Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-08-07

money.
Yes. they certainly are. They
need IT, They are poor, living on
/ promises so long
why do you Indians have sol
many lawyers ?"
Because we want to get the
money:
Can YOU estimate how much your
tribe has paid ont In attorneys fees
in the last ten years."
| Our tribe IN that time has paid
cut about 100000
Among the Developments of the
day were:
Talked Over at White House.
Senator Curtis told of having been
summoned by telephone to the White
| House TO discuss there with Presi-
dent TAFT and Vicep President Sher-
man the merits of the MCMurray con
tracts. Mr.. Taft had expressed the
| belief that the ten per cent fee was
too high and his visitor agreed with
him. Thr- the senator thought sut-
| hciently refuted by imputation tina,
he was interested" in the land deal.
The senator knew McMurray for
years and had never known OF his
attempting to Influence" legislation.
Senator Curtis also testified that
ne knew OF no animosity existing be
tween himself and Senator Gore e<-
Cept that Mr.. Gore had remarked
that Curtis was "meddling too much
in Oklahoma affairs by fair means
and by foul"
Congressman C. f. Creager. of
Z 10 aft no Testimony
! previously given by Hamon. whom
he accused of having suggested that
he might obtain an interest" in the
contracts but which Hamon denied.
Congressman Mcclure denied he
ever was interested" in the con-
tracts or had sought their approval
by congress. He said he knew Nc
Murray and Hamon. He asserted he
! lad never been improperly approach
ed in regard to the contracts and he
never was interested in them Ito the
extent of one penny"
ID. c. McCurtain. VINO described
himself as a delegate to Washing
! ton for the Choctaws. testified that
before the disapproval of the old
| tribal contracts by President Roose-
| welt. 1908. and which they were still
pending, he was approached by Nc
Murray in the lobby of the Raleigh
hotel at Washington.
! McMurray had been talking with
Cecil Lyon. national Republican COM
mitteeman OF Texas. but Lyon went
away before the subject OF the $4,000
was discussed
/ ID. c. McCurtain testified:
f. IL II.
and he said You know We have a
contract for the sale of the land 1
said I heard it but have never seen
copy OF the contract He said
We have decided we will give you
49,. 900 IL you will not oppose the con
tract lie said: If the secretary OF
! the interior approves the contract IN
| its present form, we viii give you
s25 600. If he scales the contracts.
then the $4,000 probably will be cut
| Gown accordingly. | want to talk 10
you further about this matter.
Il did not see McMurrsy for several
days. but in the meantime | got 10
] thinking about the proposition aud
knew that they were going to bring
powerful political influence 0 bear IN
support Of that contract thought
may be if did not manifest too much
opposition 10 that contract | would be
\ in position ultimately to defeat it,
I but if | became too antagonistic |
might have no opportunity to get, my
forces together and that they might,
] in some wa, secure the approval OF
the contract.
Several DAYS after that saw Nc
Murray in the capitol and | said 4
have decided to accept your PROPOSE
ton But ! did not learn any more
about the contract by that means.
The matter went on for some time
and nc effort was made to get the con-
tracts approved. Then the matter
went along until the constitutional
convention Of Oklahoma appointed a
committee to Investigate whether i;
we've possible to purchase the coal
| lands from the Indians.
MeMursy Busy Again.
~McMurFay became active again. He
wanted 10 appear before this commit
! tee as the representative of the Choc-
taw Indian nation. His endesyored to
secure a written statement from Gov
! erncr McCuriain that NcMurrsy rep
resented he Choctaws and they so rec
ognized him McMgrrsy came to my
house to see me He stated he
thought he was m a position to do
the naticn a great deal Of good. Then
I said. Mr. McMurrsy don't want
anything 10 DO with your contracts
Mr. McMurray. in an Interview. de-
MED be made the offer. He said Lyon
bad been financially interested win
him in the contracts
Have you ever receicec any hnan'
siaI assistance from any person bav-
ing a contract with the Indfans?'