The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-08-08
JONES, OF ARKANSAS.
A Nights Ride With the Democratic
Chairman b. the Gazette
Editor,
Editorial Correspondence.

mifTee. nave known the senator long
and intimately, dating back 10 well
nigh thirty years. Jones improves on
acquaintance. While he had attended
some party conventions prior to that
time. he first came into prominence
! during the Brooks Baxter war in 1874
He then came to Little Rock and
espoused the Baxter side. Prior to that
time-it was in the fall of 1875-Jones
had been elected to fill vacancy in the
! State Senate, created by the appoint
ment of DR.. Martin, his Republican
predecessor, to some position by Gov.
Baxter forget now just what it was
Some thirty or forty vacancies in the
Legislature had been created in the
same way. The Democrats nominated
and elected men to fill these places.
The Republicans-relying upon what
they claimed to be promise from Gov
Baxter that he would not convene the
| Legislature in extraordinary session
refused to nominate or run any candi-
dates for these vacancies. So the
Democratic candidates had walk
over, James X. Jones, Chief Justice
Bum. and number Of others equally
as well known among the number.
kept a tab on that election-who was
elected in each legislative district, and
the vote he received The crisis came
just as some of us thought it would
before the ensuing general election. 1t
was precipitated by the swearing in of
Brooks as Governor by Chief Justice
Mcclure, April IA, 1874, the ousting of
Baxter from the State House, the
declaration of martial law by the latter
h. 81. hxtb fNfL
Old citizens of Little Rock have a
vivid recollection of the thirty days
war which followed. During the con
test word came from Gen. Grant, then
President, that he would listen to what
the Legislature had to say. Acting on
this suggestion, Gov Baxter convened
the General Assembly in extraordinary
session The newly elected members
those who had been selected to fill
vacancies at the special election the
previous ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS them
selves to be sworn In. They, with the
Baxter members previously elected,
were in the majority. They recognized
Baxter as Governor.
These new members-some forty in
number-had no credentials. The Office
of Secretary of State was in the hands
Of Brooks and the official returns could
not be obtained. Secretary of State j
M. johnson had previously appointed
Hon. A. II. Garland his deputy. i
fished out from the files of 1.-The
Gazette the returns which we had
printed and Mr.. Garland certified to
them. Upon this certificate the new
members were sworn in. Hon. j. II.
Berry NOW a United States Senator)
was elected speaker of the House, while
Hon. j. G.. Frierson, of Cross, was
chosen President of the Senate, in the
absence of the Lieutenant Governor,
V. V. Smith.
Senator Jones, of Hampstead, was
one of these members. 1t was the first
position of prominence he had ever held.
His good sense and sound Judgment
soon won the respect of everybody. He
was re elected to the Senate and was
president of that body before he retired.
In 1880 Senator Jones was elected to
Congress- Twice afterward he was re-
elected. resigning his seat in 1880 to
take the place of Hon. j. ID. Walker IN
the United States Senate, to which
position he had been elected by the
General Assembly, after one of the
most heated Senatorial contests ever
known in the State.
In the House Mr. Jones, as a member
of the Ways and Means Committee of
that body, soon proved himself to he one
of the ablest champions of tariff reform
In Congress. He studied the question
He never spoke without imparting
valuable information to his colleagues
and the country at large. AS close
student and clear headed Congressman
he ranked all the Arkansas members
This was one of the main reasons that
actuated the General Assembly in
transferring him from the House to the
Senate.
How well he has held his own and
gradually forced his way to the front as
member of the American Senate is a
familiar story Never presumptuous,
but always biding his time, when the
Arkansas Senator did speak he had
something to say, and he was listened
to.
There is no doubt but what the country
today would still be afflicted with the
Mckinley tariff law but for Senator
Jones. When the two houses seemed
to be so firmly fixed in their opinions
that no agreement whatever could be
reached, the Arkansas Senator stepped
to the front. The breach was SO wide
that no one, except Jones, thought that
it could be closed. With that patience,
however, for which Job is credited, and
exercising great skill and tact, the
Arkansas Senator finally got each house
TO agree on the existing law. 1t was
not claimed to be a perfect statute. No
one knew that it was lame in many
particulars better than Jones. But i
was the best that could be done and it
is to Jones that the country is indebted
today for even partial repeal and
modification Of the Mckinley tariff law
This gave Jones national reputation.
Then followed the silver struggle inside
the Democratic party A Democratic
bimetallic organization was effected
with Senator Harris, of Tennessee, as
chairman. Jones was made treasurer
and member of the executive com
mittee. They organized the silver wing
of the party throughout the land-that
is, Jones did. Senator Harris gives him
all the credit.
The result was seen at Chicago The
bimetallic forces were always well in
hand. No movement was made with
out consulting Jones. Jones was the
chief man TO whom all deferred
Harris, Vest, Cockrill, Blackburn,
Daniel, Tillman and other silver |
Senators. Stone, Altgeld and others in !
high executive position in the states
Stewart and Jones, of Nevada, among !.
the Populists Teller, Dubois, Pettigrew
and other silver Republicans-none
would move without the approval IF
Jones. Jones was instructed for Bland |