Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-25
Gore Springs Scandal Involving
Prominent Men In and
Out of Congress
ALLEGED GRAB is HALTED
Blind 0kIahoman WithhoIdS the
Names but Is Eager for
Investigation
CAssociated Press1


Gore of oklahoma disclosed in the sem
ate today what he interpreted as an
effort to bribe him in connection with
legislation affecting the fortune in at
torney's fees claimed by ]. F. McMur-
ray of Oklahoma for services rendered
to the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations
in land and townsite cases.
The charge created sensation in the
senate which later extended to the
house. The house in consequence sent
back to conference the general de-
ficiency bill which carried an item re-
lating to contracts between the Indians
and their attorneys.
AS a result of the denouement, Sena-
tor Gore finally involved member of
the senate committee on Indian affairs,
a member Of the house committee on
Indian affairs, two former senators
one from Nebraska and the other from
Kansas, but whose names were not
made public in debate. In response to
a suggestion by Senator Bailey that he
should name the senate members of the
Indian affairs committee, Mr.. Gore de-
INJURED, but declared he would welcome
an investigation, so the whole matter
might be brought out
AS passed by the senate that measure
contains an amendment that would
nullify contracts made by the Choctaw
and Chickasaw nations and by in di-
vdual members of the tribes with
their attorneys unless the contracts
are approved by congress.
MEASURE INVOLVES $S,0OO,OOO
The conference report had been
adopted by the senate when Mr. Gore
entered the chamber. He said he had
been informed that the senate had re-
ceded from the amendment requiring
the approval by congress of tribal
agreements, but Mr.. Hale explained
that the matter had been properly safe
guarded.
Mr.. Gore accepted the explanation,
but said that If the contracts were to
! be recognized Mr.. McMurray would
receive $3000,000. 1t was in this con-
nection that he first declared that i'm
proper influence had been exerted by
| representative of McMurray in an eff
fort to defeat the provision requiring
congressional action on the contracts.
Characterizing McMurray's claim as
having been conceived in corruption
and brought forth in corruption" Mr..
Gore said he had been approached by
an outsider who desired to interest
him in the McMurray claims.
Mr.. Gore explained that on May
last he had offered a resolution similar
in terms to the amendment he had
placed in the deficiency bill in the SEN
ate and that it had been referred to the
Indian committee.
On the following day Senator Hughes
had been directed to make favorable
report on the resolution, he said.
"On May g." exclaimed Mr.. Gore, "a
man came to me with an improper
suggestion. He was a representative
of Mr.. McMurray, resident of my
home town and had been my friend In
a time of need.
FRIEND OFFERS BRIBE
"He assured me it would be to my
financial interest If I could call on the
Colorado senator and advise him not
to report the resolution. There was a
suggestion that $4,000 or $50,000 would
be available if the contracts were not
prohibited.
IT am informed that a similar prop
osition was made yesterday to mem
ber of the house of representatives"
Mr. Gore also charges that IAN ex-
senator from Nebraska and an ex-
senator from Kansas are interested in
these contracts" and declared that
large lobby was maintained in Wash
ington He said he felt in honor bound
to continue these efforts to prevent
this steal from those defenseless In
dians in Oklahoma"
The house almost unanimously re-
iected the conference agreement.
When the action of the house was re-
ported to the senate Mr.. Hale moved
the senate IuTIn6T l1SlSL upon lIS
amendments to the bill and asked for
a further conference.
Mr.. Gore re-entered the chamber at
this juncture and obtained recognition,
reiterating his protest against the pro-
vision inserted in conference.
Another sensation was created when
he declared the friend in need" had
told him during the conversation May
that a member of this senate,
member of the Indian affairs commit
tee, and a member Of the house Indian
affairs committee, were interested in
this contract.
INVOLVES CONGRESSMAN
Mr.. Gore haid he had just seen Mr..
Tawney, one of the house conferees.
and had asked him who suggested the
provision that was substituted for the
original senate amendment.
"And Mr.. Tawney named the very
same representative who was men
toned to me on May as being inter
ested in these contracts" exclaimed
the Oklahoma senator.
ST understand that this member of
the house and Mr.. McMurray prac-
tically live together in the same hotel
in this CITY,"
Senators looked aghast at the dis
closure made by the Oklahoma MEM
ber.
at think the senator from Oklahoma
owes it to himself and to the senate
to give the name of the senator who
was represented to him as being in
terested in these contracts" said a
senator.
Mr.. Gore declined, however, to men
ton any names, but said he believed
there should be an investigation of
the whole matter in the course of
which he might make the disclosures.
The bill was then returned to con-
ference.
Mr.. Gore had prepared a resolution
providing for an investigation, but
withheld it on assurance being given
by Senator Hale that the interests OF