Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-11-22
A POLITICAL SENSATION.
A Hint That a Duel Is the
 Proper Thing.
THEBLACKBURN.RUCKERAFFAIR THE

Judge Ruczer Says the President Did Say
 Certain Things and Senator Blackburn
 Says He Did Not-It Leads to an Invi-
 tation for a Challenge.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 22-There is a queer controversy going on which is talked of con siderably by politicians. The principals are Senator Black burn, a leading champion Of the administration, and person who professes to be Judge Rucker, of Harrodsburg, Ky, although Judge Durham, who is native of this place, and claims to know all the promi- nent inhabitants, says he never heard of Fucker. The circumstances are based on an alleged interview in which Rucker claimed to have heard President Cleveland make some very bitter remarks against certain New York politicians, at the White House. in the presence of Senator Blackburn. Presi- dent Cleveland says he does not remember ever having seen Ruc1er, and that he never made any such remarks to anyone as Fucker attributes to him. Senator Blackburn de- nied the whole affair in the most vigorous lan- guaga. A gentleman who claims to be we'll acquainted with Judge Fucker expressed the opinion that if Senator Blackburn re- fused to fight duel he would be in danger of being shot on the street the first time he and Judge Rucker should meet. Judge Rucker is now living at Denver, Colo DENVER, Nov. 22-Judge Fucker has pub Gshed an open letter to Senator Blackburn. It follows in full
 Eor, J. c. S. Blackburn:
 Sls-Neither explanation apology is re- quir ed for the liberty 1 take in addressing you this open letter in regard to the matters in con- | troverSy between us, since they have already been given to the public more or less fully by the | aT1fo | tive of the honored state of Kentucky. in the legislative branch of the national legislature, an | orator and a leader and man of mark in the l great party to which both yield allegiance | and am an humble and comparatively unknown citizen of a state the confines of civilization, | hold my reputation for honor, truth, courage and | manhood as highly as you can valuefyo and consequently am not disposed to allow your de- l rOgatOry statements those of your friends to | pass unchalenged
 With good deal of unnecessary violence of language you take exceptions to an interview with me, published in the several Republican daiies after the election, concerning an interview with President Cleveland about two weeks before the election. The statemepts made by me in connection with that interview, I have before stated, and here reterate, were substantially cor rect. The president did speak disparagingly of | the prospect of his election did consider New | York the weak place in the Democratic line, and did attribute the weakness to the dissatisfaction, not to say the disaffection, of Mayor Hewitt, Gov ernor Hill and Sheriff Grant.
 In your first statement to the public on Nov. 14 you deny that any conversation of the kind | occurred ''The president never mentioned MT. Hewitts or Mir Grants name," you said, 'nor did nor any one else" In a later statement of | Nov. IS you admitted that MT. Hewitt's name | was mentioned and ill another, which printed in The New York Sun of the same date, you admitted that Mir Hewitts, MT. Grants and l Governor Hills names were mentioned. If your memory was treacherous in the first place, ] o,,I on ifnrot ti0T ohla tn | member so much which you at first emphatically denied, it would seem that you might have been little more guarded in justice to yourself in i'm | peaching in unqualified terms,my veracity
 But, unfortunately, just ips the degree that you are compelled to admit what stated and you de- nied, or, in other words, that am right and you are wrong, you become personally abusive, and finally denounce me acting the part of spy in the interest of the Republicans.
 Logically speaking, if you are justified in ap- plying that epithet to me, there must have been something said in the course of the conversation with the president which it would have been of advantage to the Republicans to know. If it was not what stated what was it?
 You are well aware that did not state half that said, and that have not violated any confidence toward you or the president, or any faith toward the Democratic party. Your appli- cation of the term to me only shows that you are
 mad and talking at random
 Itwould probably be going outside of the record | for me to suggest ill this connection, what you | know very well that the influence Of the spOlltl-
 clans of New York is far reaching and has been | exerted in the election of a senator from Ken lucky, and that the question of your reelection
 will be decided by the legislature of that state to l be chosen next August, and that therefore it be-
 hooves you not to lose the favor of those masters of political intrigue Partly in view of this fact I admit it an indiscretion on my part to men, tion what you said of MT. Hewitt and assure you sincerely regret having done , Now, senator approach point in the con- | troversy which I would gladly avoid, but, con-
 corning which, you have given it great promi-
 hence, I am compelled to speak plainly. mean your alusionS direct and indirect to what you are r pleased to consider the difference in our social position in life and the argument your friend Mr. l Phil B. Thompson based thereon, to the effect that it is impossible that you should hold any Q correspondence with me of personal nature Our mutual friends may not recognize this as
 sumption of superiority, but let that pass. I will
 say that you pursuing exactly the course
 coward might be expected to pursue under like 5 circumstances and certainly it is not the part o = courage to deuounce a man and at the same time S assure him that your position is so much more S exalted than his that he need ot expect redres: from you.
 il As for myself, while have not said anythins s in this letter in any of my interviews witt = members of the press which did not believe wa V true nor anything that is intended to b, personally offensive yet if at any time for an. Il cause you should desire a meeting with me- cal assure you that your slightest intimation to tha d effect will meet with prompt acceptance on m, is part
 It rests with you to say what the result of tn
 controversy shall be. Sincerely,
 A. W. FUCKER.