EXHIBIT 99(a)

       STATEMENT UNDER OATH OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL
 FINANCIAL OFFICER REGARDING FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO EXCHANGE ACT
                                    FILINGS

I, Christopher M. Connor, state and attest that:

(1)   To the best of my knowledge, based upon a review of the covered reports of
      The Sherwin-Williams Company, and, except as corrected or supplemented in
      a subsequent covered report:

      -     no covered report contained an untrue statement of a material fact
            as of the end of the period covered by such report (or in the case
            of a report on Form 8-K or definitive proxy materials, as of the
            date on which it was filed); and

      -     no covered report omitted to state a material fact necessary to make
            the statements in the covered report, in light of the circumstances
            under which they were made, not misleading as of the end of the
            period covered by such report (or in the case of a report on Form
            8-K or definitive proxy materials, as of the date on which it was
            filed).

(2)   I have reviewed the contents of this statement with the Company's audit
      committee.

(3)   In this statement under oath, each of the following, if filed on or before
      the date of this statement, is a "covered report":

      -     Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
            2001 of The Sherwin-Williams Company;

      -     all reports on Form 10-Q, all reports on Form 8-K and all definitive
            proxy materials of The Sherwin-Williams Company filed with the
            Commission subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K identified
            above; and

      -     any amendments to any of the foregoing.


/s/ Christopher M. Connor                 Subscribed and sworn to
- --------------------------------          before me this 12th day of
Christopher M. Connor                     August, 2002.
August 12, 2002
                                          /s/ Richard A. Legenza
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Richard A. Legenza, Attorney
                                          Notary Public, State of Ohio
                                          My Commission Has No Expiration Date
                                          Section 147.03 RC