The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-19
Declare Hayes Request Was
First Had Ever Received
From Secretary of Common-
wealth's Office
F ormer Chief Clerk
Denies Allegation
Lieutenant Governor Ellyson
Saps Not for Committee
lanes Will Not Say What
Steps viii Be Taken Against
Hayes.

/ Further developments In the matter
OF the securing of llsts OF the quaH-
! fed voters Of the State of Virginia
+ by James VI. Hayes. Jr., chief clerk in
the office of secretary of the Com
nlonwealth 3. Q. James. through the
Use OF the alters office and sigma
ture, add new complications, and all
the while interest is becoming keen
I as to what was the real use for which
these lists were procured.
Registrars are coming forward with
dexials that any previous request has
ever been made upon them. through
the office of the secretary OF the Conn
monwealth. for such lists; others are
sending in to Secretary of the COM
rnonwealth James bills for services rem
dared in copying the lists, and are
looking to him for payment; and one
registrar, in n letter to Attorney Cen
eral Pollard has questioned the authors
! ity Of the secretary of the Commons
wealth to call upon him for a list OF
the qualified voters in his precinct.
J. G. Hawkins, chief clerk to the
secretary of the Commonw ealth up to
: three years ago. stated to the Vir-
gilman yesterday that during his cons
neetion with the department no call
was made for lists OF the voters. SO
far as he had ever known.
Lieutenant Governor Ellyson, chair
man of the Democratic State commit
tee disposed Of suggestion that Mr..
. Hayes might have~ha acting for this
committees when he stated last night
that ne knew nothing whatever OF tho
matter.
/ It remains the general belief that
4 the lists were secured for use by the
liquor interests.
! No Action Taken Yet.
Secretary Of the Commonwealth
James stated to The yirginian last
night that the report that his chief
clerk. James NJ. Hayes. Jr., WAS still
sending out the letters to the regis
trars. asking for lists of the qualified
voters was erroneous, No such let
ters had been sent out Colonel JameA
said, since he gave positive orders that
the offense be not repeated
Asked had he taken any action to-
ward his chief clerk. Colonel James re-
H!te3 that he had not. When further
( asked If he contemplated any such ac-
ton. the secretary of the Commons
wealth, said, Il don't know that do
Despite the fact that Colonel James
declines to give cut any indication OF
/ any line of action which he may pur-
sue in the matter. II is believed that
next forty eight hours. and that the
secretary VIII either discipline his
chief clerk or fuller and more cons
prehensive statement Of the circum-
stances under which the names Of the
voters were collected will be given to
the public.
Friend. Talk with James.
Great interest Is felt in the matter
in official circles and speculation 10
fa h. nj
number OF warm personal friends OF
Colonel James were at the Capitol yes
terday, doubtless discussing with him
the details OF Mr.. Hayes conduct ana.
possibly. giving him the beneht Of their
views as to the proper course to b.
pursued
when asked II 4 number Of friends
had called on him yesterday and made
any suggestions as to what attitude he
should take toward his chief clerk. COLI
onel James replied, "As 70 that. have
nothing to say.
Lieutenant Governor Ellyson was
seen last evening and asked IL Mr..
Hayes had acted on any suggestion
from him. as chairman Of the Dsmo-
cratic state committee, In the securing
of the tfsrs.
II had nothing whatever to do with
IT," MIR. Ellyson was quick to respond.
Il knew nothing at all about the mat
ter, and 7 have nothing further to say
about it"
Knew OF None Before.
J. G.. Hankins was seen Yesterday
by a Nirginian man relative to Mr..
Hayes statement that ii had been q
practice of clerks in the office Of the
secretary of the Commonw ealth for
years to secure lists of the voters Mr..
Hawkins occupied the position OF chief
clerk for great rumber of years prior
to March, 1911. when he resigned. He
denied emphatically TO The virginian
that he took any part In getting such
lists. and declared that so far az he
knows no such list was ever gotten
through the secretary of the Common.
wealth's office while he was employed
there.
While Mr.. Hayes claims to have been
acting entirely in his personal and
private capacity in requesting the
registrars to send In these lists, hin
letter bore every evidence of being
official, and was written on the OFFICIAL 4
stationery OF the secretary OF the AZ
Commonwealth and bore the sigma
ture of Colonel Il. o. James. though
the latter had no knowledge whatever n
as to what his chief clerk was doing,
Hayes admits that he did not consult h
with Colonel James about the pro-
priety of getting the lists or as TO sign
ing his superior's name to the letters &s
asking for the lists S
Registrars Make Denlals.
The Nirginian printed on Monday
morning a letter from q. Il. Robertson,s
registrar OF Chester. Chesterfield couM.z
ty. In which As Robertson d~claFs s ~
that, although HI had been rexjstfae#2
for ten years this was this first HnAoa]
hs had ever. received such Z EeGSe
" Z