The record-union., 1896-09-15
The Delegation Hailing From Harrison
County. Ohio.
The Major Makes Stirring Address,
Pointing Out the Disastrous Re-
suits Following the Placing of
Wool on the Free List, and Prom.
lsing Protection to That Industry
if the Republican Party is Returned
to Power
to Power.

~ f~OWCbs
CANTON (O.), Sept. 14.-The visiting
delegations took an early start this
week Major Mckinley commenced his
speech-making at II o'clock this morn
ing, and he will not finish his oratorical
labors until Saturday evening
AT 1870 o'clock a delegation of LOU
wool growers and business men from
Harrison County, O., arrived in Canton.
This delegation started from Cadiz, the
county seat, and the home of the ven-
cradle diplomat and juriSt, John A.
Bingham, shortly after sunrise. AS the
majority of the men in the delegation
were farmers, early rising was no hard
ship for them.
The Harrison County men were re-
ceived in a handsome way at the sta
tion by the Canton mounted troop, who
escorted them to Major Mckinley s
residence The candidate has made a
good many speeches in Harrison County
which is one of the greatest wool
growing communities in the WeSt-and
he has a large number of acquaintances
and admirers there, many of whom
We're among the visitors to-day. 1t was
this fact that accounted in a measure
for the ardor of the greeting which Ma
jor Mckinley received when he ap-
peared on his front porch this morning.
The farmers of Harrison County
cheered long and Justify. Ex-Attorney-
General D. A. Hollingsworth was
spokesman. He said in part:
Major Mckinley: Your friends, both
political and personal, of Harrison
County, 1000 in number, are here to-
day to pay their respects to you and
wish you godspeed in the manly fight
YOU are making for American honor,
American industries and American
homes. The people of Harrison County,
here and at home, beg to call your spe-
cial attention to the condition of their
one leading industry, the recent pros
tratiOn, almost destruction of which, by
Democratic free trade, has paralyzed
every business center Of the county.
Under the beneficial influences of the
Act of 1857, known as the Bingham
wool tariff the venerable author of
which is still living in great respect and
honor at CadiZ, and sends by us to you
his greeting and assurances of support,
Harrison County produced more sheep
and wool than any other county in the
United States of like area Its soil
seems especially adapted to sheep hus-
bandry. This prosperous condition of
our wool industry was continued under
the Mckinley tariff of 1890, and it be-
came, in fact, not only the leading in
dustry, but part and parcel, the wool
and warp, Of every industrial interest
of the county.
I'm 1892, the last year Of the McKin-
ley tariff, the sheep of Harrison County
numbered 1o9, ,246. and were valued for
taxation at S40O, 600 Since then the
number Of sheep has rapidly declined,
so that in 1896 the statistics show only
o., 134, valued at S165,51 the wool clip
of which amounts to only 512, ,265
pounds"
Mr.. Hollingsworth's speech was loud
~ and enthusiastically applauded.
When the people became quiet Major
Mckinley stepped forward. There was
a thunder of applause, and then he
commenced his speech 1t was ad-
dressed to the wool growers Of the coun-
try and of Harrison County Major
Mckinley said:
Mr. Hollingsworth, ladies and gen
tlemen, my fellow-citizens: | count 1t
as a very special honor to receive this
NiSAN iIOiit lily ltliON-tlllZtDS, composed
for the most part Of the farmers Of Har-
rison County. / would have been glad
TO have had with you that venerable
citizen and statesman, the Hon. John A.
Bingham great applause), whose mes
sage of cheer and congratulation and
good Will you have brought me- Re-
newed applause)
1T is especially gratifying to me tc
receive a visit from so many of the
farmers and wool-growers of Harrison
County. There is scarcely a county in
the State which is so essentially agri-
cultural as is yous. You have ma large
towns. You have but few factories, and
your occupations are almost exclusive
Iy rural. Your county has long been
noted as one of the great agricultural
sections of the State and especially
adapted to that branch OF agriculture
known as sheep-raising and wool grow
ing There is probably no portion oi
the country of the same area that has
supported so many sheep as yours, and
for many years at least this was the
most profitable industry of your farm
ers. 1t is not so good, / believe, now
as formerly. daughter and applause
and cries of mo, no.") The last three
y
not only to the wooi-growers of youl
county. but to the entire country. for
have seen your crops disappear anc
your feeces diminish In value TO an ex'
tent that prior to 1892 you would not
have believed was possible
Il remember in 1891 to have delivered
an address in the city of Cadiz TO tht
assembled farmers of Harrison County
in which / undertook to predict wha
would happen if we had free wool in the
United States. There were few men II
that great audience who believed my
prediction then What do you think o.
it now, farmers of Harrison county
tCries of I'VE think ii all right.o IL
1891 you had according to your banner:
displayed here to-day, 133.oo5 sheep o.
an average value of 50 per head III
1896 you had but 1000 sheep. wortt
only 81 30 per head. In 1881 you re-
ceived from 80 to 81 cents per pound fol
your wool. In 1886 for the same grade
of wool from II to 16 cents per pound
This enormous loss to a great industry