The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-09
McMurray, the Lobbyist" and His Indian Claims

out the Atoka agreement to sell the tribal
property and distribute the funds. WASH
ington did little or nothing. Instead of
respecting the pledge that the Indian
lands should be tax free for period of
twenty-one years, Congress authorized
the new State of Oklahoma to levy taxes
on certain tracts. McMurray inaugurated
a fight to recover these taxes and charged
each Indian interested So He won the
case in the Supreme Court Of the United
States and recovered millions for the
tribes.
The governments pledge to wind up
the tribal affairs still tagging, he OBJ
tanned from some 10000 of the q ,00c
Choctaw and Chlckasaw Indians con-
tracts giving him 10 per cent Of all funds
they should receive from his promotion
of further legislation providing for the
settlement of this business. Mr.. McMur-
ray estimates that the Indians property
is worth about $4,000 900, on which 10
per cent fee would yield 100000 A more
moderate estimate is about 1885, 900.
which would give Mr.. McMurray and
his associates in Mansfield, McMurray &
Cornish a fee of $3,5oo.o0o.
Mr. McMurray sought to obtain from
Congress legislative approval of these
contracts. Senator T. p. Gore, of Okla
homa, opposed the bill approving them
and caused a nationwide sensation on
June "a, 1910, when he rose to question
of personal privilege in the Senate and
declared that he had been offered $50 900
to withdraw his opposition to the pro-
posed legislation.
He said that the would-be briber had
stated that a Senator, a Representative.
an Official higher up" and two men
who had previously served in the Senate,
were interested in the legislation.
The names of Vice President Sherman.
Senator Curtis of Kansas. and Repre-
sentative MCGUIRE OF Oklahoma were
later brought into the case. but the in
vestigating committee cleared them and
declared that there was nothing to con-
meet Mr.. McMurray with the proposition
received by Senator Gore. Nevertheless.
the legislation was not enacted and is
still pending in Congress. Senator Gore
has proposed legislation directly forbid
ding the approval OF the contracts, the
fate of which will soon be decided.
Mr.. McMurray is the antithesis of the
popular idea of lobbyist He gives no
private dinners, employs no beautiful
women to cajole the susceptible legis-
lator and apparently relies largely upon
the cooperation of other lawyers like
himself.
His sheet anchor is the confidence OF
the Choctaws and Chickasaws. who hon
estly believe he can get more for their
lands than any other man. and that he
will settle their affairs more promptly
than the United States government. They
appear quite willing to pay him 10 per
cent and get their money during their
lifetime rather than to wait and have
the government pay II to their children.
Lobby Days Recalled.
Since the lobby investigation has been
in progress Washington has fallen into
a reminiscent mood. The great figures
OF the days that recollection renders
heroic are recalled.
The lobby that is pictured in literature
passed about the time that John Cham |
berlin closed his famous restaurant in
the house where Fernando Wood, Of
New York. once lived.
Up to that time II was possible to |
reach legislators through their stomachs |
out since then good food-superlatively |
sood-has been scarce in Washington. |
md the picturesque side of Influenced |
egislation Withdrawn from public gaze |
IN the '70s. when the Pacific railroads |
we're getting their great grants from the |
government, wonderful lobbying was
lone at Chamberlin's. Sam Ward. dis
inguished. companionable, sympathetic
ave " ETcdltsl Hlcn |
Il the day sat down. Every one knew
What Sam Wards business was, but
lone could resist the Establishments OF
he Smithfield hams which he prepared
With his own hands in the kitchen at
and then picked in cham
'agne or Burgundy. Nat Mckay pre-
erved to a limited degree the traditions
4 gastronomic lobbying until his death,
few years ago. He represented the
interests, and built the
Dewey Hotel with his earnings. Yet such
statesmen as Senator
George Frisbie Hoar OF Massachusetts,
we're glad to put their feet under his
oard.
Old District Club.
Inspire Renaissance in the breast Of
ny old politician or old newspaper man
nd you will hear of the famous poker
anne that ran for four years in the
Ds, at the end of which time certain
enators were ahead as much as $4,000.
nd others that much behind-of other
olks' money. You will learn also OF
lakes Ames. the lobbyist who was so
as to keep in a notebook
list of the presents of Pacific Railroad
took that he scattered through the men,
ership of House and Senate and which
vas later introduced in the evidence be-
ore Congressional committee. The
fppety Witchety Club, for which a
rominent photographer. recipient OF val
able government contracts, always paid
he bills, will be recalled. Men are still
wing who participated in this clubs
onvival excursions to Blackistone's
stands, in the Potomac.
Nor will the District Club be forgotten.
Is old quarters in New York Avenue
TRANCE to say, were later occupied by
he Y. NJ. c. A, and now houses n
furniture shop, but when
Boss Shepherd was pulling Washington
ut Of the mud in the late 70s and early
Us II was in the District Club that the