f the campaign was made on the 12th of
October at Akron. It was confined almost exclusively to the tariff
and silver questions. The meeting was very large, composed chiefly
of men employed in the numerous factories and workshops of that
active and flourishing city. On the 18th I spoke at Sandusky upon
the same general topics as at Akron. Here I visited the Soldiers'
Home near that city. It is an interesting place, where I think
the old soldiers are better cared for than in the larger national
homes.

I continued in the canvass, speaking at several places, until the
election on the first Tuesday of November. The result was the re-
election of Samuel M. Taylor, the Republican candidate for Secretary
of State, by the abnormal plurality of 137,086, and nineteen
Republicans were elected to Congress out of the twenty-one. Though
this was a state election, it turned mainly upon national issues,
and especially evidenced strong opposition to the Wilson tariff
bill.

I was often asked by reporters, after my return to Washington, as
to the meaning of the election in Ohio. I uniformly expressed the
opinion that it meant the adoption of a nonpartisan tariff that
would, with a few internal taxes, yield revenue enough to pay
current expenses and the interest of the public debt and a portion
of the principal. I still hope that will be the result. The
framework of the McKinley law, with such changes as experience may
show to be essential, would remove the tariff from among the
political questions of the day and give reasonable encouragement
to American industries.

On the 10th of November my family and I returned to Washington for
the winter. The chief interest and occupation of my wife and
myself, for the time being, was the preparation for the approaching
marriage of our adopted daughter, Mary Stewart Sherman, to James
Iver McCallum, of Washington. This was fixed for noon, the 12th
of December. Full details of all the preparations made, of the
dresses worn, of the members of the family in attendance, and of
the distinguished guests present, were given in the city papers.
It is sufficient for me to say that Mary has been carefully educated
and trained by us, and never for a moment has given us anxiety as
to her prudence, deportment and affection. We gave her in marriage
to a young gentleman, a native of Washington, and a clerk in the
supreme court, and entertain for her all the affection and solicitude
that a father