Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-08-08
PREDICT DAWN
Of NEW ERA
FOR INDIAN
GOOD MAY COME OF
GORE DISCLOSURES
Testimony Shows the Con-
gresham How Nations De-
lay and Neglect Has Left the
Redmen Prey to Lawyers.

fBy Morning journal Special Lsasss wlreI
McAlester, Okla. Aug. THAT a
new era OF wholesome legislation by
congress has dawned for the Indians
as . result of the congressional in
restigation into the McMurray con-
tracts Is the belief general among
senator's, congressman and other gov
ornment officials assembled here.
The committee appointed by the
house of representatives and headed
by Congressman Charles Il. Burke, OF
South Dakota to inquire into the
charges of Senator Thomas F. Gore,
that he had been rendered a S25,-
600 or $4,000 bribe to help put the
McMurray deal through the congress
arrived here today from Muskogee and
tomorrow will continue its hearings
here.
McAlester is the home town of ].
T. McMurray, the attorney who with
others, holds the contracts.
It is expected more light will be
thrown on Senator Cores declarations
Also more evidence 1t is believed
will be forthcoming concerning Jake
l.. Hamon, who is charged by Senator
Gore with having offered the bribe to
secure the approval OF the contracts
by congress.
The testimony given by Congress
man e. T., Creager. of Oklahoma. that
Hamon called him to hotel in Wash
ington and there suggested" he
might obtain an interest" in the con.
thacts IL opposition were removed, to-
gether with the Gore charges, is not
believed to be the end of the dis
closures.
Mr.. Creagers testimony was re-
garded as supplementary to that of
Senator Gore. Harmon, who entered
a general denial OF all the charges
made by Mr., Creager. Senator Gore.
-. +. Gore, the senator's brother and
j. l.. Thompson, the senator's secre-
tarN, has been an interesting specta-
tors at all the sessions.
Congressman b. S. Mcclure of
oklahoma ana Senator Clsiarles Cur
tis of Kansas both of whom named by
Mr.. Gore having been mentioned by
lfamon as interested" in the land
deal. have left
Senator Curtis strongly denied htv-
ing any relation with 1amon. Mr.
Mcclure, who testified concerning
Hamon, in Washington and
who in response to direct questioning
denied he had ever been improperly
approached" in relation to the Me-
contracts, told the committee
he was ready to reappear at any time
The name OF Vice. President Sherman
who according to Senator Gore, was
by Hamon as the man
higher ur" has been eliminated from
The investigation, so far as Senator
Gore is concerned
The senator said he had no object
IN mentioning Mr.. Shermans name.
,ther than to relate all that Hamon
nad said TO him.
Since McMurray also has been
on the stand with having
endered a $4,000 bribe to Choc- !
aw delegate to Washington to with |
lraw opposition to old contracts that |
we're subsequently disapproved by !
President Roosevelt in 1908 it is be-
ieved McMurray will be called to |
estlfy What are known as the pre- !
lent McMurray contracts consists OF |
lbout 10000 documents secured in
lividually from the Indians.
The story told on the stand by |
Green McCurtain, chief of $4,000 |
'hoctaw Indians and a venerable /
lighter of pioneer days, made a deep |
McCurtain related how !
lis tribe In after years had waited !
or the government 70 sell their lands |
md. how at last the Indians. be-
-oming discouraged had become the
Jrey Of attorneys whose promises
we're more glowing than those of the
government.
II cost his tribe i'm the last ten years
,IcCurtain said, 100000 in attorney
ees. besides share in the s750,0O0
ZEE paid to the McMurray firm sew
raj years ago in the citizenship
'ases involving the Choctaws and
'hickasaws
Congressman j. IL. Stephens, OF
Texas. a member of the investigating
committee in a speech in congress re-
erred to the s750.00O fee az "a
candal" and declared the attorneys
hould have been made to pay back
he money
ut IS evident that the whole indian
ituation needs to he gone over by
he government" said an official to-
av. The Indians are are ward OF
he government yet they have became
he prey of attorneys. For instance.
ne attorney received $4,000 a year
or representing one tribe and he
esides at New York only in in
tances where the interests of the
and the Indians conflict.
hould attorneys be employed. Where
he sale OF the land is concerned. the :
ovcrnment itself has agreed. by
-eaty to dispose Of the land and give
be proceeds 10 the Indian. The /
vidence that has developed certain /
will enlighten congress ON what
ight to BE- done"
,
An kAfCATuCD LlAf TC