Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-01-21
N MURRAY WILL
GET CLEAN BILL
THAT II THE INDIRECT WORD
FROM THE COMMITTEE
CONTRACTS INVESTIGATED
Gore Tamon Controversy win Not
Enter IntO the Finding to
Great Extent,

Washington Jan, 2O--Whnc no
member Of the committee has admit
ted as much, the general feeling about
the Capitol is that the report of the
scloc, committee OF the House ap-
pointed 10 investigate the so-callcd
Gore charges, win clear j, T.. McMr-
ray Of any connection with the alleged
attempt at bribery detailed 10y MT
Gore In his Senate speech. win criti-
else some features Of his work for the
Choctaw and ChIckasaw Nations, and
win criticiso Senator Gore with con-
siderable vlgor
The report Of the committee win be
pretty closely confined TO what Is
called for by the resolution under
which II was appointed The rcsolu-
ton directs the committee 20 lnvesti-
gate all circumstances connected with
certain contracts now said to exist
between J. f, McMurray, an attorney
of McAlestor, okla, or any other per-
son or persons, and the Choctaw and
Chlckusaw tribes OF Indians, or any
members thereof or any other of the
/ five civilized tribes, the Usage Indians,
or any members thereof, this 10 iu-
clude bribery, fraud or any undue in
| tuence that may have been cXertcd
on behalf Of the approval or procur-
/ ing of said contracts, or any of them.
| Originally the scope of the inquiry
/ was confined TO the McMurray con-
tracts and any contracts held by other
attorneys with any of the five tribes or
the Usage tribe or individual mem
/ bers Much matter was permitted TO
go into the record that has no bearing
on existing contracts and great deal
more is not related to contracts, past
or present, The committee, however,
| obtained mass of information that
will prove of great value In leglsating
| intelllgently for the five tribes and the
Osages
! The controversy that arose between
Senator Gore and Jake l.. Hamon, eX-
ccpt In so far as II bears on the Nc
Murray contract, probably viii not
play II large part In the committees
report
In winding up his argument for Mr.
McMurray, Cecil II, Smith of Sher-
man, Texas, made some telling
points for his client. Senator Gore
had preceded Judge Smith, having
made half hours statement in which
he said he would not attempt to an
aly2s tho testimony or reply to the
argument Of counsel for Mr.. McMur-
ray Least of ALL he said, would he
enter upon a defense of himself
against the aspersions cast upon me. "
Jake l.. Hamon, whom the senator
said attempted to bribe him. was the
only witness who cast any asperslons
upon Mr. Gore.
THE greatest crime that Hes at Nc
Murray's door is his loyalty to the in
terests OF his clients" said Judge
Smith. an season and out of season,
everywhere he was ever on the alert
to protect their interests.
"The nrm of Mansfield, McMurray
& Cornish handled property represent
ing untold millions. lie knows the
/ Choctaws and Chlckasaws and their
affairs as does no other man. They
need such representative In the
winding upof their vast sffalrs In
the past, the record shows he worked
with an eye single to their interests.
'The proposition is not whether the
Indians should be permitted to pay
out a lot Of money for something the
government has agreed to do for them
without cost, but whether they shall
be permitted to have representative
of their own choice, in whom they
have absolute confidence and to make
their own contract with him"
Judge Smith said that the fee Of 10
/ per cent perhaps is too large, but
| Congress had the power to reduce It
/ IL so desired lie maintained, how
ever that while Congress had the
power to deny the Indians permission
tc make contracts, it has no right to
do so, since they are citizens Of the
United States