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DISCORD SPLITS THE ASSOCIATION Driven from Mexico by the uprising led by Pancho Villa, he joined Western Newspaper Union and was assigned to Salt Lake City, where he remained until 1944 before moving to California. On February 18, 1962, Jones returned to Utah as a speaker at the association's Winter Convention. Upon concluding his reminiscent talk, he presented USPA a two-sided plaque. Etched on one side of the copper plate was a reproduction of the First Amendment to the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Similarly etched on the reverse was this message from Johnny Jones: "Number One of the amendments that were required to the Constitution before its adoption by the several states was that Amendment guaranteeing to you and to me the Freedom of Religion, Speech and Press and Right of Assembly. It was that clause which distinguishes a Democracy from a dictatorship - from communism. In these days of cold war with the latter - and as always - it is particularly important; and deserves our constant protection and guardianship. Believing that the Utah State Press Association should have a permanent reproduction of that clause prominently displayed on the walls of its office, I have had it reproduced in enduring copper, suitably mounted and take pleasure in presenting it to the association through its president on the occasion of its 64th annual convention held in Salt Lake City February 16, 17 and 18, 1962." The fact subsequent research found it to have actually been the 69th annual association conclave doesn't detract from John Jones' most appropriate gift. For more than thirty years it occupied a prominent spot in three different USPA/UPA offices. Reams could be written about James T. Jakeman, who was heavily involved in the 1912 split as a "syndicate" publisher. He was shown on the convention roster with the Salt Lake City Argus, a weekly. At that time his editor was D. P. 295 |
