi-
vidually with about 10000 OF the Indians,
whereby the Indians were to give 10 per
cent Of the gross receipts from the sale
Of their lands
II thought it would be absurd for the
Indians to pay that vast sum OF money
for services which the government was
in duty bound to perform The McMurray
interests then went to President Roose-
welt. and sent a telegram 70 the Presi-
dent urging him not to approve OF the
contracts
IT was notable how active were the
McNIurray interests When I called on
Secretary OF the Interior BalIinger "a
protest against the contracts I was told
not 70 talk so loud as ex-senator Long,
of Kansas. was present and he was in
terested in the contracts.
II had introduced in the Senate a reso-
luton requiring that all contracts made
with Indians should be approved by Con-
gress before they became valid. On MAY
last the committee having it under con-
sideration instructed Senator Hughes. OF
Colorado to report it favorably
1.-The very next day Jake Harmon, OF
Lawton, Okla, came 10 my Office and
said he had a telegram directing him
u visit me and that he was interested
in the McMurray contracts.
Then he mentioned the name OF an
Official very high up in the government.
And when I expressed aStonishment
Harmon said: Well. you know there is
a lot of money in this thing II you say
the word viii arrange for the $4,000.
There will be no checks in the deal and
no marked money. II win be all new.
clean money
F1dHlllOn Sdlut Autie u d lOt OF money
tied up in this deal and a big fee for
somebody.
He then explained he wanted me to
withdraw my bill. or at least have Il re-
ported unfavorably. 1t seems he did not
know it had already been reported IA
vorably"
Harmon told me there was a United
States Senator interested and Con-
gresham. was very much surprised.
He also referred TO an official high up.
said Senator Gore.
Who were they?' asked Chairman
Burke
'They are Senator Curtis, Of Kanas,
and Congressman Mcguire, of Okla
homa"
Il believe you made mention OF some
Official high up. = said Burke.
Harmon suggested that it was Vice
President Sherman" replied Gore.
This statement caused a profound sem
sation.
Gore said that he understood that Mr..