New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-23
WILLIAM S. HOLMAN DEAD.
THE wELL-KNOwN INDIANA CONGRESS-
MAN EXPIRES IN WASHINGTON.

MAN EMPIRES IN
Washington April 22.Represenative Wilham .
Holman OF Indiana died at his nome IN lhis e"s
AT 2Q5 o'clock this afternoon, after an illness OF
ammo weeks Spinal meningitis was the cause OF
ME death Judge Homans death was due primarily
10 a fail he sustained cary this month as 'he re-
suit CT an attack OF vertigo lie soon cohpa',, ,
OF feeling badly and his condition grew steau''
worse until last Tuesday. Then he rallied so"e-
VIA, and the Improvement encouraged his FANNY
20 hone for his recovery. The rally however was
brief Meningitis developed and he sank rapidly.
Since last night he had been under the influence OF
Cpiaies. and this morning the family cav up a a.,
hoDe and realized that the end was near re ~,
nassed away without reganing CONSCIOUSNESS, ~
ire deathbed were gathered his four Cnlo nd pan
Holman. all of This city.
William steele Holman was born in Dearborn
County. Ind OF which he was lifelong resident
on Sep,ember G. 1872 In one Of the pioneer Ios
schco,houses OF those DAYS he received his eie-
Yner,sry training and after he attended for TWO
years Franklin College. one of the new ana poor|
equipped Western schools whch began 70 oi'
come opportunities for higher education IN lnolana
sixty years ago. After ne left the college young
Holman studied law ana admitted TO practice
". had ,urn Cor notifies and when he was twenty
one years Old he was elected probate judge OF MS
native county an office which he held Tor three
years Fifty years ago he was elected prosecuting
attorney and served until 1919 In 1880 ne was
fnemO r or the State CONSTRUCTOR di
the following year he was elected to the State Less-
,a;ure From 1859 TO 1876 he a judge Of the
Court OF Common Pleas. and in 1858 he was elected
a Representative in the NXNNIh Congress as
Democrat.
Mr. Holman's first term covered the last ana
storm,est half of Buchanan's Administration, Oh
which he was stanch supporter until it neared It's
end Even then he hoped that a compromise
might be effected which would avert war. although
ne allowed nobody 10 doubt what his position would
be II war should come as result Of the attempts
OF the Southern States TO secede from tho Union
and set up a separate Government As a new
member he did not take conspicuous part IN the
stirring scenes in Congress on the OF the Re-
belllon but he did begin TO figure somewhat as an
advocate and champion Of economy In Government
expenditures before the end Of his trst term be
fore he had been a haf-dozen years in Congress he
had established reputation In this matter, anu
Mr. Blaine in his Twenty Years Of Congress
thus spoke OF him a member of the XNNNlllth
Congress: He already ranked as an old member
His efforts were steadily and persistently dHec'eo
20 the enforcement OF public economy: and though
ne may have sometimes been unreasonable ana
though he was often accused of acting the dema-
eogue the country him debt Of gratitude
for the integrity. Intelligence and simplicity Win
which he has illustrated most honorable career
as a representative of the people.
These words of high praise were written AFTER
Mr. Holman had been for more than twenty years
member of the House of Representatives While
ne was always in favor of vigorous prosecution
Of the war he also ever soicitous that the IN
ettution of slavery should not be DESTROYED. ne
ready TO vote men and money 10 SUPP ~
armed rebellion and preserve the egr io the be- enc
Union but he was as strongly opposeu u we o,,
listing Of colored troops. After they were en-,
listed hoWeyer ne was no1 ai,boUrb III Could not
bring himself to believe that they We're ehtiueu ~
as high pay as white o S nS Sn@ the pay Of en-
listed which proposed to give the whlte SOL
Ell HoIman's tenderness for the Institution Of
slavery led his retirement from congress ~ !Soo,
off in the XX%V1ih congress proposing the
amendment TO the Constitution when was ai'ra-
ward adopted aboshing slavery. He was re-
elected 10 the XLth Congress, however, and at
once took leading position IN MS parry .o w ng
proposed on February %, 1851, Mr.; Holman iriea
hard to divert the attention of the House by askns
honor Of the day The best he could do was to OBJ,
tain TO in 70 ans
trast to the passionate speeches OF me Jay. IN
that C0ngres also he OP gS pub eo credit Which
passed both houses and was killed by Andrew John
nj Mr. Holman remained in Congress until 1871, when
be again retired owing TO IRnbl4can
distric In the XLINth Congress he voted Tor me
Electoral and od zea than ever to his
efforts in behalf OF economy in public expenditures
cross and was successfully reelected until the
fvth Congress when his distrlct was carried ro Py
ably the most active Of his career IN congress;
During ten OF them the Democrats had control or
iha House Of Representatives, and he was most
OF the time n member of the Committes on Ap-
Tronria.ions and thus enjoyed excellent opportu-
mites exploit his ideas Of economy IN te Lilo
Congress he appointed chairman or the com
,nittee under circumstances which old not ehiiaiSe
his reputation. and chairman he proved 10 De
less srcessful in impressinE his notions OF econ
Cr,y upon the House than he had been When ne
occpied an humber position His lack OF success
Sed lost much Of his physical and mental vigor.
and also to the fact that by his Molscfluiha,e
and unsparing denuncatons Of necessary ana NOD
crate appropriatio well as Of those Whlch
might be fairly regarded as too hnera ne mao I'M
neired his Influence. II undoubtedly true tndt
members generally had lost confidence in MS luqg-
inent and ceased to regard what they called MS
'sColding ways. - o, J., ,,.,
1895 was generally regarded as the end OF his pun.
lie ca reer He was then nearly seventy-hree years
old and IN feeble health. II was matter OF SUI
rrise therefore when he became a candldate lot
returned 70 Washington last winter his health
seemed 10 be better and he was In exceilent spirits
To friend he said on the day he took ms seat az
tho beginning of the special session OF the LN TN
tha. am good for sevcral years yet. ana wan
g. d,e in the harness" The only part he TOOK II
ire proceedings however-and that was minor
cne-was when the appropriation DIS whlch han
FOR consideration l. then made evident that
re would never regain even snali part o, wv
tnruence which he had once welded in the House
~ REPRESENTATIVES,. Mr. Holman was the last sur
who constituted Il IN the XXXNlth Congress Onh
,br.e men who were member. OF u are now u,
Nuhl,c Ufe-Senator Morrill,, ex-Speaker Gro" ana
Secretary Sherman.
VOLNEY V. SMITH