The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-31

fore it closed his opinion was sought
by the leaders. He was always frank.
always sincere, always honest In 1887
he grew in usefulness and in power.
though not less modest than when
he first took the oath of office In
1889 he was chairman of the Com
mittee on Appropriations and in
Cured criticism by refusing to favor
the payment of public money except
for service rendered and for close
and rigid economy. He always insist
ed upon knowing where the money was
coming from before voting for any APP
preparation. He was so hostile to eX-
travagance that he was dup-
bed "the Watchdog of the Treas
ury." term which he accepted as
decoration of honor, though some of
his critics meant to convey by 1t the
idea that his economy was carried TO
an unnecessary extreme. lie was not
penurious or stingy, as his votes on
many appropriations show, but he
was in favor of the same sort OF
economy in State administration that
was practised in most of the homes IN
this commonwealth. If he erred at
al he erred on the side that made
him peculiar in this age when public
extravaganza is so dominant that none
but q courageous man can plead Tor
old fashioned simplicity and economy
Mr.. Holmans passion for economy
i'm ordinary expenditures OF govern
ment was not solely due to his belief
in conomy-though that faith was as
strong with him as with the fathers.
He wished to save every dollar posi-
bIe for the betterment of public
schools. His chief legislative service
and his chief claim to the gratitude OF
posterity is found in his work for pub
lie schools He introduced the first bill
in the House to appropriate $lOo,Oo0
annually to increase the public school
fund and he always took proper pride
in the fact that his bill passed both
Houses of the Legislature unanimous
ly. There are other acts of his legis-
lative career that his children and
friends will recall with pride.
The best legislators are not always
the ableSt men. In an observation eX-
tending over eighteen years, with pc
culiar advantages to study legislatures
and legislators, 1 give it as my deliber-
ate judgment that, all things consider
ed, Iredell county was better repre-
scented in the General Assembly when
it had w. d. Turner in the Senate and
Aug. Leazar and j. b. Holman in the
House than any county in the State.
Three honester public servants never
lived. One an able lawyer,
one a scholarly teacher, one practi-
cal farmer. The farmer was the equal
in good judgment, usefulness and pow
er of either of his colleagues.
The career of Mr.. Holman ought to
be a lesson to many sensible farmers
whose modesty keeps them in the
background. He became a useful leg
islator, without talent as a public
speaker or college education. He used
his good sense, his steadfast convic-
lions, his devotion to high ideals to
the good of his State. There is need
always of more such men in public life
men who have no ambition except
to secure just laws and an honest and
economical government. There will al
ways be speakers enough in any DELHI
erative body. The need is for men to
serve with them of the homely wisdom
and stubborn civic righteousness of
John B. Holman. No man in his day
and generation employed his talents
better in the service of his State than
TINS modest and upright farmer from
Iredel.
In private life Mr.. Holman was the
consistent, straightforward. upright
Chritian man, without pretense or cant,
he was moderator in his church. for he
was consistent Baptist; trustee in the
excellent neighborhood school in
winch he took deep interest: trustee
OF the Baptist Orphanage, which home
LOT children had a warm place in his
heart; and in his family life he set
an example of the model father and
husband. 1t was because his private
NE was pure that his public career
was unsullied. Men do not gather figs
Oh thlsles. The chief cause of bad gov
eminent is to be found in the fact that
'iie voters elevate men to public office