The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-23

WIZ hI0Hb Vptltll4 H0m QluUcQt4
knows II. Evidently they did not con-
slider Chairman Lewis able 1 differen:
tate . the two widely different
games.
John ]. lCornwell knows ali about
the ruction, and has been appealed to.
He has listened, counseled moderation
and lapsed into silence SO far as the
rumpus is concerned. He doesn't care,
for Cornwell Is getting to run his own
campaign to suit himself, in the inter.
est OF himself, and strictly for himself.
He and his friends believe that they
know the situation In West Virginia
just a little better than Chairman Lew.
is or anybody else does, and they are
not feeling themselves about the
strength Of the Republican majority
In West Virginia In a presidential year.
They know that Wilson hasn't a chance
to beat Hughes out Of West Virginia's
sixteen electoral votes ave II vii.
son could get every single Democratic
vote in the state. This they know he
cannot do. There are certain elements
in the Democratic party who are lost
wholly and entirely to Wilson on sc.
count of dissatisfaction with his alleg.
ed strict neutrality, and because OF his
weakness in coping with Mexican at.
fairs. There Is a batch of %votes-and
a big batch-which IS going against
Wilson in West Virginia not because
they love Hughes more, but because
they love the present administration
decidedly less.
Under these well known circum.
stances Cornwell's friends say that he
can't justly be accused Of egotism
when, as between making Wilson's
personality and his own paramount be-
fore the voters OF West Virginia, hs
elects to boost his own. 1t isn't intend.
ed by Cornwell to ignore Wilson and
the national administration absolutely.
He couldn't do that. But it will be OBJ.
served as his speaking tours continue
that he will not be found bearing down
heavily on the loud pedals when he
handles these subjects. He will give
them a Mandatory lick and a pleasant
promise and pass on TO an o%ratorical
entrapment OF liberal and independ.
ent Republican voters" hoping enough
of them will be caught in the molasses
to catch such flies as will enable one
candidate on the Democratic ticket to
pull through anyway, and that one John
]. Cornwell-'himself."
While observing the Cornwell course
On the hastings, the railbirds watch.
Ing the tryouts and the race will find
time to observe what some other can.
didates on the Democratic ticket will
be doing to carry out the idea Of Chair.
man Lewis and play the personality Of
Woodrow Wilson clear across the
boards. What will Congressman
Nicely be doing about this up in the
First district and Congressman Little.
page in the Sixth? One might think
that as they are candidates on the ma.
tional ticket and had a vote-if not a
yoice-in doing everything their Pres.
ident wanted done, they would 90 to
their constituents with frequent and
eloquent pleas, holding Wilson up to
the highest rung on flames ladder. But
they are not expected by anybody, un.
less it is the interesting state chair.
man, to do anything Of the kind. The
chapter allotted by them to Wilson
will. 1t Is predicted, be brief; that to a
narration Of laws Congress has passed
Will be somewhat lengthier, and thence
on to less extra hazards, mindful to
keep their own personalities and their
own neighborhood histories and their
own local activities, with a few anec.
dates to tickle the small-town folk,
shining high and bright above ali
things else. There will be no partisan
boasting from them, no more than
there will be from John Cornwell. II
they say anything to kindle the par.
tisan ire Of a single Republican in the
audience 1t will not be intentional on
their part. Far from It. II they could
make 1t impossible for their auditors
to tell from their speeches what ticket
they are candidates on, they would
gladly do 1t. They are running In
strongly Republican districts these
two, they weren't born into the game
of politics yesterday, and they don't
have to be told by anybody who was,
how to smear their forensic molasses
so as to make the greatest catch. Not
Nicely and not Old Adam. The other
congressional candidates on the tick.
ct with them are new to the game and
unknown. They might fall for the
Lewis scheme to force Wilson to the
forefront and they might not. II they
have good advisers 1t Is safe to say
that they will not.
The i%nsistence Of Chairman Lewis
on making Wilson and his administra,
tion conspicuous In the Democratic
campaign has proven to practically
every experienced politician OF tina,
party who has talked OF this matter
with the correspondent, that he falls
to Q the situation in West Virginia
with a cold, unbiased and practical
eye. 1t Is evident to them that he is
blind to a condition of affairs which
they all see, and have e for weeks.
1t is this: The campaign in West
Virginia will, when it gets to going
with systematic work on both sides
and the party lines which are now
slack are drawn taut, that the fight
so far as the state ticket Is concerned
will narrow down between Robinson
and Cornwell. The election of a gov.
ernor will be tie issue, and the only
one left. 1t will be conceded that the
state Is gone for Hughes, and all the
rest of the Republican ticket is as good
as elected. Then all the forces of the
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