Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-04-27
LANDSLIDE FOR
ABE LILLY
Popular Campai5ncr Has
People With Lin ii His
Race for Governor.

be home in the Flat Top mountains
Of his native state, Hon. A. A. Lilly,
Attorney-General of West Virginia,
and candidate for the Republican nom
ination for Governor, has. risen to a
place of eminence in the political party
with which he has always affiliated
and in the public affairs of the state
That. he will be chosen by the Re-
publican voters Of the state as their
candidate for Governor and will make
a successful campaign against the
Democratic nominee is generally ac-
cepted BY those who are acquainted
with the political situation in West
Virginia
Probably the most wonderful cam
paigner West Virginia has produced in
a generation, he has proved a popular
leader rhe Republican forces, the.
men On the farms ana The men in the
mines have turned to Abe Lilly until
assurance has been given that the
Lilly landslide Will cover practically
the entire STATE.
Starting from his home county or
Raleigh, the Lilly candidacy will
sweep through the southern section Of
the state, that vast Republican terri
terry south of the Great Kanawha, like
fire through stubb field. Abe
Lilly's popularity is contagious. In
Fayehe, in Summers, in Monroe, in
Mercer and in Mcdowell he is just as
popular as he is in Raleigh. He will
sweep these counties with but scant
opposition. Boone, Cabell. Lincoln and
Mingo Counties are in line behind his
candidacy Kanawha viii give him
safe majority
In Mason County, according to the
best es ,imates General Lilly will poll
81 per cent of the Republican vote,
while Jackson and Roane Counties viii
give him startling maiorities. Sweep
Ing along the Ohio River, Wood County
will give the Raleigh candidate from
1,000 10 1900 majority wifi g Tyler,
Peasants and Wetzel Counties will
contribute 20 the Lilly majority. That
General Lilly will carry every county
from the tip Of Hancock on the north
to Wayne on the south, along the. Ohio
River, is a careful estimate made by
his friends.
In the central counties Of the state
and in the counties Of the Second Dis
trict General Iilly's candidacy is grow
ing TO be almost as popular as it is in
those counties south Of the Great
Eanawha. Some months ago it was
stated that Abe Lilly would cross the
Kanawha River with $1,000 majority
over his opponent. Those figures are
modest and many of his friends in
crease this estimate several thousand
votes in view Of the increasing senti-
ment behind his candidacy.
Theodore Roosevelt at his best
could not beat Abe Lilly in West Vir-
ainia," was the expression made by
one of the numerous travelling men
who arc shouting for Lilly as they
travel over the state His expression
reminded, his hearers of the similarity
OF the Roosevelt movement in 1912 to
the Lilly campaign Of 1916 Roose-
velt's campaign for Republican dele
gates to Chicago in that year was OPP
posed by practically the same poll
ticians who are opposing Abe Lilly this
year, but Roosevelt swept the state and
captured the IS delegates at the Chi
cago- National Convention ana the
Huntington convention Of 1912 was
controlled by the Roosevelt followers
General Lilly, however in his cam
paign for Governor has an advantage
over Colonel Roosevelts campaign for
the national delegates four years ago.
Lilly has an opportunity TO submit his
cause to the voters direct in primary
where the machine leaders cannot con
troll, while Roosevelt was required to
win his victory in conventions.
General Lilly's popularity with the
voters probably comes from the fact
that he is commoner Few men in
public life have started their careers
in humber surroundings than Abe
Lilly, but with an indomitable will,
diligent effort and close application to
duty, he overcame adversely. Like
that great American for whom he was
named, Abe Lilly's early life is but a
history Of "the short and simple annals
of the poor"
AS Attorney-General. of West vir-
ginia Abe Lilly has served the people
well His conduct of the West vir.
ginia debt suit has been such as to
earn and receive the just appreciation
OF a grateful people Loyalty to their
interests has been his foremost CON
sideration He has faithfully sought
to protect the interests of the tate ID
the LITIGATION with the Manufacturers
Light and Heat Company and he gave
his personal attention to the cause Of
the state in the inquiry made by a
subcommittee of the United States
Senate with relation to the strike
troubles in the kanawha Valley