The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-14
Boosting for Trouble.

Republican voters throughout
West Virginia and a heavy proper
ton of the Republican press OF the
state are no doubt much amused by
the results of the hurry-up call
which leading Democratic organs oil
the state have sent out to boost A. A.
Lilly, Republican candidate for gov
ernor, whose platform, principles,
and propaganda against a Republic
can administration have been print
ed. eulogized and swallowed much as
If these supplied ut last the long
sought fodder for the Democratic
mule. The louder the blast Is blown
for the Lilly bandwagon, 1t VIII DC
Eoticed, the tighter the Democratic
press clamps down the soft pedal on
the { mpaign of Judge Ira L. Rob
insoi,, Lilly's opponent.
The lead in In boost for trouble
In the Republic party has been
taken by the + irmont Times and
tho Wheeling Register. Other Dem
ocratic organs have taken the cue
from these two well edited mouth
pieces of Bryan in the past, Wilson
today, and any other Democrat In
the future. Nobody has ever blamed
Senator Watson, Colonel o. S. Nc
Kinney, Editor Earl Smith or their
associates in Marion county, for a
lack of keen political foresight. Ma
rion county's majorities year after
year show the colors of the stand
ards hoisted on the hills Of Fair
mont. Senator Watson is not in this
campaign-for himself-but il any
Republican thinks for a minute that
the leaders of West Virginia Democ-
racy are not at hard work on plans
to carry this state for President Will
son and keep the federal plums with
in reach of Democratic hands exclll'
siyely, such Republican has only to
don his specs and read between the
lines in the Democratic newspapers
which are making it their business,
while letting the Democratic boom
slumber. to make breach in the
Republican walls by making the Re-
publican administration the buffer
for Mr.. Lilly's campaign, and ignor-
ing the well known qualifications OF
Judge Robinson. Praise for Lilly
will end, every Republican may rest
assured. the morning of June Z, II
by Democratic aid he could be nomi-
mated. Even those clauses in his
long declaration of principles which
might be Of advantage to Democrats
IL he were elected and they
were carried out, will GER
tainly not find any favor IN
the Democratic press or in the
mouths of Democratic stumpers, once
the Democrats have their own nop,i-
nee in the field, for Democrats are
not much inclined TO make Republi-
can platforms their own gangways to
the ship of state. If, when Demo-
Gratis meet in August to enunciate
their principles. and frame plat
form, they desire new phase OF the
prohibition law, n new charter for
Williamson or Fairmont, or any
other change in the economic or po-
litical administration Of this states
affairs, they will most certainly not
turn over their support to any Repub'
lican nominee for governor to put
these measures into effect. Theii
plan will be, as it has been foi
twenty years, to assail every meas
ure the Republicans adopt, every
achievement Republicans have &C
complished, and everything Republi'
cans have done to clear the way fol
the promises OF the things they as
Democrats would do, If they had the
chance.
Leading Democrats have confessed
that to win the forthcoming campaign
their candidate on the state ticket
must overcome a majority ranging
from $4,000 to $4,000, which, OF
comparative population, makes Yves
Virginia almost as hard to carry fol
the Democratic party as Pennsylva
MIA. How, then, do the Democrat
hope to carry the state? By takin:
Republican votes into the Democrat,
column. And 1t is just as readll!
understood that the weaker the Re
publican nominee. the more hop
the Democrats have OF drawing Of
votes in the general election to theil
own nominee.
Perhaps Mr., Lilly himself did no
intend to line up so much Democrat,
enthusiasm for his campaign, thougl
he does seem to be in close toucl
with Senator Chilton's Charleston
Gazette. The game is too old, ant
Mr.. Lilly ought to know as well a
anybody else the moment thu
Democratic press of the state began