Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-02-26
THIRTY YEARS IN
THE j. S. SENATE
JOHN P. JONES SOON RETIREs TO
PRIVATE LIFE.
IS TIRED OF LEGISLATION
Now Seldom in MISUNDERSTANDING,
Rotund man and Champion Story
Teller-Has Made and Lost Sever
al Fortunes in Mining in the West
ern States.

washington, Eel. 2l-Wn6n JOnn
P Jones of Nevada said a year or
more ago that he would not try for
reelection to the senate nobody be-
lieved him. Mr. Jones had been in
the senate so long that there were
grave doubts whether he would be
happy anywhere else. He kept his
word, however, and on March 8 next,
he will retire to private life and leave
the senate, where he has served con-
Jinuously for thirty years.
Allison, Of Iowa, came into the SEN
ate at the same time Jones did. The
two have sat side by side all these
years. Jones left the republican par
ty for time on the free silver issue,
but he came back before the election
of 1900.
Few men have served so long as
Jones in the senate. John Sherman
was senator for thirty-two years, but
his service was not continuous. He
resigned to become secretary Of the
treasury in 1877. Justin S. Morrill, Of
Vermont was also a senator for thirty
two years. Thomas H. Benton of Mis-
souri, and William r. King of Alabama
served for thirty years each. If he
lives to conclude his present term,
Senator COckrell of Missouri will also
have served thirty years. He came
in two years after Jones and Allison.
Senator Allison has a chance to hold
the record. His present term expires
March next, but he has been re-elect-
ed for the full term of six years end
ing March 3, 1909 If he lives until
that time he will have served thirty
six years.
Senator Jones is one Of the five men
in the present senate who are not
natives of this country. He was born
in HeTefordshire, England. Senator
Patterson of Colorado was born in
Ireland; Nelson of Minnesota in Nor
way and Millarad of Nebraska and
Kerns of Utah in Canada. Senator
WetmOre of Rhode Island was born
in London while his parents were on
trip abroad, but he is considered a ma
tive born American for all that
Busy Making Money.
Of late years Senator Jones mas not
given his whole attention to his sena-
tOTial duties. He has had business
interests in New York and elsewhere
that have kept him away from the
senate for weeks at a time. He has
taken no part in the debates and has
attended few committee meetings. His
position as chairman of the committee
for the audit Of the contingent eX
renses of the senate has made it i'm
DeratiVe for him to return to Wash
ington from time to time to sign the
bills and accounts. No contingent eX-
pense of the senate can be paid unless
the order bears Jones signature.
When the orders and vouchers are
piled so high on his desk that there IS
nothing to do but get them to the dis
bursting officer, the rgeant-at-arms
telegraphs to Jones. He generally ar
rives a few days later, goes over the
bills, signs them and hurries away.
He is always ready to come back
whenever there is an important vote
to- be taken, but Of late years the bus
mss of making money has had far
more attraction.
Jones is one of the best liked men
in the senate. He is the champion
story teller. When. he joins a cloak
room party every body sits back and
waits for him to begin. He has a
great fund of stories of all kinds and
can use any sort of dialect handily. In
addition, he has native wit that is
shrewd and biting, and a gift of sar-
casm that made him feared when he
was taking part in the debates.
In 1901 one of the new members of
the senate made his maiden speech.
He was young in years as well as il
senatorial experience. The speech
was very f1owery. After the speech
the young senator went to Jones and
said:
Mr. Jones, did you hear my
speech?"
Il did" Jones replied.
What did you think of it?''
Il thought it was a great speech-a
great speech"
'Well, Mr.. JONES'" said the young
senator, encouraged, lin view of that
speech would you advise me to con-
tinue speaking, or do you think it
would be better for me to remain
quiet for a timer"
Il Think replied Jones, slowly,
that, taking everything into consider
alton, it would be the right thing for
you to rest awhile and give your in
tellect a chance to catch up with your
vocabulary"
Senator Jones came to this country
when a child. He was educated IN
Cleveland Ohio. He went to Califor-
MIA shortly after the discovery of gold
in 1S49 and became minor. He went
into politics and served as a member
of the California state senate In
1857 he moved over into Nevada and
has claimed that state as his home
ever since. He has been interested
in some of the biggest mining PROPOSE
tions in the country Several times
he has been a millionaire and several
times he has been practically without
money. Just at present he has a
large interest in the famous Treadwell
mine of Alaska. Jones is a short, ro-
tund man, with a rudy face and a
lot of snowy white whiskers. For the
last twenty years he has lived mostly
in New York. going to Nevada only
when it was necessary to round up
thee legislature and get returned 20
the senate.
On one of his trips to Nevada he
met an old friend If would he hattpr