Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-16

nor 100 mounds; shsep at $500, $3.50 and
81 "a: hogs a, $500. $500 and S7.OO per
100 mounds. oats in the same proportloa'
eggs at 15c per dozen, and butter at loo
ner mound. These prices are from opol-
ford's Almanac for 1858 and from the
True Virginian. published at Palatlne'
inst across the river from Fairmont. IL
1S93 The wheat crop of this country sofa
for 5000 600 600 less than the crop Oh
1879 notwithstanding The production
was far more. representing a loss 10 the
American farmers Of more than the IN
terest on the public d5bt. Lands have
fell this. also. How many CT you can
sell vour farms. either for cash or on
rime. except at forced sale? an Mason
county Col Bealrs farm was assessed al
SIS par acre. He was compelled to sell
4 either last year or this, and how much
do Won suppose il brought? 1t went for
s13 an acre. Think Of it! Land as
sessed for the purpose Of taxation at $40
Der acre. and selling for S1S at auction!
What do YOU farmers. without reference
10 politics. think Of this? Take your
own Ohio county land. It IS assessor
higher than any other land IN the State.
7 have the figures here-S75.29 an acre.
That is the average. No other county III
Fhe State has so high an assessment.
And the average incUmberance upon 10
Is S62.S1 per acre. This does not rep
resen: public mortgages for railroads. or
ANYTHING like that but is the private in
debtedness on land. The farm lands OF
the State are covered by mortgages TO
the amount of $40 .900.G00. Here are the
figures-in 1856 S19.340.74O, and in 1890
SIS. 7O2. 800. an increase. in round num-
bers. of about s25O000. That, my
friends, is from page sc Of the last census
report. and | have the leaf in my hand,
obtained in Washington, from the Cen
sus Bureau Now, Isk you, as West
Virginjans-as Ohio county peoples
this condition satisfactory? Is your
condition getting better, or are YOU 60
ing ON from bad to worse, and if you
are going on from bad TO worse is II not
time. when you have an opportunity. as
American citizens. 10 stop and think
what will better il, without reference 20
politics? (Applause).
But some Of you may say: But. Mr..
Watts. YOU are a Democrat That is
true. and I am a candidate for the high
0flc= Of Governor of this State. But
want TO say to you that I have at heart
the best interests Of my counrrymen,
and il I thought that the result would be
for ne good of my fellow citizens, I
would willingly accept defeat, for the
happiness and prosperity of my country
men is my happiness, and I say that in
sober earnest" applause
With this preface, Gen. Watts took up
the financial issue in all its phases. and
thoroughly discussed he question. Pass
ing to the g0ld-bug side, he forcibly
brought 10 the attention Of his audience
how all the great daily papers. with a
very few exceptions. all the grea. cor
pOrations. all the great railroads and all
lhc banking and money interests were on
the geld side, and asked if that very
fec. did not convince the farmer and
wOrkingman that It was a good time fer
them 10 be on the other, for those gold
bug influences were not usually solicit
GUS for the welfare OF the citizens II
The humber walks of life. Cen. Watts
passed ,Ae whole political situation in
review. speaking for an hour and quar-
ter which was doing very well for sick
man.
He was followed by Hon. John o.
Pendeton in a strong speech, and then
the n eiing adjourned.
General Watts left last night on 4 spe-
cial train. in order 10 fill an engagement
to-day ar Spencer