d that it was true
that in the recent tariff act there was a reduction of the duty on
wool of about two cents a pound, but that I had opposed it, and
did all I could to prevent it, but it was carried by the united
vote of the Democratic party in both Houses, aided by a few Republican
Senators and Members from New England. I denounced the hypocrisy
of those who assailed me, whose representatives voted for even a
greater reduction, and some of them for free wool. To all this
they answered: "Did you not vote for the bill on its passage?"
I had to say yes, but gave the reasons why, as already stated. No
doubt, in spite of the unfairness of this accusation, it had some
adverse influence on the election.

This canvass was in many respects a peculiar one. Foraker was
active and spoke in nearly every county in the state, and gave
general satisfaction, but Hoadley was equally able and, having been
until recently a Republican, could not be held responsible for the
course of the Democratic party during and since the war. Both the
candidates for governor being from Cincinnati, the struggle there
was more intense than usual, and was made to turn on the liquor
question more than on general politics. When I was asked about
the German vote, I said:

"The Germans are, generally speaking, good Republicans, and are
really a temperate people. They have always claimed to be willing
to pay a tax on the sale of beer and other kinds of liquor. The
Scott bill is very moderate--more so than the bills that are being
passed in other states. If they mean what they say, I don't think
there will be any trouble about electing our ticket."

Immediately after the convention, in company with my townsmen,
George F. Carpenter, Henry C. Hedges and M. Hammond, I started on
a trip to Helena, Montana. The object was simply recreation and
sight-seeing. We stopped on the way at Chicago, St. Paul and other
points. Everywhere we went we met interviewers who wanted to know
about the Ohio convention and politics in general, but I preferred
to talk about the great northwest. Interviews were sought by
reporters and were fully given and printed in local papers. Hedges
and Carpenter were intelligent gentlemen interested, like myself,
in Chicago and St. Paul, and more familiar than I was with the
local geography of Wisconsin and Minnesota. With their assistance
I became conversant with the topography and productions of these
states. I was especially