The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-13
TRIBUTE OF GOV. JONES.
Former Chief Executive Talks of the
 Dead Governor.


 Former Governor Thomas G. Jones of Montgomery was a warm personal friend of the late Governor Sanford, and it, was appropriate that he should have been named as a member of the committee appointed by President Knox of the Constitutional Convention to go to Tuscaloosa on the special train yes terday morning and act as an escort to the remains.
 Owing to the accident which befell Governor Jones some time ago, which causes him to still walk with crutches, he was unable to accompany the party. In an interview with a representative of The Advertiser yesterday evening, the former Governor expressed himselt as regretting deeply his inability to participate in this last mark of respect to his friend. He touched upon his af- lection for the dead Governor, and feel ingly referred to his admiration for the distinguished citizer of Opelika.
 Governor Samford's death is a ca- lamity," said Governor Jones. lie came into power at time when the people greatly desired a surcease of po- litical strife, and longed for the eleva- tion of the standards of political mo- rality. His gentleness, ability ana purity of character made him the man for the hour, and the people instinctive- ly called him into their service. He came up to the full measure of their ex- pectations. It needed no oath to seal his consecration to his great trust. High mindedness char acterized all his pubic and private acts. and none were tlnged with envy, malice or unworthy thought of self. He was a noble exemplar or all that a Governor ought to be. what he did and how he did it., will live in far-off times to inspire and warn those who come after him in the office.
 His only fault, if fault it be, was an extreme consciousness, which so feared to do wrong that at times ne hesitated unduly before taking posi- tion; but when once convinced where his duty lay, he would have gone to the stake rather than fail to perform IL. His character and talents entitled him to aspire to any position. but he seem ed totally unconscious of his worth; ana he sometimes halted in pursuit of po- litical distinction, lest in a great pup lie office he might not come up to ms own measure of fitness.
 Now that he has gone, may repeat a conversation which illustrates his eX- treme conscientiousne5s. even Wneh dealing with his own ambitions.
 "One day he came to the GoVernor OInce 10 pay IIlc u AliChoiJ
 ditions in the mining regions were then giving great concern, and naturally the conversation turned upon the cares ana anxieties of the office. In the course or the conversation, I had remarked that the powers of the office for good were SO small compared with those for eVli' We then drifted into personal matters. Recalling his telling me that his fa- ther. who was once candidate for the office, had said that he would like to see his boy hold it. I remarked 1t was a matter of surprise to me, when the office was so easily in his reach, that he had not been a candidate In lS9o. shaff never forget his earnest reply My friend, you said just now that the Governors powers were so much great CT for i'll than for good have often realized that. The fear, in spite or my best effort, that I might do harm 1n- stead of good has often kept me from seeking the office. Under the condI- tions existing then, I thought others could do better than I. If times change, and I become satisfied that l can do more good than harm to the people of the State. in the Governor s office, I might seek it. but not until then.'
 '.This conversation revealed the f1ne modesty and rare consciousness that marked every act of the man.