The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-09-14
The Hon. Ira b Jones Cults Ills High
Office to see;s the Nomination for
Governor cf South Carolina
Against Gov ernor Blease in the
Democratic Primary Next Year.


otto citizen, and Christian gentleman,
has determined to- enter the race, and
accordingly ON Monday, Judge Jones
forwarded to the Governor his resig-
nation to take effect on January y
next. Tuesday The Chief Justice gave
out the following statement to the
Lancaster Newt:
"You are authorized to state that
if Providence ermits I will certainly
he a candidate in the primary next
August for nomination as Governor. .
The announc ement of Chief Justice
Jones' candidcly will be received
with much interest in the State.
Resigns His Office.
The following letter was received
Tuesday by Governor Blease at his
Office in Colum ,ia:
Lancaster, S C, Sept, H. 1911.
Hon. Cole L. Blease, Governor, Co.
lumbia, S. C.-Oear sir: hereby ten
der my resignation as Chief Justice,
to take effect January 9, 1872.
Very respectfully Ira B. ones.
Calls l.lease's Bluff.
The forwa riding to Governor
Blease an official statement Of his
resignation as Chief Justice, and
within twenty four hours the defl-
mite announce ment that he would
enter the race for Governor next
summer, place Chief Justice Ira B.
Jones as the ,irst certain candidate
to test the issue with Governor
,Blease for the Gubernatorial term OF
1894. Mr.. Jones has taken the
stand which Governor .Blease recent
" in Charleston declared he would
not take, and has taken the risk OF
being the "sta :eman without a job"
which the Governor said he would be
should he resign his position as Chief
Justice of the South Carolina Su-
!, preme Court.
The resignation and announcement
have been rurlored in various quar-
ters Of the State for several weeks,
but they come as complete surprise
even to those who have been expect
ing his candidacy. BY many 1t has
not been considered that he would re-
linquish the highest judicial office in
the State, of W hich he may have been
certain for life, at salary equal to
that of the Governor, in order to be-
come a candidate for the Executive
Office.
Friend OF Senator Tillman.
1t is univer sally conceded in polit-
ical circles that Chief Justice Jones
at any time would make formidable
IL not an iniincible, candidate for
any Office in the State. He is prod
uct of the reform movement, one OF
the ablest and most aggressive lead
ers of the warm political fights OF
the early 'eOH, but his career on the
Supreme Bench has been highly dis
tinguished for fairness and judicial
integrity no less than for scholarship,
learning and ability. The Chief JUS
tice is personal as we'll as pol1ti-
cal friend OF Senator Tillman, hav-
ing identified himself with the re-
form movement in 1890.
In the fall of 1875 Mr.. Jones re-
moved to Lancaster, where he has
since resided 1t was then town
without railroad or telegraph facili-
ties. 1t is sl: d that when the future
Chief Justice reached Lancaster he
had $40 in his pocket, and no friends
or acquaintnnces in the new town.
He is ESSENTIALLY self-made man, in
the best sense of the term.
In 1890 Mr.. Jones was sent to the
House of Representatives from Lam
caster. He 1t once took first rank
with the lead ers of the reform move
ment. In the house his personality
Immediately made itself felt ohe be-
came chairman of the most important
committee, that on ways and means.
A newspaper man who reported the
proceedings in those stirring days re-
Gently said that when Ira B. Jones led
a fight in the House, it was as good
as won. When Speaker John L. M.
Irby was elected United States Sena-
tor, Mr.. Jones was made Speaker.
Elected Associate Justice.
fractional feeling ran very high in
those days. 1t is related that upon
one occasion the house passed reso-
luton taking out Of the hands of the
Speaker the appointment of a. free
conference committee-an unheard
of proceeding. Speaker Jones at once
threw down the gavel, took off the
purple robe and walked down the
stand. The House apologized TO the
Speaker, and he resumed his office.
On January 80, 1896, while still
Speaker, he vas unanimously elected
Associate Justice Of the Supreme
Court, showing the respect in which
he was held hy his fellow members OF
the General IAssembly On anuary 22
1902 he was reelected for the full
term of eight years, and his term
would have expired in 1910, but up
on the resi- gnation of Chief Justice
Pope Ass ciate Justice Jones was