John T. Hughes

Biographical Information

The following is from Jo Conners' Who's Who in Arizona (Tucson, AZ:  Jo Conners, 1913), pp. 366-369:

John T. Hughes, Senator from Pima County was born in Tucson in 1874, and is the son of L.C. and Josephine B. Hughes, two pioneer State builders.  At the age of six, with his sister Gertrude, he was sent to Snell's School, Oakland, California, and two years afterward was entered in Beck's Family School for Boys, a Moravian institution, Lititz, Pennsylvania, where he remained four years.  He next attended Freehold Academy in New Jersey, from which he graduated, and then took up the study of law in the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.  After admission to practice he went to Chicago and engaged in his profession for two years, then was urged to come to Tucson and take a course in newspaper and journalistic experience, which he did with the "Star," in which he was financially interested.  His first taste of political life was as Page of the First Constitutional Convention in 1891.  He was then private secretary to his father, during part of his administration as Territorial Governor, and later Superintendent of Schools for Pima County.  In 1894, with his mother, Territorial President of the Suffrage forces in Arizona, and a warm personal friend of Aunt Susan B. Anthony, he attended the National Suffrage Convention at Washington, D.C.  Miss Anthony, observing John enter the hall with his mother, captured and took him to the platform and introduced him to the vast audience as the son of Governor and Mrs. L.C. Hughes, life champions of Equal Rights, and John a native son of Arizona, whom she then dedicated the "Suffrage Knight of Arizona," predicting his sterling loyalty to the faith of father and mother.  Senator Hughes has well fulfilled this prediction in his advocacy on the platform, in the press and all public places.  He introduced the resolution in the First State Senate proposing a constitutional amendment enfranchising Arizona's womanhood.  The issue came before the people through the initiative, which resulted in the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment by a large majority, his home county, the storm center of the fight, having voted two to one for the amendment.  Politically Mr. Hughes is a Democrat and entered political life in western Pennsylvania in Bryan's first campaign, during which he organized Democratic clubs and made over one hundred speeches.  He is a member of the Pima County Central Commerce Committee, and of the State Central and Executive Committee.  At the first State election he was elected Senator from Pima County, in which capacity he wielded a marked influence.  He has given much study to governmental affairs, and is well acquainted with public men and measures.  Senator Hughes has served as Chairman of the Committee on Suffrage and Elections, and Printing and Clerks; and as a member of the Judiciary, Appropriations, Constitutional Amendments and Municipal Corporations committees.  During the first and second sessions he introduced and put through many bills, all of which are conceded to be of advantage to the State, one of which is the State Weights and Measures ordinance, which he urged as a just and equitable measure, to prevent the short weighing of goods and merchandise.  Among others of importance was a resolution ratifying the income tax amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and Arizona was the twenty-ninth State to ratify the amendment.  Also the following Acts:  Providing for the taxation of gifts, legacies and inheritances; an obligatory indeterminate sentence law, with parole principle; providing for the publicity of campaign expenses before and after the primary and election; providing for an endowment of three hundred thousand acres of land for the College of Agriculture and the School of Mines for the University of Arizona; a comprehensive primary election law; providing severe penalties for tempering with switch lights on railroads.  During the next session he introduced and had passed, among other important laws:  An act providing for the construction and maintenance of municipal slaughter houses in cities of three thousand or more population, where all animals are to be inspected before killing, and slaughter houses to be maintained under sanitary conditions; an act permitting the sale of lands to the Carnegie Desert Laboratory; and act authorizing the removal of the State Industrial School from Benson to Fort Grant Military Reservation; and act authorizing incorporated cities to issue bonds for the purpose of constructing sanitary sewers; an act to provide punishment for contempt of court; an act relating to the reorganization of the Arizona Pioneers' Home; an appropriation for the benefit of the Arizona Historical Society; a bill providing for an appropriation of $150,000 for an agricultural building for the University of Arizona, and appropriations for agricultural education and experimental work.  These items were placed in the general appropriation bill and passed:  Acts authorizing the working of convicts on public roads, highways and bridges, and a bill authorizing the purchase of a prison farm.  He also introduced the following bills, which were passed by the Senate, but defeated in the House:  Providing that all State, County and City printing should be done within the State; providing for the working eight hours a day for the prisoners in County and City jails of the roads, streets and parks; making it a felony to practice third degree on persons charged with crime; permitting the probating of wills during the lifetime of the testator; submitting to a vote of the people an amendment to the present miners' lien law; prohibiting the sale of cigarettes, cigars and tobacco to minors under eighteen years of age; creating the office of Public Defender in the various counties of the State; creating Bureau of Legislative Research.  He also introduced a joint memorial to Congress urging the granting of independence to the Philippines, and a resolution for a constitutional amendment abolishing capital punishment.  It will be observed from the character of the foregoing bills, that Senator Hughes works entirely on constructive and reformatory lines.  He is a citizen of much civic pride; has taken an active interest in the educational, moral and material welfare for many years of the Territory of Arizona and now of the Commonwealth.  His pride as a native son of Arizona excites his highest ambition for the present and future of the State.  He believes that its future bids fair to outstrip all the States of the Union, in material prosperity and in the high and progressive character of its citizenship.  As a mark of appreciation of his public service, he was unanimously elected honorary member of the Society of Arizona Pioneers, being the first native-born citizen thus honored.

Additional Information

"Tucson Lawyer Dies."  Tombstone Epitaph, November 20, 1921, p. 2:

TUCSON, Nov. 14.  John T. Hughes, 47, pioneer, former publisher of the Arizona Daily Star, and one of the most prominent criminal lawyers in Arizona, died at his home here tonight after a long illness.

"Ex-Senator John T. Hughes Dies At Tucson."  The Coconino Sun, November 25, 1921, p. 1:

A prominent and widely known citizen, pioneer lawyer and publisher, John T. Hughes, ended his long era of service to Arizona when he died at his home recently after prolonged ill health.  While the ill health from which he had suffered had deterred his former activity, he had continued his practice of law up to a few days ago and the working of his mind was unaffected to the last.

Born in Tucson in 1874 he has been a resident of the Old Pueblo for practically all of his natural life and was the son of governor L. C. Hughes and Josephine B. Hughes, two representatives of the earliest pioneer days of the state.

He was a member of the first state senate and bills for whose passage he was chiefly responsible in one way or another have played an important part in the progress and good government of Arizona and have alone placed his name permanently in the historic records of the state as an important influence for good.

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth:  DOB:  AZ Death Record, POB:  Jo Conners' Who's Who in Arizona (Tucson, AZ:  Jo Conners, 1913), p. 366; Death and Burial: AZ death record; Occupation(s): 1913 Who's Who in Arizona, pp. 366-369, obituary:  "Tucson Lawyer Dies."  Tombstone Epitaph, November 20, 1921, p. 2