The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-02-14
LETTERS COME IN
BY BASKETSFUL
Judge Days Office Swamped
In DeIuse OF Maii--May Re-
80 suit in thousands Of Dol
lars Being Raised.

Judge William r. Day is beginning
to receive hundreds of letters daily
as the result of an endless chain let
ter scheme, which was started by
some unknown person for the benefit
of the Mckinley memorial fund. Bun
dies upon bundles Of letters are han
died in the Office of Judge Day in the
postoffice building and as soon as the
nature of the contents is discovered,
they are packed into large box and
forwarded to Cleveland where they
are handled in the Office Of Myron t.
Herrick the treasurer Of the memorial
fund.
How the chain was started Is un-
known to the officers Of the memorial
association. The scheme was evident
ly taken up as soon as the plan for
erecting a memorial to the late pres
ident was broached. 1t is built on the
triple expansion plan-each recipient
Of a letter being requested to forward
10 cents to Judge Day and write three
other letters to friends to continue
the chain.
SINGLED OUT THE JUDGE.
As Judge Day is the president of the
Mckinley Memorial association, the
person who started the chain evident
ly thought that he would be the pro-
per person to whom the contributions
should be sent. This fact has caused
much annoyance and trouble to the
Office force in Judge Days rooms as
all the letters must be reshipped. Each
Of the letters contains dime or the
equivalent il postage stamps. Those
letters which contain the coin are
easily distinguished from the regular
Office correspondence and are thrown
unopened into large box. The let
ters containing stamps-and they are
numerous--must be opened and in
spected.
The nature of the scheme was dis
covered by the local officers of the
association in a peculiar way. Sec
retary Frederick s. Hartzell had writ
ten to ]. w. Barnaby, cashier in the
state treasTer's Office in Columbus,
for q contribution. Mr.. Barnaby re-
sponded promptly with a check, en-
closing in his letter to Mr.. Hartzell
an extra 10 cent piece with an ex-
PLANTATION Of the chain letter system
into which he had been drawn.
IT'S IMMENSE SCOPE.
None Of the letters have disclosed
the name of the person who started
the scheme. Many of the letters are
written by Ohio people but the efforts
OF the unknown and original contrib
utor have spread all over the United
States and it's possessions. The chain
has now reached such proportions that
even Philadelphia lawyer could not
figure out its scope, nor the number
OF people that have been concerned in
the scheme.
Results are being obtained in all
the departments of the work which
have been employed by the local asso-
ciation. A number of letters were re-
ceived on Wednesday by Secretary
Hartzell from committeeman in num-
her of congressional districts over the
state E. N. Thresher. of Dayton, in
the Third district, writes that he esti-
mates that about 81 500 has already
been secured by the committeeman
and that this sum will be materially
Increased before the fund is closed.
LIBERAL RESPONSES.
In the 10th district, the Hon. C. M.
Hogg. of Cadiz, writes that in less
than two hours work, he raised 5000
in Cadiz. The district will be thor
i Oughly canyassed and good results are
expected. Col. A. Wagner, Of Akron,
writes that he is unable to estimate
the amount which will be raised in the
18th district but states that through
the systematic effort of the commit
Z teemen the requests Of the memorial
association will meet with liberal re-
4. .sp0nses.
A letter was received from a small
school in Florence, Alabama, on We'd
nesday in which was enclosed money
order for $3.50, the amount Of the con-
tribution raised by the children of that
achool for the memorial fund.