The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-23
MAYOR SAM JONES, SOCIALIST
fRY c. A. EpwARpsl

Jones of Toledo was after he removed
there from Lima, Ohio. and was elected
president OF the Western OIL Mems Assoc
citation. It was known that he was
wealthy oil producer. claimed to be worm
anywhere from 100000 to 100000 Dur
ing the municipal campaign OF 1897 the
oil men began sounding the praises OF
Sam Jones as q mayoralty candidate. MI
Jones was very modest. and said repeated
ly that he had no desire to enter politics.
During the progress of the republican city
convention In 1897 there was bitter ngnt
between the forces OF ex-Mayor Guy u.
Major and the anti Foraker people ~
was anything to down Major and his
candidate, and as result Mr.. Jones name
was presented to the convention on tue
fifth ballot. The delegates fairly STAN
peded to Jones, and he was nominated In
side Of two minutes after bis name had
been sprung. Mr.. Jones was only known
then as the man who advocated odd no.
lions. such as eight hours to constitute
days labor, the rights OF the poor, that
working man was as good as a million
aire. and other such things. which we're
looked upon as innocent follies.
But Mr. Jones lived in the midst OF the
aristocrats, drove as fine horses aud
equipages as there were in the city. and
lived In one of the most costly mansions
The wealthy classed him as demagogue
who was advocating popular rights for the
sake Of personal notorlety and popularity
The poor. however. knew him, for they
had enjoyed his generosity, liberality and
philanthropy, and they were with him to a
man.
AS the campaign advanced It was found
that, although an active member of one
of the most fashionable churches In To-
ledo, nearly all the so-called best" peo-
pie were against him. Because of his
strict religious views the saloon element
then regarded his candidacy as a menace
to their business. They voted solidly
against him, but at the recent election
they voted for him TO a man, The fight
| became bitter and 1t was stated that II
| Jones should be elected mayor the whole
city would be turned into a big Sunday
! school, where the golden rule would be
preached by Mr.. Jones, and the people
would have to refrain from eating, drink
ing. visiting or riding on street cars on
the Sabbath Mr.. Jones, for the first time
In the history OF Toledo, inaugurated a
! campaign OF education, and proved himself
| to be a first class talker and great cam
| mn rft ,o1r OF
speeches In one night and he was elected,
! During the campaign of 1897 Mr.. Jones
advocated what is known as Toledo
Sunday fer Toledo" and no person was
ever able to understand what he meant by
that until after his election. What he
meant was that II public sentiment de-
manded the closing of saloons on Sunday,
front and rear doors. then they would be
closed. otherwise the rear doors could be
used to do business through. After Mr..
Jones election the trouble began In the
ranks Ct the republican party. He wa;
totally oblivious to the demands OF the
party leaders" and tossed them 70 one
side without consideration. 1t was then
claimed he held dangerous notions as to
! civic rights and regarded a public office
in the light of trust.
~
The politicians OF beth parties then as
sailed Mayor Jones position from all
sides. They denounced him as a dreamer,
Impractical and a socialist aud dangerous
man, They sought to block his way, de-
feat his appointments, and organized sol
idly agains: him, Because he declared
the saloons were the poor mans club
houses, and refused to have them locked
up, the church people washed their hands
of him and declared aim bad and danger
Gus man. With his strong and vigorous
personality and individualism Mayor Jones
began to obtrude into civic affairs and
often stood as an insurmountable barrier
between the city aix private greed. He
was as FEARLESS as lion. and nothing could
induce him to swerve from the course he
believed to be right. There grew up a
bitter feeling against him. and the social
and educational leaders sneered at Mr.
Jones, who did not fear to boldly declare
that II Christ were to come to Toledo
with his long-haired fishermen discipes
he would receive a doubtful welcome
About year after his election Mr.. Jones
was In great disfavor. The papers made
nun and mockery OF his advocacy of this
golden rule. They never said outright
that he was mentally unbalanced. but they
repeatedly declared that he was a fanati,
on the question of socialism. While tn,
wealthy classes said they were through
with Jonesism and golden rule, still San
Jones' remained the idol of the WORKING
classes. When the mayor drove through
the aristocratic section of the city he wa,
only noticed as a socialist, but when he
appeared in the suburban wards among ths
laboring classes he was rendered an ova.
tion by the children, even when the mar.
ents were not at home. and his progress
was like triumphal march.
~
But the people began to learn po,a
about Mayor Jones practical application
OF his teachings. They learned of golden
rule orders at the Acme Sucker Rod
factory and of Golden Rule Park. fitted
up by the mayor at a cost Of sevar,I
thousand dollars out of his own pockst
for the especial benefit of the poor and