Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-06-12
subiectto 10 the Democratic Primarie., August Al

admitted to the bar at Ryan, Indian
Territory. He advanced rapidly as
an attorney, and three years later
removed to Chickasha, where he
continued his practice for live years,
his firm building up one of the larg-
est and most lucrative practices in
the southwestern part OF the terri
tory. His practice was general, but
he never engaged himself as corpo-
ration lawyer.
When the statehood question was
launched in 1906, Hayes was nonI-
mated without opposition by the
Democrats of his county and elected
to the constitutional convention at
Guthrie. He was active from the
start and the value of his services
soon advanced him to membership,
on the important committees. among
them being the committee on rules
judiciary, homesteads and exemp-
tions. He was then made chairman
of the legal advisory committee and
of the committee on schedules. With
A. M. Ellis of Orlando, Hayes wrote
the famous oath OF office by which
no man in Oklahoma can qualify for
an office who has expended money
to procure his election or appoint
ment in excess of the amount au-
thorized by law, and which requires
the oath of all officers that they
will not receive, use or ride upon
any free pass or transportation dur
ing their term of office. Under thu
Oklahoma law, the violation of this
oath is perjury.
Hayes took an active part in the
convention, and as chairman of the
legal advisory committee, passed
upon almost every provision of the
constitution before it became part
of the document finally adopted He
was author of nearly every provision
of the schedule of the constitution,
by means of which the widely differ
ent forms of government existing in
the Oklahoma and Indian territories
were TRANSFORMED into one govern
ment under the constitution.
In addition TO his other labors in
the constitutional convention Judge
Hayes presided great portion of
the time over the convention as chair
man of the committee of the whole.
In this position he displayed the
same comprehensive and thorough
rendered the. same astute decisions
that have since characterized him as
an eminent jurist.
Following statehood In Oklahoma.
Hayes was elected member of the
supreme court on his thirty-second
birthday, being, perhaps, the young
est man ever elected to such an Of,
3 flee by popular vote. In 1908 he
was reelected without opposition to
succeed himself, and from January,
1913. until HIS recent resignation,
he has been chief Justice of the SUI
preme court. After seven years.
service Judge Hayes retires at an
age younger than but few men ever
elevated to such position
Out OF great gratitude to. and
veneration for the name OF Henry
w. Grady, whose biography sfford-
ed him the inspiration for his sue
cess, Judge Hayes as a member OF
the constitutional convention had
his home county named Grady coun-
ty.
AS chief justice of the supreme
court, Judge Hayes presided over
the recent impeachment trials in the
fourth legislature. His manifest
fairness and executive ability result
ed in an unusually speedy disposi-
tion Of the proceedings. There was
but one appeal taken from his rul-
ines and on this decision was sus-
tanned overwhelmingly. AT the con-
cluster OF the trial of these lm-
reachments, notwithstanding there
had been much bitterness hetwo'm
contestants. Judsc Hayes was show
ercd with compliments for his fair.
ness and impartiality.