Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1910 — GORENAMES SHERMAN IN LAND BRIBE [ARTICLE]

GORENAMES SHERMAN IN LAND BRIBE

Sso,oooGraftStory Told Committee EVIDENCE SENSATIONAL Senators Story Corroborated by Other Witnesses Heard. INDIAN LANDS FRADD CHARGED Senator Gore Tells of Bribe Offer Made Him at Capital.

M uskogee, Ok la., Aug. 5. " United States Senator Gore, who made the sensational statement oh the floor of the senate .June 24 last that an attempt had been madeto bribe him by a “man from my own town,” reiterated the statement before the congressional committee, and named the man as Jake Hamon of Lawton, Okla., former chairman of the Republican State Central committee of Oklahoma. He also referred to Vice President Sherman as the “official higher up,” whom he (Gore) had been told had an interest in the McMurray contracts with the Indians. Senator Curtis of Kansas, Ex-Senators Long of Kansas, and Thurston of Nebraska, and Rickard Adams, a Delwaare Indian, were also referred to as men who had an interest in the Contracts. Congressman Creager corroborated Gore’s testimony. Creager said he had been approached by Hamon and offered an “interest” in the contracts if he would still the Opposition in congress. Dixie Gore, brother and private sceretary to the senator, testified to having been In an adjoining room when Hamon is alleged to have attempted to bribe the senator. The young man said that Hamon in leaving said: “Dixie. I would like to make a whole lot of money and I don't care how I make it. The senator is rough on his friends.” Senator Gore, after declaring that he had been approached by Jacob Hainmon, Republican national committeeman of Oklahoma, with an offer of a bribe of $25,000 to remove all congressional opposition to the contracts, asserted that Hammon had said a man “higher up” in the government was “interested” in the contracts. Senator Gore at first said he was reluctant to name the name “higher up,” but later, on being pressed by Congressman Burke, chairman of the committee, declared Hammon had used the ram? of Vice President Sherman. Senator Gore declared that when lie frowned upon the bribery offer, Hammon said the amount might be raised to $50,000. “Hammon also told roe that Senator Charles Curtiss of Kansas and Representative B. S. McGuire of Oklahoma were interested in the McMurray contracts.” testified Senator Gore. “Then he mentioned the name of Mr. Sherman. When I expressed astonishment, Hammon said: ‘Well you know there is a lot of money in this thing. If you say the word I will arrange for the $50,000. There will be no checks in this deal and no marked money. It will he all new, clean money. There’s a lot Of money tied up in this deal and a big fee for somebody.’ “He then explained he wanted me to withdraw my bill or at least have it reported unfavorably,” continued Senator Gore. “It. seems he did not know it had already been reported favorably.” Gore explained during his testimony that it- would be absurd for congress to sanction the McMurray contracts, which called for a 10 per cent fee out of the $30,000,000 sale, as the government had already guaranteed to sell the land fSr the Indians without any expense to them. The land involved In the McMurray contracts included 450,000 acres in the Choctaw- and Chickasaw nations. The mineral deposits there are valued at $160,000,000 according to the geological survey. • The committee will remain in session here for four or five days and then proceed to McAlester, where they will go further into the details of the Indian contracts.