The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-08-25

HAZE
EYES
BY Hassi Hrnnnon

James p. Coleman, the young,
good-looking judge Of the fifth
judicial district, gave out with
some Pollyanna-sounding advice
that might seem odd coming from
4 hard hitting judge at a recent
meeting we were privileged to at
tend.
But the advice was good, as we
expected it to be, from Judge
Coleman who, despite his youth,
has built a splendid and useful
life on the solid ground Of charac-
ter and service.
Judge Coleman said: "Show
your appreciation to those around
you in the community who r
doing a good job. If you like a
man tell him about it now. Don't
wait until he's dead and put IL
on his tombstone. He won't be
able to read a word of it there"
Truer words we're never spok-
en-and we are all so guilty. How
seldom do we speak the word Of
appreciation for favors shown
how often do we intend to stop
by and see some one beset by ILL
ness or other misfortune and
never find the time to do it. II
would be a much nicer community
II we would all strive to be build
ers-to help our fellowman and
our communities-and not be so
quick to criticize when things
don't go quite like we think they
should.
Judge Coleman, who has been
prominently mentioned as a can
didate for governor, has had an
interesting and colorful career. He
was the oldest Of a family Of six
children and never went to school
until he was eight years old
living out in the country from
Alderman. Even so he still fin
ished Alderman High when he
was II wears old and then went
to the University Of Mississippi
where he worked his way through
this school and was prominent in
school activities and president OF
his class.
In January, 1898, Jim Coleman
went to Washington as secretary
to the congressman from the 4th
district Of Mississippi. He passed
the Mississippi State Bar exami-
nation in April of 1887 and re-
ceived his LIB degree from
George Washington University
Law School in February Of 1899.
Judge Coleman practiced law
continuously at Alderman from
January. 1899. to January. 1Y47,
when he retired from law prac-
tice to become circuit Judge.
In the meantime he had made
one Of the most dynamic district
attorneys in the state in serving
the fifth district. He defeated two
opponents receiving SO per cent
of the vote cast. When the time
for reelection came he won over
one opponent and got II per cent
of the vote cast.
The fact that the people of his
own district believe in him is
shown in the 70 per cent of the
vote he received when elected
Judge.
The respect in which Judge
Coleman is held by hoodlums
which infest certain areas Of this
section and the pains they take to
steer clear of his court speaks
more eloquently than words OF
the type of man he is.
He is a member and deacon of
the Baptist church, was twice a
Master Of the Alderman Masonic
Lodge, Knight Templar and
Skinner. a member of the Rotary
club. With all this he still finds
time to farm and have an inter-
est in the Choctaw Plaindealer,
weekly newspaper.
Whether Coleman runs for
governor OF not--it is nice to
know some one like him in pub
lie life. We need more men of his
type in public office.
The Brookhaven Leader says
the most destructive force operat-
ing in American life today is the