The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-16

personally or officially. ! have
taken m steps TO secure such list
Mr.. HAYES tells me- that he stated
10 you over the phone that he
had been endeavorirg 30 secure
on his personal account certain
lists If voters Of tho State, and
that | had nothing whatever to
do with the same.
Very truly yours
II. @. JAMES
VIII Not Say Who For.
TIE general manager 81 The VT /
einian, accompanied hs the ely
editor ~ the psper, called on Mr.
Halves yesterday and nterroTated him
with reference to the manner in /
which these lists were being pro- (
cured and for what purpose While /
MI Hayes very blunvly refused TO
say for what private" Use he Was
securing the lists OF voters. the gen
~ral trend Of the conversation was
such as to confirm rather than re
move the very strong suspicion that
the ONCE Of the secretary Of the Com
mohwealth has been and is being
used for the liquor dealers as a means
of orsmunication with the registrars
OF the State. The conversation was !
about as follows. the questions. of
course. being asked by The Firgfnian
Representatives.. hFsu tue EHfNtis Hc-
ing made by Mr.. Hayes.
II understood you said The Vir-
9intan representative, in our conver-
sstion two or three days ago tn cav
that you were collecting the lists Of
$ registered voters from the registrars
Of the State p
" "YeR. sir, that ~ true
you said these were fer your pri-
Tats' useM'
YES. sir WE have been keeping
these lists revised and brought up 10
date for number OF years.
you say we have, Who 40 you
mean by we p
II mean thnf have been getting
the lists for number Of years. prob
ably ten or twelve years. / have
gotten them with the consent Of The
present secretary Of the Common
wealth. and with the consent NJ his
predecessor In ONCE
Have YOU undertaken tn get such
lists from all u the registrars 81 the
State"
well. would not say that, but
have pretty full list Yes. have
pretty nearly all Of them
"You say you are getting these per-
sonaily for yoor private use
Yes"
To what private use DO you intend
to pu; these lists"
III don't think that is any % your
business
Possibly not. but will Try and
show YOU before our conversation ends
that ! am entirely within my rights
as representative of The Nirginian
in seeking information on this sub
iect
We'll I don't think that ia mat
ter with which you or The Nirvinian
have ANYTHING 10 do. You are prying
TOO much into private affairs
For His Private" Use. He Says.
YOU say you are getting these Lists
personally for your own private use.
Are your requests for the lists signed
by you personally
That's all right. You have prob
ably gotten hold Of some of the postal
cards sent out 10 be returned"
NO. have not seen any of the
postal cards but / have gotten some
sSnformation bearing on this subject
] would like Ia know whose name is
signed to the letters in which you re-
quest these lists"
Il have gotten these lists as I told
you, on my own account and such lists
have been gotten from time 10 time
with the knowledge Of the secretary
OF the Commonwealth, both the pres
ent one and the former one"
TO come right down u business.
Mr.. Hayes, The Nirginian wants to
know for what purpose these LISTS are
now being see ured, and by whom. they
gre TO be used ~
Il decline 10 give that information
ana do not think yeu have any right
to ask II. II is entirely my OWN
znsir"
MY information Is. Mr. Hayes, that
the letters asking for these lists bear
The signature of p. . James, secretary
II the Commonwealth. and that the
return envelopes are official envelopes
Of the secretary OF the Commonwealth.
Is this true7"
II have been getting these lists for
Years. as ] told you. and the secre-
airy Of the Com monWeaith has made
no objection ] have used the station
airy nj the Office, but, II course, ! will
aSy for that. Colonel James. wrote
vou. ! think. that he had no personal
ar official connection with the secar-
'ng Of these lists.
Signed BY Secretary
Yes. he wrote us to that effec,, hut
stlii ! understand that the call for
shese lists ~ signed hy Colonel James
ard liz SO worded as TO create IN the
minds OF the registrars the impress
sion that they are desired by the sec
retary OF the Comm wealth for of
Sciai use"
No. II Is purely a personal matter,
sn0 ! am gert,ng them on my own ac-
count. Colonel James has had moth
ne 10 do with H.
But | understand that these let4i
ers hear the signature Of Col mel
James Is II possible that you have
sept ont letters TO local officials in
he name ~ the secretary Of the Gem
aaonweaith 10 secure data which Yoa
~lsh 10 use for your own persona.
Croft 2,
THAT is my matter. have not
done anything but what / felt THAT /