People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-09-21
QUIET BUT HOT FIGHT AT
THE PRIMARIES.
GENERAL GOOD ORDER PREVAILED,
Challenges Were Numerous, but Few
Votes Were Refused-The Breckin-
ridge Forces Were Well Managed
and All Worked Like Beavers
The Betting Favors Ow-
ems Both Confident.

LEXINGTON, Ky, Sept 1.-THE polls
opened at Z o'clock this morning for
the most holly contested Democratic
primary election ever known in any
congressional district of this country.
The candidates are w. c. P. Breckin-
ridge Of Lexington, W. c. Owens of
Georgetown and Evan Settle of Owen
ton.
All day there was intense sup
pressed excitement, but general good
order here and at Frankfort. In some
precincts challenges were numerous,
but few votes were refused. The
most notable exception was Prof A.
V. Gordon Of Allegan academy, an ex-
confederate soldier, whose intention
to support the nominee was chal-
lenged and who refused to pledge
himself to support Breckenridge. His
vote was refused and the incident
created considerable excitement
At noon it was estimated that
Owens had 3j2. Breckenridge 81 and
Settle - in Frankfort, and at II
o'clock it was reported that Breckin-
ridge was running ahead in Woodfo
county and was carrying Lexington
by two to one.
The Clays were not challenged az
Paris as had been expected.
Man. t,.,ynan tool oa4;,-o
in the contest and electioneered
against Breckinridge Others cat
the prayer meetings called for suppl
cations during the election for the
protection and honor of homes. Min
listers and churchmen are co-ope-
rating with the women.
Breckenridge and his friends main
tanned aperfect organization through
out the district and lined up like vet
eran politicians everywhere at the
opening of the polls Federal Off
GERS, distillers, railroads and other
powerful interests were with Breck-
inridge, and all whom he has favored
during his ten years service in con-
gress fought hard for him. Senators
Lindsay at Frankfort and Blackburn
at Versailles both residents of this
district, quietly but earnestly worked
against Breckenridge. but the ward
and township politicians were with
the congressman.
The district is composed of BOur-
bon, Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Old
ham, Owen, Scott and Woodford coun-
ties. As the returns from many vot-
ing places must be carried long dis
lance on horses to telegraph offices, if
the result is close. it is not likely that
the successful nominee will be known
before Monday. As the Breckenridge
men have the more perfect organiza.
ton, as well as the machine, they
propose not to sleep again until they
know the result. 1t is charged that
they have used the party machinery
in the canvas and will do so to the
last.
A prayer meeting was held at Nor
riSOn chapel at noon, attended by
over 100, mostly ladies and college
students Prayers were offered by
Elder J. W. McGarvey, the Rev. E. H.
Ward, the Rev. W. +. V. Bartlett and
Prot. j. B. Jones, all of whom ap-
pealed for divine guidance in to-davs
election, without making any person
al applications or indicating any can
didate. DR.. Bartlett is regarded as
conservative or mildly favoring Breci-
lnridge. while the others have been
outspoken in condemnation of the
Ashland district congressman.
The great mass of the onlookers
here believe that Breckenridge is
beaten, Partisans on neither side are
able to adjust their speculations to
anything but their hopes and Brock
inridge or Owen is indicated as the
victor according to the sympathies of
the partisan, but the conservative
people SO far as their opinions are
accessible, appear to believe almost
unanimously that Breckenridge will
go down to defeat They say that
the Lexington vote will be practically
standotf and that the county as a
whole will so COR Owens by about 800
plurality.
Georgetown, KY, reports that town
and county will give Owens majority
of LOCO. Owens managers claim that
everything is going his way.
\ At l;20 o'clock both Owens and
Breckenridge leaders claimed the vic
tory. Settle was out of it, and was so
regarded by most everybody.
The closing rallies of the campaign
was held here by both Breckenridge
and Owens. There was no sign of
trouble at either, though they were
held only a block apart, and al
neither did the speaker hold his
auditors to the end. Breckenridge
spoke from the court house steps.
facing the bronze image of his il
lustrious grandfather. He was well
received. but the demonstrations of
approval were not at all extravagant.
A few offensive transparencieS were
displayed, hearing misspelled mot.
toes, as-"No Petticote. Men Only
Vote in the South End" and Man
hood, Breckinrilge and Brains. The
Owens rally was equally tame.
The leaders passed the night Mt
headquarters, Tightening tie lines
for the battle.
The betting to-day was decidedly
in favor of Owens.
In the lobby of the Chief hotel the
odds posted against Breckenridge
were represented by $50 to $500.
All the saloons are closed to-day, a
proclamation to that effect having
hean iSSuad nv tha ,,a,or