Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-08-21
S,ATt MENT IS ISSUED
BY SENATOR |. P. GORE
officials Mentioned in Connection with
the McMurray Contracts Are Held
8lameless and Guiitess OF improper
Vestigation Nears close.
(By Associated Pressy. .

tBy Associated PressJ.
/ SULPHUR. OKLA, Aug. 20.-The
select committee appointed by the
/ house of representatives to investigate
/ Indian land affairs aud the so-called
/ Nc Murray contracts. and which also
/ has been Investigating the Gore brib-
cry charges, tonight issued the follow
ing statement:
The committee has heard and care
( fully considered all OF the testimony
submitted and is unanimous in the
/ opinion that there is and was no war
rant for any person to use the names
! OF Vive President Sherman and Sena-
for Carhles $ Curtis in connection with
any improper relation with any Indian
contracts whatever"
This is the opinion OF the commit
/ tee after hearing scores OF Witnesses
who appeared following The testimony
of Senator f. =. Gore. Senator Goie
said he had been approached by Jake
I l. Hamon and that HamOn, acting In
! the interest OF J. F. McMurray. had
, offered him (Senator Gore) $25 900 or
! $50 900 as a bride to promote in con-
gress the contracts by which AcMur-
ray was to receive 10 per cent attor-
news fee on the sale OF $50 900. geo
worth of Indian lands.
Cores Accusation.
The senator testified that HamOn
I had mentioned Senator Curtis and Vice
/ President Sherman as being Interest
ed" in the deal. Mr. Sherman being
named as the man higher up
Hamon. on the stand. denied he had
ever said anything about the contracts
TO Gore.
The committees report was signed
| by Representative Charles II. Burke.
South Dakota: c. b. Miller. Minneso-
ia: f. w Saunders. Virginia: J. n.
| stephens. Texas, and Phillip =. Camp
bell Kansas.
In giving its decision today. the COM
mittee announced f. had received from
| Senator Gore a statement relative 10
/ Vice President Sherman and Senator
Curtis and that the committee com
menaed Senator Cores statement.
This is the statement FROM Senator
Gore. which was read and inserted IN
! the official record Of the investigation:
Senator Cores statement.
ITO the investigating committee:
Il feel in defy and honor bound to
make the following statement; IT IS
I also dictated by considerations OF
| common justice toward the persons
I concerned: Neither the name of Vice
| President Sherman ror Senator Cur
It's was mentioned by me on the floor
; OF the United states senate. That The
| name Of either Cf these parties alluded
! TO bv Mr. HamOn was steadfasily
withheld from the public until this IN
'vestigation began.
NO public mention Of their names
was ever made. either directly or in
/ directly bv me until was required
/ and Obliged 10 do so. testifying as a
{ witness under oath, and detailing the
4 conversation which occurred between
Mr.. Hamon and myself. ! then made
/ formal protest against introducing
their names. but the committee. in the
proper pursuit OF is duties. required
I NE to make a full answer without
reservation.
Why Names Disclosed
Their names were disclosed not
with anv view with inculpating them
nor with any view q suggesting CUNT.
/ bus merely in order hat the
truth and ;hc whole truth
might BE- related with reference 60 the
l details 81 the conversation on the cues
'ion. The public must realize that
/ the name Of any man could be used or
mis1sed IN the same connection. either
IS an argument or Otherwise and no
public Official can have immunity and
protection against such an injury and
injustice
In NV last remarks In the senate
E I said thar the integrity Of no man
can BE- impc1chcd upon he testimony
u an interested or unirustworthy Wit
ness.
THAT vas my conviction then. That
is nv conviction nox am sure that
in the court Of public opinion nc jadg-
mont OF verdict has been returned eth