The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-08-06
SHERMAN NAMED
Vice President Drawn Into
Land Scandal.
GORE CREATES SENSATION
Blind Senator Asserts Sherman Was
Mentioned as Interested in AL.
legged $SO,OOO,OOO Grab
From Indians
GORE CREATES SENSATION

MuSkOBCe, Okld., aug ~ aiuSS -
Sherman, vice president OF the United
States, was named by blind United
States Senator Gore as the man
higher up" in the s30.O0o.0O0 Indian
land grab scandal. in which Senator
Gore charged that a $4,000 bride had
been offered to him.
This startling statement was made
before a special investigating commit
tee appointed by the house OF repre-
sentatlves. The probers were appoint
ed Just before the adjournment OF con-
gress. when Senator Gore made the
sensational charge that great sums OF
money had been offered to him and TO
others to withdraw their opposition TO
a scheme to allow the alleged grab.
Senator Gore. just previously to his
statement concerning the vice presi-
dent, had declared that the alleged
bride of $4,000 had been offered 20
him by Jacob Harmon. former chair
man Of the Oklahoma Republican ter
ritorial committee. prior to Oklahoma
becoming a state. The bribe, he tes-
tilted. was offered In Washington
on May 6.
offered $4,000 Bride.
Senator Gore. after declaring that he
had been approached by Harmon with
an offer of bride of $4,000 to re-
move all congressional opposition to
the so-called McMurray contracts, as
serted that Harmon had said a man
higher up" in the government was
interested" In the contracts.
Senator Gore at first said he was re-
luctant 10 name the man mentioned
higher Up" but later. on being press
ed by Congressman Burke. chairman
OF the committee, declared Harmon
had used the name OF Vice President
Sherman.
Senator Gore declared that when he
frowned upon the bribery pro1er,
Harmon said the amount might be
raised to $4,000.
Harmon also told me that Senator
Charles Curtis. of Kansas. and Con-
gresham Bird 8. Mcclure. Of Okla
bona. were interested In the McMur-
ray contracts" testified Senator Gore.
And while am about II. might as
well tell that he said an official higher
up in the government was also inter
ested in the deal.
when he named the person higher
up | held up my hands in astonish-
ment and said. rs ii possible that a
person so high In the United States
government could lay himself open to
such an imputation?"
well replied Harmon. this is
lots Of money. you see.
After repeated urging. Senator Gore
declared that the man higher up" was
Vice President Sherman.
Senator Gore said Congressman G.
z. Creager. Republican representative
Of the third Oklahoma district, also
had been approached in connection
with the bribery offer
Mr.. Greager told me so" said Sena-
tor Gore. He also told me to go
ahead and make these charges and
he would stand by me giving his tes-
timony."
Contracts Referred 10 Taft.
Questioned by E. p Hill. attorney
for the Choctaw Indians. Senator Gore
told of a conference that was held
with President Taft on April 2S in ref
erence TO the McMurray contracts. At
that time, the witness said, President
Taft had opposed the contracts on the
ground that the 10 per cent fee asked
was EXCESSIVE.
Former Senator Long had submit
ted the subject to the president as
counsel for McMurray, said the sena-
tor. and the president, while approx
ing the contracts, had said Longs
clients might take their case to the
courts
Senator Gore also declared he had
been informed an employe Of the de-
partment of justice at Washington was
interested" in the McMurray con-
tracts. The senator declined to give
the name either of his informant or OF
the government employe who was I'm
terested."
The bribery offer. Senator Gore ex-
planned, followed his opposition to the
approval by congress of what is known
as the McMurray contracts. which af-
feet the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes
of Indians.
BY these contracts. he said. J. T.
an attorney. and associates
were to receive 10 per cent Of the
profits on the sale OF 100000 acres Of
caal and asphalt lands belonging to
the Indians
AS a New York syndicate stood
ready to pay s3O.000.000 for the lands.
the 10 per cent to the McMurray In
terest for attorneys fees" would real
ize 100000 said the senator.
He declared Theodore Roosevelt, as
president, had prevented the sales OF
these lands in 1908 under contracts
made with tribes.
Gore also alleged that Secretary OF
the Interior Ballinger told him not
to talk so loud" about the plan be-
cause former Senator Long, Of Kan
sas, also interested" was in the next
room.
Congressr an c. Z. Creager, Of Okla
homa, testified that on June 16. at
Washington. he had been approached
by Jacob Harmon. accused OF at
tempted bribery by Senator Gore, and
had been invited to take an interest
In the contracts on condition that he
Creager. withdrew his opposition tc
them. Creager testified that Congress
man Mcclure occupied part Of the
Harmon suite at a hotel in Washing
ton.
sherman's Emphatic Denial
Big Moose, N. Y, Aug. 5.-Vice
President James s. Sherman issued