The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-09

| lOOhSU dI IllS oSl 4OuSAs' 1t-S
mates remember that often in the af-
ternoon when they were at play he
would 20 in early to study for his
classes the next day, and they testify
to the fact that he gave early promise
of becoming an upright man and
useful citizen.
By careful study and by taking ad-
vantage of such meager opportunities
as were offered, he obtained a fair
education. Schools were not then
what they are now and that is prob
ably the reason why Judge Jones re-
membering his own difficulties and
wishing to smooth the road for other
poor boys, declared that as governor
"the improvement and development of
the common schools shall have my
keen interest and hearty support"
1t would be easy to tell and might
be interesting to hear how young
Jones having gotten an education NOV
ed to Lancaster county and began the
practice of law. How clients came
slowly at first and how later having
inspired the confidence of the people
/ in his home town he acquired a large
and paying practice What we are
chiefly interested in, however, in his
! political career.
As Legislator.
In 1890 Ira B. Jones was elected to
the legislature from Lancaster coun-
ty and it IS evident that he was wide
ly known and that his ability had been
recognized, for he was at once made
chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee of the house and was later
elected its speaker. These were STIR
ring times, for the great reform move
ment had just swept over South Caro-
lima and party spirit ran high. Sena-
tor Tillman, then governor, was insti-
tuting many needed reforms, and
Judge Jones as speaker of the house
did efficient service. Be it said to his
credit, however, that although the
whole State was aroused by political
animosity, Judge Jones so conducted
himself as to receive the hearty ap-
plause of friends and at the same time,
by his fairness, he won the respect and
confidence of those who had been his
political opponents.
As Judge.
It came, therefore, as a natural re-
ward for service that in 1896 he was
elected associate justice of the high
est court in the State.
1t may be mentioned in passing that
! his present opponent in the race for
governor secured his nomination and
voted for him for associate justice.
Having served twelve years as asso-
ciate justice, in 1909, upon the retire
ment of Chief Justice Pope, Judge
Jones was elevated to the position OF
chief Justice, which is the highest ju-
dicial position in the gift of the State.
1t may be truthfully said that no
Judge in South Carolina in many years
has enjoyed a greater reputation both
for ability and honesty than Ira B..
Jones. The same industry and con-
scientious performance of duty which
was noticeable in him as young man,
have characterized his work as a
judge.
! He has been the recipient of honors
from his fellowmen and the emolu-
ments of office, but the satisfaction of
hard days work well done has ever
been his best reward.
Among the charges hurled at Judge
! Jones by his political opponent is tnat
he has leaned toward corporations.
Suffice it to say that as attorney he
never represented corporation and
as a judge he repeatedly upheld large
verdicts against the corporations. In
the case of Rhodes against the CRANKY
cotton mills of Columbia, he upheld
verdict for $4,000 in favor of Rhodes
on the ground that there was evidence
that he had been unjustly discharged
and blacklisted by the cotton mills.
The verdicts which he sustained
against the railroads would run up in
to the hundreds of thousands Of dol
lars, there being one verdict against
the Southern Railway company for
$4,000 and many others for large
amounts.
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