The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-17
LEXINGTON, KY, Sept. 16

LEXINGTON, ny, sept. 10,
TOY over the defeat of Colonel w.
G. P. Breckinridge at the prima-
nj ries was almost hysterical in this
W locality last evening. The tri-
umph OF the women OF the Blue Grass
country is worthy of the energetic
champions Of virtue. They have fought
vBliAntlY against Colonel Breckinridge
and they hUve won.
w. G. Owens has been chosen by the
Democratic primaries to run as the
party nominee for Congress in the No.
vember elections instead of w. G. p.
Breckenridge. His plurality over
Breckinriige and Mr.. Settle will be at
least $50. and perhaps 0O0
Breckenridge Is u crushed and disap-
pointed man. Talking of his future he
said:
Il expect to live out my days right
here in Kentucky, aud will continue TO
go in and out among these people until
am laid away in the beautiful Lex
ington cemetery where sleep all that is
mortal Of my ancestors. As / said to
these people on the stump, if they do
not choose to send mo back to congress-
/ will tind some other sphere of labor
for them"
Colonel Breckenridge is in splendid
health. but he presents bad sight.
All sorts Of rumors are ahost. soma
sensational and some absurd. One re-
port has it that when Colonel Breckin-
ridge sees he is defeated he will com
nit suicide Another is to the effect
that Madeline Pollard arrived 10 Lex
ington this evening, and said she would
kill the congressman should he be nom
mated for reelection.
Miss Pollard was said to have reached
town in disguise. and at once drove to
a hotel in closed carriage. Whether
there is any truth in the report or not.
the police of Lexington are guarding
Colonel Breckenridge.
Breckenridge managers claim Owens
plurality, on the face of the returns, is
only 1865, and say they will contest and
have the election declared for Breckin-
ridge. Owens managers deny there is
ground for contest, and still claim 55J
as his majority.
STORY OF THE CAMPAIGN.
The w. C.P. Breckenridge campaign
of vindication' practically begun soon
after the verdict in the Madeline Pol
lard case was rendered in April, al.
though Colonel Breckinridge did not OF
tBil leave of absence from congress to
devote most Of his attention to his
campaign until early in July. But
prior to that time he had gone into the
Ashland district, made several speeches
and perfected his plans for the hard
work of the actual political campaign.
1t was during his first visits to the dis :
trict after the Pollard suit that
he realized something of the nature
and extent Of the opposition he would
have to meet. He found two tremen-
dous forces organizing against him. the
women and the churches. One of the
tirst of these organic itions was the
Lexington "Womens Anti -Breckin-
ridge Club. which raised thousands of
dollars t''"0end in any manner which
promise, help defeat Breckenridge
and elec {ens, An instance of the
almost II h expenditure of money by
this club Was its chartering o special
train Of twenty-five cars, on which it
carried free from Lexington to Paris
and return any one who could bs iu-
duced to attend the last great Owens
rally at Paris, where between 90, 600
and %, 900 persons were gathered from
all parts of the district.
Breckinrilgs went into the actual
battle in July, backed by the support
Of the federal officeholders Of the dis
trict by the county and state organ
iVafinf1 Of hic fu or6 fn
tent by the National Congressional
committee in Washington, which of
course is tacitly bound to the support
CT representatives seeking reelection.
Those. with the Breckinridge personal
following, greatly reduced from former
campaigns, seemed to comprise all of
bis forces at the beginning. 1t was not
very formidable array, but the leader
was force In himself through his
keen knowledge of practical politics,
his undoubted eloquence, and a
capacity for hard work which is moth
ing less than marvellous.
VERY MEEK AT THE START.
At the beginning of the campaign
Breckenridge assumed the role of a
meek and lowly repentant He con.
fessed, declared himself sanctified bv
repentance. and sought forgiveness and
sympathy. But this attitude had to be
abandoned. The opposition gave him
no quarter, spared him no blows, and
declared in favor of slugging cam.
paign. He was forced to accept the
battle as it was given. w. G. Owens,
his youthful opponent was out for
fight, not palaver. Most Of all, the women
hooted the repentance dodge. and dealt
many O vicious whack at the reputa-
tion Of the congressman as it had been
established by the disclosures Of the
famous trial.
Then the campaign grew hotter,
Breckinridge talked less of repentance
and forgiveness, leaving that to til,
few church friends who had rallied tC
his support, and devoted his own ener-
gies to repelling the fresh charges made
against him, and making charges ir
return. Rapidly the whole population
OF the district became involved In tn,
controversies Of the campaign. Blu
always the women were in the load
Their clubs adopted rules calculated /,
prevent any, os the gallant young msr
Of the district enlisting under Breckin-