The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-07-27
CONSERVATION IN
DEMOCRATIC CAMP
over LILLY ACTION
PRESS OF STATE STILL. TRYING
TO FOMENT DiSCORD, BUT
UCCESSFULLY.
Watson to Tap His Bari, but Rank
and File Will Not Forget Nc
Graw ThroW.OoWn.
fBY JOHN w. FlENNER. }

WASHINGTON. b. G.. July "a
West Virginia Democrats are In
panic. They have been looking for
The worst, and with a degree OF OPP
limism, unwarranted by the facts,
have been hoping for the best, but
the announcement Of Attorney Gener-
al A. \. Lilly, in which he VOLUNTARY
~ abandoned his contest for the gu
bernatorial nomination, was the last
straw that broke the Democratic
camel's back From now on the Dem
ocraIs, sadly disorganized themselves,
will place their main dependence IN
Senator Clarence Watson's bari, IN
the hope that there will be some
easy money" in circulation. even II
the Republicans do capture the Sena-
torship, the House delegation, the
governorship ard the other State or
fees all along the line.
For weeks the Democratic press OF
West Virginia has been attempting IN
every manner known 10 politics TO add
fuel TO the fire by taking the Lilly
end Of the Republican dilemma IN an
effort TO stir up discord IN the re-
united Republican.Progres ranks,
but from now on the contest will be a
clear-sul fight, with the Republicans
as usual, on the defensive.
The Democrats have had it brought
home to them that the best laid
schemes of mice and men do not al
ways work out, and thus the abandon
ment Of the Lilly contest against
Judge Ira E. Robinson and the an.
nouncemcnt Of the Attorney General
that he will be found in the fore
front of the fight for Judge Robinson
fills to overlooking the cup Of Demo
cratic sorrow.
watson to Tap Barrel.
Evidences are accommodating in WASH
inSton that Democratic National Com
mitteeman Watson OF Fairmont is 60
ing 10 sncnd his money with the reck-
lessness OF a Coal Oil Johnny" in a
last desperate effort TO hold the DHmn-
intact. The former Senator. however.
has cut out some job for himself. The
Democrats OF tho state are not soon
going To forget the treatment accorded
fought the battles of Democracy in
West Virginia without hope of reward.
The same fate that has befallcn the
man from Grafton Is now in store for
rrship in West Virginia without first
securing the official .. X. Of the bosses
who at present are holding the whip
hand. The effort TO have Col McGraW
so down into the political history or
the state unwept. unhonored and UNI
sung Will probably fail, for the boys
up the gaps. at the crossroads. ana
Il long the ridges have memories longer
than the bosses would have them have,
and the rank and file OF West Virginia
Democrats cannot hc hog-tied by the
bosses who have arisen TO power by
any such methods as were employed 10
encompass tho downfall of Col. Nc
Graw. There Is not much gratitude in
politics but If such there he, Il Is IN he
found in the hearts or the boys who
do the voting and not those who manin-
ulate the machine. But be that as 1t
may. the Democrats arc going 10 have
hard row 10 hoe in West Virginia
this fall, even with the Watson barrel
leaking a golden stream. at both the
spigot and the hung hole:
Funeral Oratiou.
Solicitor General John W. Davis. who
is scheduled to do the 'keynotinE" at
the Democratic state convention at
FarkershurE on August ., 1t Is thought
will now have 10 pocket his Keynote
speech" and deliver funeral GRAFTON
instead over tho boss-infectcd remains
of the Democratic party Of West Fir-
ginia.
The Democratic party in West Etr-
ginia as we'll as elsewhere. has fallen
on evil days and tho Judgment OF the
people will be registered In no unmis+
taxable terms when the hattie OF the
ballots begins on November Z.
This is a Republican year and the
Democrats might as we'll begin organ