The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-20
MAYOR SAM JONES, SOCIALIST
fHY @. A. EpwARps.1


for the benefit Of The Post readers. I have
done so. met man who knows all about
him and who has his record down ine.
The Hon. Sam Jones Is now National
character and we will hear much Of him
in the next two years. We will hear much
republican abuse OF him and much praise
of him from the honest democrats OF the
country. Mayor Jones Of Toledo is spoken
Of by his critics as crank and with pc
culiar Ideas and methods. This, because
he Is honest and puts the golden rule into
practice in his every day life and In his
business relations with his men. Mr.. Jones
enjoys the distinction, and regards 1t as a
compliment to be credited with an original
ity Of his own In thought, methods and
remedies, for the uplifting OF the human
race. While many men would feel hurt at
being called socialist. Mayor Jones go-
ries in the title so far as 1t bears on the
betterment of the human race. Mr.. Jones
claims that all true friends Of humanity
are and have been socialists from his
standard of socialism. Mayor Jones 10
fearless in his advocacy OF the principles
OF the brotherhood OF man and the golden
rule, which, he says, are the fundamental
truths of honest socialism. He earnestly
believes that brotherly love and kindness
will yet make this world an earthly para
disc. The thing that makes Mayor Jones
so popular with the masses is that there Is
no part OF the hypocrte about him. He
breaches the golden rule and the brother
hood of man on all occasions and at all
! places, and he puts 1t In practice In all
his dealings with his family, employees,
neighbors and business associates The
people of all classes, from the humble la
borer up to the millionaire capitalist, have
such implicit confidence in Mayor Jones
honesty, integrity and sturdiness Of char
acter that they would trust him with any
thing. Mr.. Jones Is a man who has an
intense hatred for hypocrisy and assumed
goodness. He loves liberty with the devo-
ton of Regulus and believes no sacri-
fee is really too great when human liberty
is at stake. In this respect he follows In
the wake OF his countrymen, for no ma
ton In the world ever fought so stubborn
ly to preserve its identity as did little
Wales or snowden in opposing the en-
croachments of Edward ! of England.
Mayor Jones has a versatility of genius
which few men possess.
~
While brought up as laboring man, h'
possesses an excellent musical education
and is a composer of no mean reputation
| HD MIR limos nf N
strument he can get his hands on, but thu
violin is his favorito. The mayor Is alst
one of the best machinists In the country
and is an orator, when thoroughly aroused
who can hold his own with the best o
; them. He can mount the platform and dc
liver lecture or political speech that viii
set his audience fairly wild, and five min
: utes afterward he can step into the pull
pit and deliver a sermon that will keel
the pews free of sleepers. Tie mayor /
: so wrapped up in his golden rule theorie
3 that he is ready to discuss them on al
Q occasions. whether in the mayors office
at his home, in the factory, out in the oil
4 fields or on the street. He holds presen
conditions and the legislative and com
pettive systems responsible for the ex
listing poverty among thousands OF tn
A people. While Mr.. Jones is one of tn
most law-abidng citizens in the world
still he believes no law should be enforce
. that public sentiment is against for tn
: reason that such law does not represen
9 the will OF the people. He believes tn
= time Is almost at hand when the peopl
will no longer look TO the statute book
for the laws to govern them, but to tn
, golden rule and the true brotherhood c
man.
Mr. Jones believes there would be lii
;, tie need for prisons. jalls and peniten
9 tares If the social conditions were so al
o ranged that all persons would have a
I equal chance in the race of life. He ais
: believes that nearly all the asylums an
$ charitable Institutions OF the country woul
be closed up II equal opportunities WEI
y afforded to all to make living He at
here's TO the theory that the human famil
is really good and industrious, and thf
1t is the bad social system that make
men and women bad, vicious and lazy. Til
s injustice OF the system, he claims make
5 them criminals. and the helplessness
d their condition makes them loose all an
: bition, and they become Indifferent an
lazy.
= ~
Il Mr.. Jones does not believe that hars
u punishment will ever abate crime. He be
u lieves kindness and a little gentle advic
= Will reclaim to the honest walks of III
!, the most confirmed criminal. He believe
il there is no one so low but who is wort
saving. He points with pride to such In
, stances as that of John b. Cough, VIII
|, was pulled out of the gutter in a drunke
Il stupor. and who afterward became Il
n greatest temperance lecturer of the worl,
Is He says the rich hypocrites who occupy th
front pews in the churches on Sunday
y are a greater menace to society than III
,r poor drunkard. Some months ago Ii
e Ministers Union OF Toledo summone
= Mayor Jones before It to know why h
. had not raided the Illegal houses. TIL
A., mayor listened to them and than satd