The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-12

and women We're ou9 "a tAnpAoJ NO. =
and the operatives at Haw River felt
that the general depression would
necessarily throw them out of work.
I'm this condition of affairs, Governor
Holt called a meeting Of all his en-
oloyees, and made them statement
II words about like these; My friends:
You see the quantity Of goods stored
here. have put all my capital in
plaids and the other products OF your
labor. I hate to shut down the mills,
on your account, though it is to my
interest to do so must shut them
down or make some arrangements diff
ferent from the present. / think that,
if you wiz agree to take half your
wages in cash and wait until there is
demand for the goods for the other
half. I can make arrangements
to go on" He harry finished
his remarks before, with JOY
and gratitude, the multitude
Of workers, men, women and children
happy that the expected loss Of work
was ayerted-with one voice accepted
the proposition, and the music of the
spindles, silent in hundreds of mills,
continued to be heard on Haw River.
IT was not long before the demand
for cotton goods sprung up again, and
the wages withheld were all paid.
What was a threatened calamity turn
ed out to be a blessing in disguise, for
the operatives had saved money that
was useful on many rainy day.
In public life, Governor Holt was
the same painstaking, straight-for-
ward, capable and useful man that he
was in private life. He was not poll
tician in the ordinary acceptation of
that term, but he was politician in
its true meaning. He was interested
in public measures from his youth,
though he did not permit himself much
time to consider and discuss them until
he had laid the foundations, broad and
deep, for his great industrial enter
prises. The first Office to which he
was elected was County Commissioner
Of Alamance, and he accepted it solely
from a sense of public duty. The af-
fairs of the county were in deplor-
able condition, the commissioners had
no credit. and he was urged to accept
the position to restore the county
credit. At the first meeting at which
he presided as chairman, the keeper
of the poor-house reported that he had
nothing on which to feed the inmates,
the shingles were off the houses and
the rain poured into the houses upon
the wretched people. Supplies could
not be had upon the credit Of the
Governor Holt and the other
went out to the poor
house, aud saw that the overseer had
not oyerdrawn the picture Of woe. II
will manage this" he said to his col |
leagues, and he directed the oyerseer |
to drive over to his store and get all |
provisions, and haul lumber
to make the houses habitable. Under |
his excellent management the credit |
Of the county was soon restored, and
he was able to retire from the position.
There is a sequel to this action. In |
1876, when Governor Holt was cam
lidate for the State Senate, at one OF |
Tie speaking places, his opponent |
,ritized Governor Holt, saying that |
when chairman OF the Board Of County |
Commissioners, he had bought supplies |
Tor the county at his own store, max
ng big profits out Of the taxpayers.
was some demonstration on the
BART Of his friends when this charge |
eas made, but Gov.H Holt beckoned them |
% be silent. When the speaker had fin
shed, Governor Holt requested the
.ounty treasurer to state whether d
iii had ever been presented to the
,Guaty FIR tie IL snter ard ~ DpIies
le had furnished. The reply was that
10 bill had been presented. The Gov
amor then told the people that he had
donated these things to relieve suf
.ering, and never thought Of getting
,ay for them that up to that hour no
oedy but the commissioners had |
snoWn OF his donafion) and that he
never would have made it Known but
hat it became necessary to repel the
charge made against him, His oppo-
nent never repeated the false charge,
and the incident told with great effect
IN his favor in that and in all subse,
4uent campaigns.
Governor Holt was several times call |
ed upon to represent his people in the |
General Assembly, and was speaker
of the House in 1855. In 1888, without |
any solicitation, he was nominated for
Lieutenant Governor Of the State, and |