Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-08-06
V|CE-PRES|DENT
NOT IN FAVOR Of
LAND CONTRACT
Senator Curtis on Stand Says
He, Too, Opposed $3,OOO,-
900 Scheme.
THINGS DIFFERENT WEST,
DECLARED WITNESS ANON
Oklahoma Man Testifies That
Senator Gore Himself
Could Be Bribed.

MUSKOGEE. Okla, Aug 6.--vice-
President Sherman disapproved of the
contracts whereby an attorneys fee
Of s3,o00,000 was to be allowed In the
sale of $50, 900. 900 worth OF Indian lands
in Oklahoma, testified United States
Senator Charles Curtis. of Kansas, To-
day before the committee investigating
the McMurray contracts.
Mr.. Curtis testified that not only
vice-President Sherman. but he him
self disapproved of the contracts.
That u. S. Senator Thomas P. Gore
United States Senator Thomas p Gore
Is bribe-taker, and that he entered
into an unlawful agreement in connec-
ton with bids for Indian lands, Is the
answer of Jacob L. Hamon, formerly
Republican committeeman from Okla
/ homa, whom the blind senator accuses
of trying to bribe him.
Senator Curtis came here to testify
following testimony given by Senator
T. P. Gore. who declared that he had
been informed that Mr.. sherman and
Senator Curtis each were "interesteds
in the contracts, the approval Of which
by Congress and President Taft was
sought by j. r McMurray.
Senator Gore charged that a New
York syndicate stood ready to pur-
chase the land for $50. 200. 900. and that
the contracts held by McMurray called
for 10 per cent. attorneys fees"
whereas the Indian treaties with the
government provided for the disposal
of the land without any expense to the
Indians.
0z= H. - ~ &<d ru&<
Senate and in his testimony Senator
Gore charged that the proposed sale
was an attempt to rob and plunder
the Indians.
Taking the stand before the commit
tee. Senator Curtis related details Of q
conversation at the White House be-
tween vice-President Sherman and
himself last April. The Senator said
he was a member Of the Senate com
mittee on indian affairs. and that
previously, as a member OF the House.
he had been for fourteen years a MEM
Der of the House committee on Indian
affairs He also related that Mr. Sher-
man had been chairman of the House
committee previous to his election TO
the presidency. That, said the
Senator. accounted for their having
been called to the White House to dis
cuss the McMurray contracts.
Conference at white House.
''Some time last April I was called
up on the telephone and asked to go to
the White House testified Senator
Curtis. "The President, Mr.. Sherman
and myself then began to talk about
Indian affairs. The President suggest
ed the possibility of reopening the
question of the Indian enrolment
There are about 1900 claimants, who
assert they are Indians and who were
left off the rolls and consequently are
Z not enjoying the privileges accorded
the Indians.
II told the President it would be a
serious mistake to reopen the question
The President then asked about Nc
Murray. l told him I had known Nc
Murray for year as counsel for the
Indians and he had never lost a case.
3 The President then wanted to know
, what there was about the contracts
, allowing attorneys fees. The reply Of
both myself and Mr. Sherman was
that in this instance we did not believe
the Indians needed any attorney on a
10 per cent. basis or any other basis.
I'VE called attention TO the fact that
the treaty between the Indians and the
VI
: land by the government. and no coun-
( sci was needed. It was pointed out
, that to give attorneys fees in this in
stance would simply be TO deprive the
Indians of that much profit guaranteed
them by the government. That formed
, the substance of our talk.
> I'VE further suggested to the Presi-
: dent that he never take any action on
: any Indian contract until he referred
/, the matter to officials who had the
right TO investigate the subject"
Congressman b S. Mcguire, of Okla
homa. also mentioned by Senator Gore
as being interested in the contracts.
was scheduled to go on the stand to-
j day.
i Inquiry Becomes Broader.
The scope of the investigation, which
| is being conducted by a special COM
: mittee of Congress. has been consider
ably broadened by the serious refiee~
S tions contained in the testimony Of
4 Hamon-
1t disclosed a peculiar code of polit-
: ical ethics in that 1t showed a Repub-
liean National Committee financing the
campaign OF a Democratic candidate
! for the United States Senate. Hamon
: was the committeeman and Gore was
= the candidate. And Gore won.
lannon's testimony regarding his
: former friend the blind senator. was
= of a most surprising nature. He be-
came angry under the gruelling exami-
nation of Representative Saunders and
declared that he had known for some
: time that Senator Gore could be safely
approached
. When pressed for specific instances
!, he said once in town lot case; an
: other time he had been bribed by the
! American Book Company. headquarters
of which are in Washington square IN
q New York City.
4 He said in another instance he was
! in Cores Office talking about the allot-
!. ment of some lands In western Okla
e homa and Gore said 1T would be a
G good thing IL we could get slice "a
Z that land"
NH