Changes

Governor Jones sought to eliminate the power of the Long political machine by reducing the number of state employees. He instituted competitive bidding for state contracts, eliminated the "deduct system" begun by [[Huey Long]] of mandatory campaign contributions by state employees, and enacting state civil service procedures. Jones worked to increase international trade through the Louisiana ports on the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. He signed the Public Records Act of 1940, which declared most state documents public records. The new law also authorized the development of the state archives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/LearnAboutTheArchives/Pages/default.aspx|title=A Historical Sketch of the Louisiana State Archives|publisher=sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 1, 2013}}</ref>

Governor Jones sought to eliminate the power of the Long political machine by reducing the number of state employees. He instituted competitive bidding for state contracts, eliminated the "deduct system" begun by [[Huey Long]] of mandatory campaign contributions by state employees, and enacting state civil service procedures. Jones worked to increase international trade through the Louisiana ports on the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. He signed the Public Records Act of 1940, which declared most state documents public records. The new law also authorized the development of the state archives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/LearnAboutTheArchives/Pages/default.aspx|title=A Historical Sketch of the Louisiana State Archives|publisher=sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 1, 2013}}</ref>

In his 1948 race, Jones, who had been out of office for four years, polled only 223,971 votes (34.1 percent) to Earl Long's overwhelming 432,528 (65.9 percent). Other candidates eliminated in the primary were later Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] and  [[U.S. Representative]] James H. "Jimmy" Morrison of Hammond.

In his 1948 race, Jones, who had been out of office for four years, polled only 223,971 votes (34.1 percent) to Earl Long's overwhelming 432,528 (65.9 percent). Other candidates eliminated in the primary were later Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] and  [[U.S. Representative]] [[James H. Morrison|James Hobson "Jimmy" Morrison]] of Hammond. In the 1948 race, Jones was lambasted on the campaign trail by a former classmate, [[Ernest Clements]], a state senator and public service commissioner strongly allied with the Longs.

In his later years, Jones often endorsed [[Republican Party|Republican]] presidential nominees. His son, [[Robert G. Jones|Robert Gambrell "Bob" Jones]], a Lake Charles stockbroker, served in both houses of the state legislature from 1968 to 1976. He ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary against Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. Bob Jones later became a Republican but did not seek office under the GOP banner.

In his later years, Jones often endorsed [[Republican Party|Republican]] presidential nominees. His son, [[Robert G. Jones|Robert Gambrell "Bob" Jones]], a Lake Charles stockbroker, served in both houses of the state legislature from 1968 to 1976. He ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary against Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. Bob Jones later became a Republican but did not seek office under the GOP banner.