Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-09
DNE STATES PROGRESS.
SENATOR SCOTT TELLS HOW PROS
PERI1Y CAME TO WEST VIRGINIA.

Remarkable Growth OF Business Under |
the Mckinley Administration - Coal,
OIL and Lumber Industries Arc Active
There 10 More Money In the Banks. |
"West Virginia came into the Repub-
.ican column in 1892, when it gave
President Harrison plurality OF
i471 votes" said United States SEN
ator Nathan B. Scott, member Of
the Executive Committee of the Re-
publican National Committee. "We
followed this up with a plurality OF
11,4S7 for President Mckinley in
1896. This year we expect that West
Virginia will give President Mckinley
plurality of 10000 votes.
"Our State Is growing steadily ev-
cry year as a manufacturing State.
Our big industries are those of iron
and steel, tin plate and lumber. We
make considerable pottery and glass
ware, have many textile mills. and
manufacture to a certain extent many
Of the goods that enter into daily
consumption. That these industries
have improved under the administra-
ton Of President Mckinley goes with
out saying and the people know the
reason why.
Goal is probably the largest product
Of West Virginia. In 1895 we mined
II 100000 tons; last year our output
was 1S,75O,OOO tons. The increased
demand was caused by the better
times. 1t gave employment to nearly
II ZOO more men. Not only that, min
ers worked in 1895 only. 195 days.
Last year they were busy nearly ev-
cry working day. With large output
from our coal mines, with activity In
our lumber mills, the demand for the
products Of our farms and of our fac
tories has increased considerably.
"West Virginia farmers grow di-
verslfed crops Our oil belt is an
other source of profit to the State.
Five years ago we only produced
eight million gallons of oil; last year
upwards of twelve million gallons.
We are pumr ing oil in enormous guam
titles and there is no sign of the sep
ply decreasing Wool is one farm
product from which our people have
learned something. In 1896 all the
sheep in West Virginia were worth
less than 100000. Since then their
value has increased so per cent, while
the well Is selling at 100 per cent.
more than 1t brought while Prof. Will
sons theoretical free tariff trade was
experimenting with the country at the
expense of nearly every Industry,
whether of farm or field, in the
United States.
"You must remember that West Fir-
ginia has population of about 1,0OO,-
| 600 people, and we do not claim to do
| big things. Still our farmers can look
| with satisfaction at the value of their
| live stock, which has increased by
nearly $5,OOO,OOO since 1896; also at
| banks of our State, which has in
creased from $5OO0,O0O on July 1S.
| 1894, to $1OOOO,OOO OH June 80. 1899.
| The increase in the number of depos-
itors has been equally gratifying,
from 162SS in 1894 up to $1,000 last
| year. With these facts of gain in the
| wealth of our State there has been a
corresponding decrease in the number
of business failures. The liabilities
VI luOSe w uO WtIc III tlOuOAC LII AocO
were nearly $7OO.OOO. Last year they
were only $25O,000. Our people, too,
appreciate the feature of the gold
standard law. which simplifies their
currency. They realize the difference
between the administration of the na-
tional finances under President Nc
Kinley when they compare them with
the mismanagement under President
Cleveland. Then we were borrowing
money from Europe at whatever rate
of interest the foreigners chose to
make us pay, while during the last
year we have been loaning money to
Europe, and still have more that we
can spare to send there should it be
needed.
"The State of West Virginia is In
small way but the reflection of the
conditions in all of the other States
of the Union. II the people every
where would but vote according to
their sound thought and better judg-
ment, then President Mckinley would
be reelected by acclamation in the
electoral college, just as he was renom-
mated by acclamation in Philadelphia"