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Higher Office(s) Served: Representative

Military Service: Navy

JARED Y. SANDERS was born in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana on January 29, 1869. His education was attained at St. Charles Jesuit College, and at Tulane University, where he earned a law degree in 1893. After working as a publisher, editor, and attorney, Sanders entered into a career in politics. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1892 to 1896 and 1898 to 1904, and was speaker of the house in 1900. He also was a delegate to the 1898 Louisiana Constitutional Convention, and was the lieutenant governor of Louisiana from 1904 to 1908. Sanders won the 1907 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and was elected governor by popular vote in 1908. He was sworn into office on May 20, 1908, becoming the first Louisiana governor to be elected under the new primary law. During his tenure, child-labor legislation was sanctioned, a state conservation commission act was authorized, a racetrack gambling bill was instituted, and property taxes were used to finance highway development. Also, New Orleans was touted as a potential place for the World's Panama Exposition, educational improvements were approved, and saloon regulations were established. On July 5, 1910, Sanders was elected to fill the unexpired term of U.S. Senator Samuel McEnery, who had passed away. Sanders declined the senatorial seat. He instead stayed in the governor's office, finishing out his gubernatorial term on May 20, 1912. He then served as the naval officer of the port of New Orleans from 1914 to 1916, and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1917 to 1920. He also served as a delegate to the 1921 Louisiana Constitutional Convention, and was a member of the 1924 Democratic National Convention. Governor Jared Y. Sanders died on March 23, 1944, and was buried at the Franklin Cemetery in Franklin, Louisiana.

Dawson III, Joseph G. The Louisiana Governors: From Iberville to Edwards. Baton Rouge: Lousiana State University Press, 1990.

Sources:

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

Famous Sanders

Louisiana Secretary of State: The Governors of Louisiana

The Political Graveyard

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.