The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-09-24
Wilkinson OFF
DONKEY TICKET;
. SICK OF WILSON
Popular Candidate for Supreme
Bench Refuses to Make
the Race.

4
HUNTINGTON, Sept, 80. - The
Hon, John D. Wilkinson, Judge OF
the circuit court OF Wayne, Logan and
Boone counties, and one OF the best
known 1urlsts In West Virginia. has
Of the Democratic party for Judge OF
The West Virginia supreme court OF
appeals. The resignation Of Judge
Wilkinson Is now in the hands of tho
chairman, Glen Shaver, OF the Demo-
cratic state committee and tho lead
ers Of the party are exerting evory Of
fort to induce its withdrawal. SO far,
Il appears, these efforts have been In
vain, and from sources close to Judge
Wilkinson comes the report that his
decision not to continue as o candi-
date Is irrevocablo.
Out With Wilson?
It appears. however, that the pleas
OF his friends have had sufficient
weight with Judge wilkinson to In
duce him to recall his resignation
from the circuit bench, recently
placed in the hands Of Governor Hat
fold.
That Judge Wilkinson rendered his
resignation as q nominee of tho Dem
ocratic party for supreme Judge is
now an open secret in political cir
Giles. A variety Of reasons may have
contributed to the determination of
the Logan jurist to quit the race into
which some say he has never really
entered, but decided lack OF sympa-
thy with the aims and policies Of
President Woodrow Wilson was, re-
mort has 1t, one Of the strongest OF
these. Judge wilkinson is u man OF
!decided convictions, has tendency to
conservatism and has boon unable to
reconsile himself to the anomalous
position Of continuing as candidate
son a ticket, with the views OF the
head of which he Is not in full SYM
patty and accord.
Asked for Coin, Some Say.
There is O version OF the story to
1.-THE effect that his disgust with the
entire situation was greatly accentu-
ated when a peremptory demand was
made upon him by the party powers
for a large cash contribution to the
state campaign fund. having felt, as
one of his friends expressed 1t that
he would not in any event buy his
with into judicial office.
The episode has created sensa-
ton, especially in Logan. the nome
OF the Judge, where, 1t Is said, MS
home has been almost besieged for
several days by political leaders and
advisors.
A man of extensive interests and
1ndiFerent health, Judge Wilkinson Is
said to have long contemplated re-
tirement from the bench. The deter
mination, or intention, to quit MS
present post, is believed by his friends
10 have been accentuated by the con-
timed antagonism and lack of sym
pathy shown by some persons in Lo-
Fan county whose province should
rather have been to assist him. He
has been immensely popular with the
people of his circuit and, though nom
mated as a Democrat on every occas-
ion. has been elected time and again
by the combined votes Of ReDubli-
cans and Democrats alike, the former
having refused in every instance TO
nominate man in opposition 10 hin'
Did Not Accept, is Report.
In the hope of turning this home
popularity to Its uses, the democrat
IL party in West Virginia nominated
him as a candidate for supreme Judge
over a number of aspiring candidates,
something which he certainly was
not. 49,.
he was not, indeed, the author OF the
Telegram Of acceptance sent in his
name from Logan to the nominating
convention at Parkersourg.
The state leaders Of the Democracy
WIN not give up the advantage which
thew feel the ticket derives from the
presence Of the name OF Judge vii
kinson II they can avoid it, and they
will delay the authoritative announce
ment of his refusal to be candidate
as long as possible II they find. as they
seem likely to find, that he will not
consent TO their opportunities. II
there is q vacancy left thus, 1t must
be filed through the action OF the
state committee which will have
nest Hornets with which to con
tend as the result Of any selection
which now seems probable.