The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-22
Mr.. HAYES E,Nplnins.

Colonel Il. O. James, Secretary OF
the Commonwealth, sends the follow
ing communications to The Times Dis
patch:
To the Editor of The Times Dispatch
Sir.--Sinco my last communication
To the public In regard to the action
OF my chief clerk. Mr. James NJ Hayes,
Jr., i'll securing list of voters OF the
state through my office, have oh
tanned n full statement OF the whole
matter from Mr.. Hayes, and ] submit
his statement In full herewith:
IT Is true. as Mr.. Hayes states in his
letter to me, that Mr.. Writ T.. Taylor
came 10 see me some time In April,
1914, and asked that ] request Mr..
Hayes TO supply Mr.. L. G. Akers with
certain information. the nature of
which Mr.. Akcrs would explain to
Mr.. Hayes. and called Mr.. Hayes into
my Office and told him TO help these
gentlemen out In any way that he
could. / then understood that what
Mr.. Akers wanted was Information in
regard to or extracts from such pub
lie records ms were then on flo in
the Office. such as a list OF the
electoral boards and registrars
In my letter published in the papers
on Monday, May Is. 1914. l stated that
l knew nothing Of tho matter until
my attention was called to It by Mr.
). H. Woodiin. AT that time did
not connect the conversation | had with
MIR. Writ T.. Taylor with tho securing
of these lists of registered voters
With this explanation 1t is my pur-
pose to let the matter rest, as In my
opinion. Mr.. IIaycs's conduct in this
matter does not call for his removal
from Office l.. o. JAMES
Mr.. IImycs's Letter.
Colonel b. o. james, Secretary of the
Commonwealth. Richmond. Va:
Sir-In compliance with your re-
quest for a full statement of the facts
with reference to securing certain
information in regard to voters in the
state. wish to state:
] became connected with the office
in 1902. during the first term of Office
OF Hon. ID. Q. Eggleston, and under
stood that MIR. j. O.. ianl<ins. the
former chief clerk, with permission
or the then secretary, MIR Egglcston.
secured at various times for Mr.. Ed
ward q. Akers the poll tax lists. lists
OF registrars and electoral boards ana
corrections OF certain registration
lists which he had for his use. This
practice was kept up during the en-
tire time that MIR. Eggleston was CON-
nccted with the office. on the first
DAY or April. 1911. you appointed me
chlef clerk In the place OF Mr. Han
kihs. VINO had resigned, and from limo
'''hS L 'p'4 10 secure MIR
-Nkcrs similar information when re-
qucsted During 1912 MIR. Akers had
me secure the same information. Dur
ing inc month OF April. 1914, Mr.. Akcrs
ana Mr.. Writ II. Taylor, or one OF
'hcm. called on you, and requested tbot
you Let me get certain informotion
Tor them or one of them. You called
me mo your private Office and lola
me TO help these gentlemen out. ar mo
one VINO spoke to You, in any wav th,t
could. You have since told me thar
az the time you thought they wanted
iisi or the electoral boards ana
REGISTRARS, which were public REGARDS
GU can see from this that for tn.
past twelve years Mr.. Akcrs has been
Ectting this Information through the
ONCE He has always paid all exncnso
attached To the securing OF these lists
ana no part Of the time of any cIcrIr
employed by the State has been con-
sumed In securing this Information
nave never received any comnen
sation for any of the Information ar
assistance that have given Mr.. Akers
and he did not state to me what he
desired with these lists or how no in
tended 10 use them.
Yours truly.
JAMES HAYES, JR.
Nav ia