Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-14
CLOSING THE FIGHT
Winding Up the Campaign in Col.
Breckinridge's District.
A BOMB THAT WENT OFF TOO SOON
Attack on Mr.. Owens That Was
Promptly Denied.
FONIGHTS POLITICAL RALLIES
ipecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
LEXINGTON. KY, September 14.-The
closing hours of the extraordinary canvass
which Col Breckinridge has been making
In this district for the purpose of ''vindi-
cation have been marked by a violent ac-
cess of personal bitterness, and by a resort
to all the questionable and underhand politi-
cal practices which come to the surface in
q the last days of a great national cam
paign-
The Breckenridge managers fired their
last political powder late last night, when
the colonel himself gave out sensational
Interview attacking Mr.. Owens personal
and moral character, endeavoring, In Dot
and kettle fashion. to biacken his leading
opponent with a few stains similar to those
left by the Pollard scandal on his own
The interview. which was craftily intend
ed TO reach the public this morning too
late to be effectively replied to by the
friends of Mr.. Owens. contained two main
accusations One was that Mr.. Owens has
peen Tor years a constant gambler at cards
and that he had held for some time direct
or indirect interest in a gambling house In
chicago. According to the coloners state
ments also, Mr.. Owens had been on the
point of leaving his home In this district
ana setting permanently in Chicago when
the chance offered itself last May of stand
hS loT tHe congressional nomination
against the victim of the Pollard scandal
The other charge was that Mr. Owens
hSd. on stated occasion, appeared at n
Louisville hotel with a young woman and
apphed Tor lodging there, but had been
turned away from the hostelry by the in
dignant proprietor.
The destructive effect of this assault on
Mr.. Owens has evidently fallen far short
OF the expectations of the Breckinridge
managers. for not only are the accusations
on a careful examinat ton seen to be them
selves rather forced and unsubstantial
out, by some chance or other, Mr.. Owens
was forewarned OF the general nature of
the assault, and was enabled to issue in
time for publication in this mornings pa
pers an absolute denial of the accusation
On which Col. Breckenridge had most con-
fdently counted to efface the moral issue
on which the campaign between them has
SO lar been conducted.
Mr.. Owens Denial.
In his statement, issued at / o'clock this
morning from his home in Georgetown Mr.
Owens says:
Through the vigilance of friends I am
advised of the general nature of the as
sault upon my personal character. but 1
am in ignorance of its details. / under
stand that il will appear in Fridays press
that, In company with a woman whom
represented to be my wife, sought adms-
sion as guest In some hotel in the city of
Louisville, and that admission was either
refused me, or that was required to leave
the hotel after having been admitted as
guest thereof.
Il am unable to learn the time, place and
circumstances of the alleged incident as II
will appear in the press, and am, therefore
unable to contradict the Infamous falsehood
as circumstantialy as / would DESIRE but
i can, however. and do now pronounce the
story as communicated to me as absolutely
false; and i Will further say that at no
time or place, at or under any circum-
stances, DID ever. in company with a wo-
1f1<1f 20 Anv -
received at any hotel in the city of Louis
willie or elsewhere; that at no time or place
and under no circumstances whatever have
l been refused admission to any hotel in
Louisville or elsewhere account Of any
actual or assumed relation to any woman
without Qualification, I pronounce the
whole story a base and baseless faIsehood
made with the intention to deceive the
democrats in the Ashland district support
ing me, and who are determined that the
district shall not be dishonored.''
Mr.. Owens concludes his statement by
calling attention to the underhand and
COW ardly method of this eleventh hour at
tack, and appeals to the fair-minded senti-
neut Of the district 10 resent such political
the polls.
Had not this prompt ard effective denial
been put before thepublic here Simultaneous
y with the charges themselves much dam
age would undoubtedly have been done to
tne owens cause AS 1t is, the canard of
iast night is likely to deceive nobody, and
the bomb" which was to create such dan
gerous panic in the Owens camp. will injure
practicaIy only the careless political oper-
ators, VINO foolishly set 1t off a couple of
hours too early.
Canvass Closes Tonight,
NO more sensational maneuvers are ex-
eected today, but the canvass will close to-
NiSnt with the rival rallies In this city, at
which the intensity of feeling on both sides
will undoubtedly find most liberal express
sion- Col Breckinridye and Mr.. Owens will
both be on hand to say a closing word to
their followers, and, as the two meetings
are 10 be held TN close proximity, there is a
prospect of unusual public excitement. and
some actual disorder
50 far the campaign has been free from
violence, but 1t will be a welcome surprise
to the conservative element in the district
II the polls in ihis and the other hotly con-
tested counties close tomorrow without a
single act of bloodshed
The Indications all are that the race to-
morrow VIII De an exceedingly close and
doubtful one. Col. Breckinridge and Mr.
owens are apparently about equal In
strength In the district. the former having
the great advantage of the control OF n
powerful and well-organized political ma
chine, and the latter finding his sIipport in
the revolt of all the respectable elements
In the district against the demand made nv
the incumbent for continued political pre-
ferment
If the third candidate in the fight, Mr..
Seltic, VINO maintains a neutral attitude
toward Col. Breckinridge's moral delin-
qCencies, were not disturbing factor the
FORCES in opposition to the sitting members 8
return would undoubtedly triumph in the
present triangular fight.
However. there is a very threatening
prospect that Col. Breckinridge will profit
enough by the divisions in the opposing
ranks TO poll slight plurality over each OF
his opponents In tomorrow's primary.
Dfscrcdited by Diplomats.