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

The death of this honored son o.
North Carolina, at his home at iaw
River, Saturday afternoon. removes
from as one of the most useful and
infiueRtial paea Of generation prolific
in strong and able leaders
Born during the administration Cd
Andrew Jackson, he had seen the
mighty strides that his country had
taken along every - Of progress,
and was himself pioneer in one OF
the greatest industries that has had
much to do with the, development and
enrichment of the South. He was
the first man South of the Potomac
: to dye a yard of plaids or colored
goods woven on a power loom, doing
the manual work which it involved
with his own hands with the crudest
appliances ne could scrape up. This
industry has grown to great proper
tons. but so well was his early work
done that in his early youth Alamanee
plaids became as staple as flour.
Governor Holt was trained to work,
and believed that it was the duty OF
every man to labor and to toll. From
his earliest youth, he was taught that
work was honorable, that idleness was
the mark of worthlessness, and he Tex-
or ceased to be busy until his failing
health vetoed his incessant industry.
When Governor Holt left the Uni
versity, it Yves to put the training he
had received there and at DIR. Wilson s
preparatory school 20 the development
Of the business of manufacturing cot
ton. He began on the lowest round
of the ladder in his fathers mill on
the banks of Alamance creek, and
there was no task too menial, no toll
to0 arduoas, no work stoa. fatiguing
for the young student just out Of the
University. lie learned every detail
of tie business by doing everything
connected with it. He did not employ
his education and his University train
ing ag something ornamental. lie
made Id an instrument of usefulness iii
his business and it gave him broader
views of its capabilities.
If asked the secret of the wonderful
success that attended Governor Holt
III All his affairs. for he failed in Moth
ing, the appropriate answer might be,
''He despised not the day Of small
things" lie was as jealous in the in
fancy Of his fathers manufacturing
.nferp4TSs, as anxious to extend oper-
atoms and employ new and improved
methods. as when his gast manpfactur-
ing plants covered whole fourishing
town. He mastered every detail Of
whatever interested him. 5 he took
nothing for granted. lie never
hoped 50, when it was pos
sihle to know SO" He never
trusted others to do what he could do
himself. lie loved to do. to act, to
be busy. Work was the necessity Of
his active life No man has lived in
the State whose life did more to put
a seal upon the dignity of labor. he
could not tolerate the idea of idlcness
and of loafng. A loafer was one thing
be could not tolerate. He was equally
as removed from sympathy with those
Who euperciliousiy pited. but never
helped, the Iaborer. He believed, and
put his faith into practise. that labor
vas honorable and the Iaborer to be
treated with respect and considera-
ton: that the laborer was worthy of
his hire as a right and not as chart
~: that the independence Of the man
who toiled was best advanced when he
had permanent work al fair wages;
and that the duty of the manufactures
was TO deal with the men in his en-
ploy ON business principles, demand
ing futl days work for full day $
wages; and TO do for them in other
ways whatever would mutually adj
vance their interests.
An incident illustrating Gov. Holts
a. .rgs with those in his employ will
best show his method. Some years ago
there came time of great depression
IN cotton goods. There was a glut
IN the market. and Che manufacturers
could not sell their product. Mills over