National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-21
JONES OF NEVADA.
TRUE STORY OF THE CAMPAIGN WHICH
RESULTED IN HIS ELECTION.

TRUE STORY OF THE CAMPAIGN WHICH
| RESULTED IN.HIS ELECTION.
VIRGINIA. NEVADA, April Il, 1874. (
| To the Editor Of TIA Democrat:
| Iclip the following from the 81. Louis Demo
eras OF April 8:
s'Mr. Jones, the Nevada Senator who distin-
guished himself by his recent speech in favor
Of contraction, Is the Rocky mountain rooster
who went into the Nevada Legislature with
Si0o, 900 In gold, bought and paid for his seat
In the Senate, and then made speech to his
friends, in which he publicly justified his un-
blushing corruption. The Puritan papers OF
New England are holding up Jones as bright
and shining light-s perfect model Of correct
statesmanship." ~
| I trust you VIII allow me to make q few cor
rections Of errors which this extract contains.
I am all the more anxious to do this, because
the Democrat has been one Of the few political
papers by which I have always been willing to
swear by-a sort Of TO meg political Bible.
The usual fairness Of the Democrat precludes
the possibility, in my mind, Of an intention of
doing wrong TO gentleman who happens, for
the nonce, TO be opposed to . measure which
you favor. Idaresay, then, that the paragraph
was one Of those which, hastily written, might
do Senator an injury. In the first place, SEN
ator Jones Is not "Rocky mountain rooster"
nor "rooster" of any kind, as the term Is ap-
piled. BE resided In Ohio up to the time of his
emigrating to California, and therefore, never,
hibernated nearer the Rocky mountains than
Ohio. In the second place, Mr.. Jones never.
"went into the Nevada Legislature with $780,
900 in gold, bought and paid for his seat in the
Senate, and then'made speech to his friends,
In oh he sr,ekf Aa1
corruption" It seems to me that you must
have derived your information from New
York Journal, which 'sshines for all"
In order that your mind may be disabused
of all prejudice sgsinst Senator Jones, I will
give you true statement Of the last election
In this State, which resulted In the Legislature
choosing him Senator. Something like two
years ago he was announced as candidate. At
that time Senator Nye was also supposed to be
candidate. William Sharon was another Sen
atorial candidate, making three in all. Mr..
Jones and Mr.. Sharon were and are both very
wealthy men; but the richest Of the two BY far
was and is Mr.. Sharon. During the summer
Mr.. Sharon withdrew from the contest on &C
count Of Hl-heslth. Senator Nye had made
himself somewhat unpopular By not attending
more strictly to the wants Of his constituents.
He never visited them except upon the eve Of
an election. He never had any material inter-
ests here, and might be said to be resident OF
New York 50 far as his family and property,
II he had any, were concerned. Besides, he
was believed to be too friendly With the
Central Pacific Railway corporation, which
has treated the people Of this State In most
shameful manner In the matter Of freights and
fares, and still continues to do so. The Demo
Gratis, who had elected the Governor and por-
ton Of the State officers In 1870, threatened to
make . vigorous campaign In order to choose
the Senator. There were no State officers to
elect, except Supreme Court Judge and q State
Printer, and Of course there was no full ticket
to assess In order 70 raise funds to make Wig
orous campaign. At this time, in full view Of
the fact that he was the only candidate with
the least availability for the Senstorship, Mr..
Jones announced to the Republican State and
county committees that he would bear the en-
tire legitimate party expenses Of the campaign.
He was taken at his word. His money paid for
the oil and the transparsncies for the torch
light PROFESSIONS. His frisnds from abroad, In
cluding Governor Booth Of California, and
Judge Swim Of San Francisco, came across the
Sierra Nevada mountains and stumped the
State for Grant, Wilson and Jones, for it
was wen understood fact that Ia the event
of the success Of the Republican party
In the contest, Mr.. Jones would be elected
Senator. In fact at all the primary elsc-
tons preference had been expressed
for Mr. Jones. Ths result was . Republican
triumph IN everything save the return Of Mr..
Kendall (Dsmocrat) to Congress. Tho Legis-
lature was strongly Republican. Upon It's
meeting . Republican caucus was held, and
Mr.. Jones was unanimously nominated for
Senator. Iwas 81 the capital q the time, and
the snemiss Of Mr.. Jones, n he had any, never
made any charge, or Infatuated even, that he
had undsrtaksn TO approach any member Of
the LegislAturs With money The fAot that he
had used money during the campaign was
never denied, and some Democratic jozrnals
had made handle Of It. After Mr.. Jouss had