The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-10
Senator Gore Shows How
Anxious ACMuTTay Was to
Secure the Big Fees
TELtGRAMS PREPARED
FOR INDIANS TO SIGN
Gore Declares That He Does Not Re-
fleet Upon Sherman or Curtis in
Introducing Letter Con-
tanning Their Names

McAlester, Okla, August e-While J. F.
McMurray was in Washington last May
urging the approval of his contracts by
which he and his associates would be able
to secure 10 per cent attorney fees for
the sale of sSo.ooo.o 900 worth of land owned
by the Indians. the Indians themselves
were being urged to send kilograms to
Washington recommending the sale.
A few days before May 6, on which
date Senator T. P. Gore charged he was
offered a $4,000 or $4,000 bribe to induce
Congress to approve the contracts, Nc
Murray telegraphed to Oklahoma Send
not less than 80 letters and kilograms and
keep up the work for week at different
towns. Looks better here. We will win
l know
This evidence was brought out in the
investigation of the land deal before the
congressional committee today. Senator
Gore said he introduced 1t to show the
activity at Washington at the time the
bribe is alleged to have been made.
Many Choctaw Indians went on the
stand TO show that shortly after MeMur-
ray sent his telegram they were visited
by George w. Scott, McMurray's agent.
Scott asked the Indians to sign tele-
of coal and asphalt land on the 10 per
cent attorney fees basis.
Telegrams of Indians
The Indians kilograms were addressed
to Richard C. Adams, an attorney at
Washington, who was supposed by tho In
diahs to give the messages to President
Taft. The Indians readily sent the tele-
grams, they testified, because they were
impatient at the delay of the government
in disposing of the land, according to
treaty promises.
References to Vice President Sherman
and Senator Curtis of Kansas were made
In letter introduced by Senator Gore.
II had been explained by Mr.. Creager
that he and Richard Adams had called
upon President Taft and that the Pres
ident had announced his disapproval of IA
plan to reopen the trabal rolls that
more claimants might enter, and his ap-
proval of settling the Indian land uues-
tion.
President Taft, 1t was said. wrote
letter 10 that effect and declared his
willingness to have it given wide pub
lcity. After the letter was made public
George Scott wrote TO Mr.. Adams at
Washington: please say to the President
that his course is to be commended. He
has placed himself on record in his let
ter to you as against the reopening of
rolls as a settlement of our affairs. His
office will give prestige to our demands.
With Mr.. McMurray there to state our
claims. with Mr.. Curtis and Mr.. Sherman,
who understand better than others what
we want. and with assistance of the Pres
ident it begins to look like we are coming
into our own"
"Men High Up"
Senator Gore stated he had not intro
duced the letter because of the mention of
Vice President Sherman and Senator Cur
tis. The latter, together with President
Taft. as already has been shown in pre-
vious testimony. had declared themselves
against the 10 per cent fee clause in the
McMurray contracts.
Much amusement was caused by the
testimony of J. r. Logan, "One day last
November" he said "a certain Tom
Sanguine called on me to have me sign
the McMurray contracts. ! asked him
how McMurray was going to do anything.
He said Well. Nc has powerful infu-
ence at Washington. He can afford TO
spend lots of money. For instance. If he
makes s3,000,00o out OF these contracts he
can afford to spend 81 100000 to get IT, Out
of his 10 per cent he gave ! per cent to
one senator. l or to another. a couple
of per cent to some congressman. and still
he will have a fortune left That way
he will get the land sold tell you some
body Is going 10 get a lot out of this.
anyway. and we might as we'll let Nc
Murray have IT,