Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-05-06
NICHOLS RESIGNS
SAYS HE Is VICTIM and WILL LAY
bare PARTY SECRETS.
Promises a Sensational Statement
Concerning Republican Politicians.
SChiveIy Still Refuses to Quit and
Special Session Nay Be Called to
Gust Him.

OLYMPIA, May 5.-Influenced
alone by the pleadings of his imme-
diate family and friends. Sam H.
Nichols, secretary of state and former
eX-OfficiO insurance commissioner,
yesterday afternoon handed his writ
ten resignation to Governor M. E.
Hay. Governor Hay will officially
accept Mr. Nichols resignation, but
nat for some days, until he decides
who shall be his successor.
Mr.. Nichols threatens to lay bare
party secrets that he says will i'm
plicate those who have been clam
Oring for his resignation and who
were responsible, as ne believes, in
forcing him to resign under fire of
a legislative inquiry.
Nichols Resignation.
His letter of resignation, written
by himself, but modified in part by
his attorney, Judge J. w. Robinson,
follows:
MAY 4, 1909.
'"Hon. M. E. Hay, Governor, Olym-
nia, Wash.-Sir: From present indi-
cations in certain quarters of the re-
publican party l have become satis-
fed that party lines will be shaken
to the center in this state, and in
order the the scheme may be brought
to a head someone must be slaught-
cred. 1t seems from certain news
papers and certain citizens of this
state l have been selected as the
main victim. Such being the case,
shall merely state my reason for
handing you this document, and will
in a short time issue a candid state
ment of the situation as l see it,
which will make interesting reading
for all good republicans.
"My health is not as good as I
could desire. My wife and children
have urged me to take the step I
am about to take. l might say hun
dreds of my friends have urged me,
at first thought, to remain in the
fight. When I raise the question as
urged by my family on account of
health, etc, they think 1 am doing
right and am treating my family as
they should be.
II can stand the malignity of
newspapers such as those who are
doing all they can for their own
sake to disrupt the party, but when
they get so low as to drag my fami-
ly in l feel that 1 must protect
them.
II respectfully tender my resig-
nation as secretary of state of the
state of Washington, to take effect
upon the appointment and qualifi-
cation of my successor.
Respectfully yours,
SAM H. NICHOLS"
When asked who would be the
successor to Secretary Of State
Nichols, Governor Hay said:
II have been so concerned with
other matters and with the meetings
of state boards, that I have given
the matter of the appointment of a
successor to Mr.. Nicnols no thought.
1t will be some days before l shall
announce an appointment"
May Call Extra Session.
The legislative inquiry began
again this afternoon. Former At
torney General John D. Atkinson
will take the witness stand tomorrow
to clear his official record, and to
refute the testimony of Schively.
who testified that he and Nichols had
been advised relative to the charges
for examinations of insurance COM
panies.
1t is limited that enough addition
al testimony will be brought out to
warrant Governor Hay in speedily
calling a special session of the leg
islature to take care of Mr.. Schive-
ly, if does not conclude to resign
his office. Schively is in Seattle, and
it was given out on reliable authori-
ty that he intended giving a Seat
tie paper, which has championed
his cause, a statement why he refuses
to resign.
Fees Amounted to $4,000.
1t is believed that the amount
collected from the insurance COM
panies by Commissioner Schively
and Secretary Nichols amounts to be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000. There
is no way to secure an accurate ac-