Evening journal., 1888-11-22
A POLITICAL SENSATION.
A Hint That a Duel Is the
Proper Thing.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AFFAIR

Judge Rucker Says the President DId say
Certain Things and senator blackburn
Says He Did Not-It Loads TO an Invl-
tation for Challenge.
WASHINGTON, Nov. o.. There is queer
controversy going on which ID talked OF con
sidersbly by politicians The principals are
Senator Blackburn,a leading champion OF the
administration, and person who processes
to he Judge kucker, Of Harrodsburg, Ky,
although Judge Durham, who is native OF
this place, aud claims to know all tho promi
nent inhabitants, says he never heard Of
kucker. The circumstances are based on an
alleged interview in which Rucker claimed
to have hoard President Cleveland make
some very bitter remarks against certain
New York politicians, at the White House.
n the presence OF Senator Blackburn. Presi-
lent Cleveland says he does not remomber
sver having seen Rucker, aud that he never
nade any such remarks to anyone as Rucker
attributes to him Senator Blackburn de-
uied the whole affair in the most vigorous Ian
Suage A gentleman who Claims 10 DO well
acquainted with Judge Rucker expressed
the opinion that il senator Blackburn re-
fused TO fight duel he would be ia danger
Of being shot ON the street tho first timo he
and Judge Rucker should meet Judge
Rucker is now living at Denver, Colo.
DENVER Nov. 22.-Judge RucAor hns pub
lished an open letter to Senator Blackburn.
IL follows in full.
Hon. J C. S. Blackburn.
SiR- Neither explanation nor apology in re-
qulred for the liberty l take In addressing you
llf ia 80 I'm,
trovery between us, since they have already
been given to the public more or leHs fully by the
press. Though you are a scnntor. "a representa-.
tive OF the hunored state Of Kentucky, In the
legislative brauch " the national legislature an
orator and q leader and man or marx 90 the
great party 10 which we both yield allegiance
and am an humble and comparatively unknown
citizen OF . state on the confines OF civilization,
hold my reputation for honor, truth, courage and
manhood as highly as you can valueyours, and
consequently nun not disposed 70 allow your dc.
rogaiory statements or those Of your friends 70
pass uuchalenged.
Miih good deal of unnecessary violence OF
language you take exceptions % an Interview
with ine, published IN the several Republican
dailies after the election. concerning an interview
wlth President Cleveland about two weeks before
the election The statements made by me Ia
connection with that interview, ! have before
stated. and hce reiterate, substantially COR
rect The president did speak disparugingly 81
The prospect Of his election did consider New
York the weak place In the Democratic line, and
did attribute the weakness 20 the dissatisfaction.
not y say the disafIection OF Mayor Hewitt GOV.
ernor Hiil and sheriff Grant
In your first statement 10 the public on Nov.
l4 you deny that any conversation ~ the kind
occurred. "rhe president never mentioned Mr.
iewitts OF Mr.. Grants name" you said, "nor
did nor any one else.N IA a later statement OF
NOV. Is you admitted that Mr. Hewitts name
WAS mentioned, and in another. which was
printed in The New York sun Of the same date
you admitted that Mr.. Hewitts, Mr. Grants and
Governor Hills names were mentioned. n youl
memory was SO traacherOus in the first place
and II. on consideration, you We're able 70 re
member SO much which you at first emphatically
denied, it would seem that you might have beer
little more guarded in Justice 70 yourself In i'm
peaching in unqualified termgmy veracity
But unfortunately, just in the degree that you
are compelled to admit what / stated aud you de.
niea, OF, in other words that / am right and you
aiSwrong, you become personally abusive, and
finally denouuce me asactng the part Of q SPY Ia
the interest OF the Republicans.
Logically speaking II you are justified in ap
plying that epithet 20 me, there must have beer
something said In the course OF the conversation
with the president which Il would have been oi
advantage 10 the Republicans 10 know II IL wa.
not what l stated what was its
You are well aware that | did not state hal
that was said and that have not violated any
confidence toward you or the president, or ap,
faith toward the Democratic party. Your nppli
/ cation OF the term TO me only shows that you ar,
mad and talking at random
Itwould probably be going outside Of the recorJ
| for ine 10 suggest in this connection. what yot
/ know very well that the influence OF the pnltti
cans OF New York is far reaching aud has beer
exerted in the election Of a senator from Ken
tucky. and that the question Of your reelection
viii be decided by the Legislature OF TINT state I,
| be chosen next August, and that therefore 10 be
| hooyes you not TO lose the favor OF those MASTER
| Of political intrigue Partly in view Of this fac
| admit it was an indiscretion on my part to men
/ ton what You said Of air Hewitt, and 1 assiir
/ you sincerely regret having done so.
/ Now, senator, approach point III the con
/ iroyersy which / would gladly avoid but, con
/ cernlng which, as you have given IL great proini
nence, ! am compelled 70 speak plainly / meal
! your illusions direct and Indirect to what you ar
/ pleased 20 consider the difference Ia our socia
position in lie and the argument your friend AIl
II Phil B. Thompson based thereon, to the effec
that Il is impossible that you should hold an
correspondence with me Of a personal mature
/ Our mutual friends may not recognizes this a.
sumption of superiority, but let that pass. / wi
| say that you are pursuing exactly tha course
coward might be expected TO pursue under lik
circumstances, and certainly Il Is not the part I
courage 70 dcupunct q man ana az the same tim
assure him that your position is SO much NOR
exalted than his that he need l. OF expect redre.
| from YOU.
AS for myself, while have not said anythin
in this letter or IN any Of my interviews wit
members 81 the press which did not believe va
true, nor anything that is or was intended to D
personally offensive, yet Il at any time or for an
cause you should desire a meeting with me, GA
assure you that your slightest inumation to thj
arraet ttfll meet with ttr0mut nrraufanea ON %,
part.
Il rests with you 10 say what the result Of III
controversy shall be. Sincerely,
A. W. RUcKER.
Theory OF a Murder
RANDOLPH, Mass, Nov. "A new theor
| concerning the murder of Miss Mehitab