The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-03-08
Is Weakening in Many Places
Now While RobinSon'S is
Growing Stronger.

CHARLESTON, March E.-Thc &C
ton OF the Republican executive COM
mlttecS OF KAnawha and Mcdowell
counties in endorsing Judge Ira +.
Robinson for governor, and Hon. Will
liam F. Hito for United States sem
ator has taken all the wind out Of
candidate A. A. LIly's sails. and Re-
nubllcAns throughout the state pre-
dict an early and complete collapse
OF his campaign rs result Of the loss
of these two counties. They base their
opinions upon LiIly's own claims,
which were made with reckless extra
vRgancc up 10 Saturday morning. Tho
attorney general from the beginning
OF his campaign has hOastod that hn
would carry practically every county
south Of the KanaWha river by over
whelminE malOrttics which would
moro than Offset RohnEnn's advnnt-
age In the northern end OF the state
II Ia universally conceded that tho
northern counties will give the Judge
an almost unanimous vote. but there
were some people who believed he
would have trouble in tho southern
districts. The action nf the Mcdowell
and kanawhA county committees. how
ever. has convinced them that the not
ed iurist's popularity is not in any
sense sectional.
Robinson supporters have claimed
from the outset that l4lllF's campaign
was based principally on wind and
predict that 1t will soon blow itself
out. They expect the general to claim
everything in sight for few weeks
hoping thereby To hold his rapidly
weakening forces together. but there
are many conservative Republicans
who predict ho Will withdraw from
the race long before June q. in sup
port OF their contention they point out
the fact that his campaign In being
financed by small group of privilege
seeking corporations, who ncvcr were
known to stand long by a sinking ship.
They say that when LIlly's angels"
see they are backing lost cause they
will withdraw their funds to spend in
an effort TO elect Judge R0bins0n's
Democratic opponent.
From all sections Of the state roe
ports OF Lilly's weakening. and the
corresponding growth Of the Robinson
boom keep pouring into the judges
local headquarters.
Colonel II. Banks. Of Ktmball. who
arrived In Charleston this morning,
said Robinson is In absolute command
of the situation In Mcdowell county.
1.-THE Judge Is growing in strength
every day. He Is the peoples choice
and they are eagerly awaiting the
chance to show by their ballot just
how much they do think of him. lie
will sweep the county from end to
end" The colonel was particularly
pleased with the action Saturday OF
tho executive committee which en-
dorsed Robinson after a bitter fight
by some of his enemies.
]. L. Wolfe, of Ripley, Jackson c0un'
ty, a member of the late legislature
this morning declared his county
would give Robinson safe majority
Every day finds Robinson growing
stronger" he declared. "If the election
was held tomorrow he would beat
Lilly by a considerable majority. and
every day the election Is deferred will
add to his strength. The Republicans
who do things are practically all Rob-
inson men and they will swing the
others into line before June. They
realize that the Republican. party has
a great opportunity this fall with a
national election on. and they arc moi
going to ieonardize 1t by nominating
any but the strongest man"