Jones during his senate tenure. courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Following on the heels of Tranquilino Luna, an outstandingly named delegate to Congress from New Mexico, we conclude our stay in that state with a look at the life of Andrieus Aristieus Jones, one of the preeminent political figures that state produced during the early 20th century. A transplant to New Mexico from Tennessee, Jones served two terms as U.S. Senator from New Mexico and is regarded by this author as one of those "old guard" strange name political figures, having discovered his name via the Congressional Biographical Directory nearly two decades ago. In addition to his service in the senate, Jones attained earlier political distinction with his service as mayor of Las Vegas, New Mexico; as a delegate to the 1896 Democratic National Convention; special U.S. District Attorney for New Mexico; and as New Mexico's representative on the Democratic National Committee.
Born on May 16, 1862, in Obion County, Tennessee, Andrieus Aristieus Jones was one of two children born to the Rev. James Henry Waldo Jones (1828-1898) and the former Hester Ann Augusta May (1836-1908). After attending the common schools of his native county Jones enrolled at the Bethel College in McKenzie, Tennessee and from 1884-85 studied at the Valparaiso University in Indiana, where he earned his bachelor of arts degree in 1885. Following graduation, Jones embarked on a teaching career in Tennessee but taught here only briefly, as he relocated to Las Vegas, Mexico that year.
From 1885-87 Jones served as principal of schools in Las Vegas, and, after a period of study, was admitted to the New Mexico bar in 1888. Jones quickly advanced through the ranks of the territorial bar, and by 1893 had been elected as president of the New Mexico Bar Association for a one year term. After removing to New Mexico Jones married first to Ida May Knowles (1858-1914), with who he had two sons, Vincent K. (1889-1965) and Avery Knowles (1892-1920). The couple later separated and Jones remarried in 1902 to Natalia Stoneroad (1871-1933), later having a third son, Andrieus Aristieus Jr. (1909-1993).
Jones began his political career with his election as mayor of Las Vegas, serving from 1893-94. In 1896 he served as part of the New Mexico delegation to the Democratic National Convention in that nominated William Jennings Bryan for the Presidency, and from 1894-98 held the office of special U.S. District Attorney for the New Mexico territory. Jones continued his political ascent in 1906 when he began a two-year stint as chairman of the state Democratic Committee, and in 1908 entered into a fourteen-year tenure as New Mexico's representative on the Democratic National Committee.
In 1911 Jones was again chairman of the state Democratic Committee and in the year following set his sights on a U.S. Senate seat. In the last year that U.S. Senators weren't directly elected (instead being elected by the state legislature), New Mexico was to elect its first two members of the U.S. Senate after having gained statehood in January 1912. One of several candidates whose names had been brought forward for potential nomination, Jones was passed over in favor of Thomas B. Catron and Albert B. Fall, who were duly elected senators by the legislature in March 1912.
From the Odanah, Wisconsin Star, June 13, 1913.
Jones' time in the Wilson administration extended until 1916 when he resigned to begin his second candidacy for the U.S. Senate. In this election season, Jones saw his career highlighted in newspapers as far away as Nebraska, and in the October 1916 edition of the Commoner, editors acknowledged that there was no better man to represent New Mexico in the senate than A.A. Jones, remarking:
"Mr. Jones is not only an example of what he like to think is typical and representative New Mexico manhood, he is an integral part of New Mexico. Thirty years close contact with every phase of the slow and struggling growth of the territory and the rapid advancement which followed statehood, have fitted him as no other man to be the spokesman and the advocate for New Mexico people, to take the lead in solving their problems of development and economic progress. His keen insight and vigorous practical commonsense made his office of first assistant secretary of the interior redound immensly to the benefit of the people of the entire west. Mr. Jones' splendid training and experience made him ready for that job. His experience there has more than completed his readiness to step into the position of larger trust and responsibility."
Senator Andrieus Aristieus Jones.
After gaining the Democratic nomination, Jones would face Frank Alaric Hubbell (1862-1929), former chairman of the state Republican Committee, in the November general election. On election day it was Jones who emerged triumphant, polling 33,981 votes to Hubbell's 30,609. Taking his seat at the start of the 1917-23 session, Jones was a member of the committee on Public Lands and Surveys and put his prior experience in the interior department to use when he introduced a bill that would provide "for the classification of stock grazing land in ten of the Western states." The bill was passed by the senate, and in May 1919 Jones introduced another bill to "extend the rights of stock rasing homesteaders", only to see it lose support and not be reported out of committee.
Andrieus Jones announced his reelection bid in 1922 and that November defeated Republican nominee Stephen B. Davis (a former state supreme court justice) by a vote of 60,969 to 48,721. This second term saw Jones serving on the finance committee and as a member of the sub-committees on the Department of the Interior, the Department of the Navy, the District of Columbia, and Legislative Establishment. Sadly, Jones wasn't to live to see the conclusion of his second term, as he died in office on December 20, 1927, his death occurring at his Meridian Mansions apartment in Washington. His cause of death was reported as angina pectoris and several days after his death Bronson Murray Cutting was appointed to succeed him.
Memorialized as a man of "strong intellect, of friendly disposition, and an attractive personality", Jones was survived by his wife and sons and was returned to New Mexico for burial at the Masonic Cemetery in Las Vegas.
Jones as he looked during his second senate term.
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