The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-08
HOW INVESTIGATION
IS BEING VIEWED
SENSATION AHEAD - BELIEVED
THAT cREAGER's TESTIMONY
is NOT END OF DISCLOSURES.

McAlester, Okla, Aug. THAT a
new era of wholesome legislation
by congress has dawned for the In
dians as a result of the congres-
sional investigation into the McNlur-
ray contracts is the belief sene-al
among senators, congressman and
other government officials assembled
here.
TMe committee appointed by the
house of representatives, headed by
Congressman Charles II. Burke OF
South Dakota, to investigate the
charges of Senator Thomas Z. Gore
that he had been rendered a $4,000
or $4,000 bribe to help put the Nc
Murray deal through the congress.
arrived here today from Muskogee
and tomorrow will continue its hear
ings.
McAlester is the home town Of
J. F. McMurray, the attorney who
with others holds the contracts.
Il is expected more light will be
thrown on Senator Cores declara-
ton that the sale is contemplated
for $3OOOO,OOO to a New York syn
dicate of 100000 acres of coal and
asphalt land now owned By che
Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians.
from whom McMurray secure, con-
tracts that would allow 10 per cent
attorneys fees, or $1,000 UOt Also
more evidence is believed forOhcom-
ing concerning Jake l.. Hamon, who
is charged by Senator Go'e vita
having offered the bribo to secure
the approval Of the conttac, by con
gress.
The testimony given by Congress-
man f. f. Creager of Oklahoma tina;
Hamon called him to a hotel in
Washington and there suggested"
he might obtain an interest in the
contracts if opposition were removed,
together with the Gore charges, is
not believed to be the end of the
disclosures,
Mr.. Creager's testimony was re-
garded as supplementary to that OF
the Gore charges. Hamon, who en-
tered general denial of all the
charges made by Mr.. Creager, Sen
ator Gore. d. F. Gore, the senator s
brother, and J. L. Thompson, the
senator's secretary, has been an in
terested spectator at all the St
sions. Congressman b. S. Mcclure
of Oklahoma and Senator Charles
Curtis of Kansas. both of whom
were namei by Mr.. Gore as having
been the men mentioned by Hamon
as beng interested IN the land
deal, have left.
Senator Curtis strongly denied
having any relation with Hamon. Mr.
Mcclure who testified concerning
meeting Hamon in Washington, and
who in response to direct ques'
tions, denied he had ever been i'm
properly approached in relation to
the McMurray contracts, told the
committee he was ready to reappear
at any time. The name Of Vice Pres
| ident Sherman, who, according TO
| Senator Gore, was mentioned by
Hamon as the man higher up" has
been eliminated from the investiga'
tion so far as Senator Gore is CON
cerned.
No Object to Gore.
The senator said he had no OBJ
iect in mentioning Mr. Sherman's
name. other than to relate all that
Hamon had said to him.
Since McMurray also has been
charged on the stand with having
rendered a $25,OOO bribe to a Choc.
taw delegate to Washington to with
draw opposition to old contracts that
were subsequently disapproved by
President Roosevelt in 1908, it is
believed McMurray will be called
to testify. What are known as the
present McMurray contracts consist
of about 10000 documents secured
individually with the Indians.
The story told on the stani by
Green McCurain, chief of $4,000
Choctaws. and venerable fighter Of
pioneer days, made a deep impress
sion. McCurtain related how his
tribe day after day had waited for
the government TO sell their lands,
and how, at last, the Indians. he
coming discouraged. had become the
prey Of attorneys, whose promises
We're more glowing than those of the
government. During the last ten