The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-23
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Member Of Sixteen Congresses. nnd
Took an Active Part I'm Legfslation.

Special 20 the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, April 22.-The biograph-
ical sketch of Mr.. Holman in the Congress
sional Directory, prepared by himself, Is
barren of most of the details that go 10
make the story OF his career interesting.
1t is brief and reads as follows:
''William Steele Holman of Aurora was
born at a pioneer homestead called NeraeS-
tau, in Dearborn county. Indiana, Sept. 6.
lS22; received common-school education
and studied at Franklin College. Indiana.
for two years; taught school and then
studied and practiced law; was judge of
the Court of Probate from lsis to lsis: was
Il member OF the constitutional conN ention
Of Indiana in 1880: was a member OF the
Legislature of Indiana in 1851; Judge
of the Court OF Common Pleas from ls52 TO
1856; was elected TO the Thirty-sixth, Thir-
ty-seventh, Thirty-eighth Fortieth. Forty
fourth, Forty-sevenIh Forty-eighth Forty
ninth. Fiftieth, Fifty-first, t1fty-second.
fyh5d snS ss5pt sseid to ths @ Ffty
against % 769 votes for Marcus r. Sulzer.
Republican, and 12l for Smith, Prohibi-
tioniSt.
The foregoing is an exceedingly skimpy
statement of the longest House career on
record. 1t makes no mention or his COM
mittee assignments or OF his work. IL omits
reference to his quarter OF a century OF
service on the appropriations committee
and to his great labors on the Indian and
other committees. He was recognized by
the Indians as one OF the very best friends
they had in Congress. He alert
to protect them from being robbed and
many a plundering scheme directed against
them has been frustrated.
The Judge was superstitious about his
sixteenth term He feared he might not
live 10 take his seat. no one before him
ever having entered upon the active work
Of SiN eFk aofQ al
sion OF Congress TO enable him To- break
down the superstition, but the sixteenth
term was fatal TO him nevertheless There
are only two men in national politics who
began congressional service at an earlier
period than Judge Holman. These two men
are Senator Isham @. Harris, OF Tennessee,
who was elected to the House I'm lsi9. and
Congressman-at-large Galusha Grow, or
Pennsylvania, who was elected the first
time in 1851. Judge Holman. Secretary
John Sherman and Senator Justin s. Nor
rill commenced their congressional careers
Judge Holman had distinct individuality
almost from the beginning though he did
OF 1p' the treRsury Irl nntii sffer the ~ar 9
gloried in the title and endeayored TO the
best of his ability TO live up to IL. lie
great objector." and his obstrll.tion tac-
tics and plays formed q feature OF congress
sional proceedings for many years That
however. was in the days before the rules
were amended so as 10 stop endless iilibuS-
tering and when small handful OF de-
could block legislation indefinitely. As the
House rules now stand objectors OF the
Holman stamp have no field for the exer-
else OF their talents. This fact was borne in
upon Judge Holman crushingly al the be-
ginning OF the present Congress. He started
in along old lines. but WAS calmly run over
and ground out OF sight by a relentless ma
jority. He was powerless TO opstruct and
the discovery nearly broke his heart.
President Cleveland did not like Judge
Holman's peculiarties. They annoyed him.
and he persuaded Speaker Crisp to depose
the watch dog" from the Craftsmanship OF
the appropriations committee when the
substituting Sayres in his place. The blow