The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-03-23
Whose Record Shows That He
Has Been and is Now
Their True Friend.

| CHARLESTON, March ga. NJ
Ellis, colored lawyer, OF Oak Hill
and q former member Of the House
OF Delegates, has addressed a letter
to James A. Hughes, campaign mana
ger OF A. A Lilly. who aspires to the
Republican nomination for governor,
In which he declares he and hls race
would be "unErateful to their ardent
defender" II they failed TO support
Judge Ira F.. Robinson, LIlly's oppon-
Mr.. Ellis paid glowing tribute 10
Mr.. Ellis pays glowing tribute 10
the noted jurtst's eminent qualiflca-
lions for the high ONCE he seeks and
recalled the arm stand he. then n
member OF the senate. took for tho
colored race when ii was attacked by
Senator Campbell.
Mr.. Ellis declared Lilly Is making
his fight by attempting TO cast refec-
lions upon the merits Of Judge Rob
inHon and the Republican party. and
therefore should not be given prefer
ence over the judge, who Is standing
squarely on his record, attacking no
body. taking part In no factlona!
! fights. md doing everything possible
to promote party harmony which
would make 1t easy to elect him next
November.
Tho letter follows
Hon. James A. Hughes,
Charleston, w. Va.
Ny dear Sir:
Recently some OF my friends took
me in to see you in the interest OF
A. A. I.illy's campaign. You will re-
member that told you things were
mixed in Fayette county as to the two
candidates. and you agreed with me.
I find that the Lilly campaign In
being made upon the dement's OF
Judge Robinson and the Republican
administration. This kind OF cam
paign will not indulge In. for the
| reason that | feel ! am in part
small as II may be-responSble for
this administration: and for the fur
| Their reason that the man Of whom !
speak III might be the nominee and
], as a Republican, will have to como
back and publicly retract some Of the
things which ] have said In the prl-
mary, which would be very embar-
assing and in the meantime give the
common enemy. the Democrats, a
club with which to fog me, and thu
put me on the defensive rather than
the aggressive fight. In the general
election want to give the voters the
same reason for supporting the noml.
nee Of my party as 4 didzlnzt the pri-
mary without retractlng single inch
and with=th right==to be heard in
every hamlet of the confines of the
state of West Virginia. find that
can not do this should Judge Robin
son be nominated, If follow the LII
ly campaign as 1t is being waged in
this and adjoining counties, and for
this reason and for the reasons that
may be stated hereinafter, ] cannot
espouse the Lilly campaign.
Permit me to say Just here that
man for political Office Is judged by
the deeds done and not by what lie
declares In platform or what he says
he would have done II given chance
OF had he been placed in tie same
position as his opponent.
was a member of the legislature
of 1908. of which f. p. Meats was
speaker of the house. at the closing
hours Of the legislature. when the APP
preparation bill was under consldera-
ton. Democratic members undertook
10 talk the measure to ,leath. Mr..
Wet2el, Of Jefferson county. was the
leader OF the attack. |. as mem
her OF that body remembering the
rule that had been adopted early In
the session, called attention to the
rule and raised point OF order on
the same. The speaker recognized the
point as we'll taken and the object
to talk the measure 10 deuth was de-
feated was bitterly assail"d for eX-
prcising my rights as q member OF
The house The measure was adopted.
ON the next day upon the floor OF
the senate. Senator Campbell. Demo-
cratic senator from Jefferson county.
bitterly assailed me individually. the
negro race collectively. and the Re-
publican party generally of the state
OF West Virginia and especially OF
Fayette county. for the presence of a
negro in the legislature with the au-
thority 10 call point OF order.
Judge Robinson was then mem
her of the senate body with no
thought OF candidacy for the govern
orshipof Virginia, but solely for
the purpose OF dlscharging his duty
as senator toward the citizens of the
state whose motto is "Mountalneers
are always free" whether they be
white or black. rich or poor, employ
er or employee. and without any favor
or hope OF reward in the future. but
simply striving TO do his whole duty
III a. Il,nt IN n L