Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-25
Sensation Over
Sen. Cores Charges.

Washington, June Ex-senator Gore
Of Oklahoma disclosed in the Senate
today what he interpreted as an eff
fort to bride 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 ma
| tions in land and town site cases.
| The charge created a sensation in
, the Senate. which later extended to
the House. The later body in conse-
quence sent back to conference the
general deficiency bill which carried
an item relating to contracts between
he Indians and their attorneys
AS the result of the announcement
Senator Gore finally involved a men,
Der of the Senate committee on Indian
affairs, member of the House COM
mittee 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 Sem
ator Bailey that he should name the
Senate member of the Indian affairs
| committee. Mr.. Gore demurred. but
declared that he would welcome an
| investigation Of the charges.
1t is not improbably that such an
| investigation will be ordered.
Mr.. Gore was compelled to address the
Senate three times before that body was
| fully aroused to the seriousness of the
| charges he made. His first effort was in
connection with the adoption of the con-
| ference report on the deficiency bill
| which had been completed by Senator
Hale. AS passed by the Senate, this
| measure contained an amendment which
| would nullify contracts made by the
Choctaw and Chickasaw nations and by
individual members of these tribes with
their attorneys unless the contracts were
approved by Congress.
| This provisions was in accordance with
a resolution introduced by Mr.. Gore Nav
last 1t was designed to prevent Mr..
McMurray from obtaining fees which it
Is said. would aggregate 100000 and
which Mr. Gore complained had not been
earned by the attorney.
The conference report had heen adont-
ed by the Senate when Mr.. Gore entered
the cnamber. He announced that he had
| Deen informed that the Senate had re-
ceded from the amendment requiring the
| approval of Congress of tribal agree
| ments. but Mr.. Hale explained that the
| matter had been properly safeguarded
MI Gore accepted the explanation. hut
said If the contracts were to be recoe-
| nized Mr.. McMurray would receive %
COO,0o. 1t was in this connection that h.
first declared that improper influence h.
been exerted by a representative of Mr.
McMurray in an effort to defeat tho nro-
vision requiring congressional action unon
the contracts
Characterizing the McMurray claims ,
having been conceived in corruption and
brought forth in corruption" Mr. Gore
SAID ne had been approached by an out.
slider who desired to interest him in tho
McMurray claims.
Later Mr. Gore examined the nroy;
sion as agreed upon in conference He
'oSt nc time in returning to the SEN
ATE chamber. where he moved to re-
consider the vote by which the con-
terence report had been adopted The
presiding officer informed him that the
report had passed out of the possess
sion of the Senate. Mr. Gore then
moved to recall the report, but Mr..
Gallinger moved to lay this motion on
the table. which was done.
Addressing the Senate upon a uues-
ton OF personal privilege, the Oklaho-
ma senator amplified his charges that
corrupt methods had been ATTEMPTED
10 defeat the Senate provision concern
ing the Indian contracts.
Mr.. Gore explained that on Nav 4
last he had offered a resolution SINH
lar in terms to the amendment he had
placed in the deficiency bill in the
Senate and that it had been referred
to the committee on Indian affairs. On
the following day Senator Hughes had |
been directed to make a favorable re-
port on the resolution. he said
ION May c. exclaimed Mr.. Gore. "a |
man came TO met with an improper |
suggestion. He was a representative of |
Mr.. McMuarry. resident of my home |
town and had been my friend in a time |
OF need. He assured me it would be to |
my financial interest if would call on
the senator from Colorado and advise
MIN not to report the resolution. There.
was suggestion that $250OG or $4,000 |
would be available f~the contracts
We're not prohibited. And l am in
formed that similar proposition was
made yesterday to a member of the
House of Representatives" =,
Mr.. Gore also charged that AN ex-
senator from Nebraska and an ex-
senator from Kansas gro '-+e-e~.r" =,
these contracts" and declared that q
large lobby Was maintain.