The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-08-11
'sais SoS Il
must represent somethins ital and
that positively.
THE OKLAHOMA INQUIRY.

South Dakota is especially inter-
ested in the investigation now in pro-
gress Of the charge brought by SEN
ator Gore Of Oklahoma that bribery
had been attempted to put through
contracts of sale of mineral lands be-
longing to the Indians Of Oklahoma.
For Congressman Burke and Senator
Crawford Of this state are both on
the committee that is investigating
the charges.
The charges made by Senator Gore
in the Senate were rather indefinite,
but his standing gave them enough
force to bring about the appointment
of a committee to investigate. Thus
far the probe has failed to develop
any very definite evidence Of corrup-
ton. ]. F. McMurray, an attorney Of
Oklahoma, was endeavoring to put
through the sale Of $30,000,0OO Of
Indian coal and asphalt lands, worth
several times that amount and Sc
cure for himself a commission of ten
per cent. OF $3.000,00o. This neces-
stated considerable activity at Wash
ington and Gore has declared on the
stand that Jacob L. Hamon, national
committeeman from Oklahoma, and
a friend of McMurray, offered him a
bride of $4,000 to help put through
the deal. He also stated that Ham
OF had told him that Vice-President
Sherman had interceded with Presi-
dent Taft in behalf Of the contracts. |
Ali of these statements Hamon de-
MES and Sherman declares false the
report that he had attempted to Sc
cure Taft's support of the McMurray
deal.
The most definite evidence in sup
port Of the allegations made by Gore
came Saturday from McCurtain, a
Choctaw Indian named by his tribe
as delegate to Washington. He told
that he was offered $4,000 by Me-
Murray as long ago as 1906 to with
draw opposition to the contracts. SEN
ator Curtis, on the other hand, tes-
titles that Taft and Sherman both
opposed any contracts giving an at
a big commission for putting
through any sale Of lands, as they did
not believe an attorneys services
were required by the Indians. He add
ed that McMurray's methods had al
ways been fair.
While the investigation seems like
ly to be barren of positive proof Of
attempted bribery Of members of con-
gress or other officials of the govern
ment; enough has been brought out
to make 1t clear that improper in
huences were at work. Why should al
national committeeman go to Wash
ington to give aid to McMurray in an
effort to secure a prize Of So, 1000, 900
by the aid Of the government? Why
should there be any attempt to in
duce congress to approve contracts
drawn up with the Indians for the
purpose of enriching the attorney in
the case? Is not the government
to superintend the dispos-
al Of lands in the possession Of the
Indians? The efforts Of McMurray
and his friends were gratuitous, to
say the least. He was working for
McMurray and for that reason he was
virtually asking an appropriation
from the government as trustee for
the Indians.
McCurtain in his testimony said
that the Indians were impatient be-
cause the government did not sell
their lands. This suggests the very
need Of guardianship for the Indians.
The government could not treat them
fairly and sell their lands for less
than a reasonable value and, consid-
ering the amount of mineral deposits
in them and the necessity of careful
~ a%ppraising them and then Of find