West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-10-05
J. J. CORNWELL
ExPLODES BOMB
Tells OF Conferences Held In The
East Between Robinson
and Lilly Supporters
REASON LILLY WITHDREW
Explained by Deti In Which Grant p.
Hall Was to Have Been Made O. o.
y. Chairman and Hatfield Was Not
TO Be Endorsed by State Convention
-cornwelI Asks Whether Agree
ment Was Kept.

to Be Endorsed by State Convention
-Cornwell Asks Whether Agree
ment Was Kept
Charleston. October 2nd.-Sen-
ator John ]. Cornwell. Democratic can
didate for Governor in West Virginia.
exploded a bomb in his recent ad-
dresses In Summers County when he
told or the conference held I'm New
York between machine and Lilly Re-
publicans. which resulted in the with
drawal Of General Lilly from the Re-
publican Gubernatorial race.
There has been more or less mystery
attached to the manner In which Lilly
was gotten OFF the political checker
board and the compensation he re-
ceived for 80 doing. Conferences were
held, 1t Is known. with more or less
side issues at both New York and At
lantic City. Some OF the rumors re-
garding those who attended these SEES
sions would make weird reading for
the newspapers. Governor Cornwell's
Information, however, IS said to come
direct from the Star Chamber session
held In New York. Discussing this
feature the Democratic candidate said {:
When / began this campaign / an
nounced that personalities would not
De INDUCED In; that 1 proposed to
make no personal attack on Judge
Robinson, whom / had known for a
long time and with whom my relations
had always been cordial. do not in
tend now to vary from that program
but II becomes necessary for me to
notice some things which Judge Rob
inson has said about me and compare
our respective actions-our political
behavior-in connection with our re-
spectiye nominations.
Judge Robinson, in his public
speeches. has declared that / am the
candidate OF Clarence Watson, to
whom he sneeringly and insinuatingly
refers as the man with the check-book
and the fountain pen" He has re-
ferred to- me as tool" OF Watson and
much more OF the same kind OF talk.
Senator Watson Is not a candidate
Tor any office. so far as / know, ap-
pointive or elective, therefore he needs
no defense and IS abundantly able to
take care OF himself. The people, ir-
respective OF party, know how false is
the charge or insinuation that I owe
my nomination to any one or group OF
men. The primary returns are the best
evidence. The thousands OF business
men, professional men, farmers and
laborers, all over the State, who made
my fight in the Primary, without pay,
price or promise, and their Republican
neighbors, know what q falsehood is
the suggestion that any sinister influ-
ence was behind my candidacy.
But these charges OF Judge Robinson
compel me to do some plain talking.
want him and the State Machine to
know that when they strike a blow at
me they can expect one in return.
know a good many things 1 have not
told, some OF them are In the nature of
condolences which 1 am, in honor,
bound to respect, but there are some
other things which l am going to tell
First, let me say to Judge Robinson
that IL had a political boss would be
loyal to him behind his back as we'll
as to his face or / would denounce him
entirely. l would be consistent and
not a hypocrite. II sold myself and
sacrificed my manhood to obtain a
nomination or an election, then would
stand by the bargain, good or bad.
Having said that much now make this
deliberate charge and challenge Judge
Robinson to deny II.
At conference between Judge Rob.
inson and his chosen counsellors on
the one hand and General Lilly and a
group OF his supporters, on the other.
and looking to the end of abandon
Ing the Lilly contests and allowing
Judge Robinson to be declared the Re
publican nominee, one OF General
Lilly's supporters demanded of Judge
Robinson what influence Governor Hat
field would have over him, II elected.
The Judge replied in effect. II not In
the exact words, mo more than any
other citizen" The conference short.
ly afterwards adjourned for dinner. In
the meantime the Judge was told by
his chief advisor that his answer as to
tho Hatfield influence was not strong
enough and would not be satisfying to
the Lilly supporters. whereupon the
Judge promised to make Il stronger
When the Joint conference was re.
"uHpN ohu lut QUESTION was again put
TO the Judge. stimulated and encour.
aged he replied. like a disciple of old.
mot damned bit" That reply was
deemed sufficiently emphatic and the
dickering continued and an agreement
was reached. The main points I'm the
agreement, other than that the Gov.
ernor was not TO exercise a damned
Bit OF influence over him and his ad-
ministration, we're:
First Grant p. Hall. q Lilly sup
porter. was to be made Chairman OF
the State Committee.
Second Governor Hatfield was not
20 be endorsed specifically and by
name, in the platform at the state Con,
ventiOn.
Having made that charge. now let
me ask whether the agreement was
kept.
IL is a matter OF history that when
tho Republican State Committee met
ct Parkersburg the Governor issued
orders that Grant Hall was not TO he
made Chairman OF the State Commit
tee and that Judge Robinson meeklv
obeyed orders and broke his promise |
and his agreement That when the
State Convention met at Huntington