The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-17
TO CONTEST II.
Breekinridge Will Not Give Up
the Fight.
Claims That Fraudulent Votes
We're Cast.
RUNS THE COMMITTEE
The Central Committee May
Throw Out Precincts,
And Turn the Nomination Over
to Breckenridge.

LEXINGTON, Sept 1.-THE Breckin-
ridge forces are hurrying messengers to
all parts or the Ashland district today to
secure. evidence upon which to base q
contest Stress Is laid on the fact that
Owens county of Scott. which gave him
1900 plurality showing an increase of
Gil over the Democratic vote in 1892, and
Franklin county which Owens carrie d
by 521, shows an increase of 691, almost
331< per cent in each county.
The other six counties show from to
20 per cent increase. The Breckenridge
men refuse to give out figures, but say
their advIces from every precinct give
Owens only 169 on the face of the re-
turns Desha Breckenridge, J. O. Rogers
and Judge Bullock have gone to Scott
county TO get afiidavits and TO investi-
gate the report that two precinct polls
were kept open one hour longer than the
law allows, and this will be one of the
grounds of contest
The Owens men have every precinct
in the district and insist on BOG plurality.
They are sending men to watch Breck-
inridge messengers and claim TO be able
70 prove gross frauds in Lexington that
will give abundant grounds for retalia-
tory contest.
Tho Owens men say that scores Of
fraudulent Breckinridge votes were cast
in this city by men who were not regis
made affidavits that they were out of the
city on registration day.
The Breckenridge men have a majority
of the district committee, which IS the
returning board. and declares officially
who is the nominee on the primary re-
turns lit is claimed by Beckinridge men
that enough illegal votes were cast Sat
urday to overcome the small plurality Of
Owens. lit is said that Breckenridge has
sont notice to the clerks of the eight
counties notifying them of his purpose
Moses Kaufman, however, president
OF the city council, and Breckinridge's
closest lieutenant. told the Associated
Press CORES Dondent at noon that Col.
Breckinridge had issued no manifesto
nor official notice of contest, and was
waiting for exact returns and informa-
tion from all the counties before deciding
on course OF action.
Mr.. Kaufman added that some of
Breckinridge's friends now figured Ow-
ems plurality on the face of the returns at
IS, but the accepted figures were still
169. Well posted Breckinridge leaders
say If official returns, when canvassed
by county committees reduce Owens
plurality to close figures, say IN the
neighborhood Of one hundred, then
Colonel Breckenridge will institute
contest when the district committee
meets at frankie next Saturday and
seek to throw out certain precincts in
which Irregularities have been practiced.
or have certain votes rejected on the
ground of fraud.
While the Owens men still claim 400
plurality they are alarmed ovet the pros
poets Of the returning board at Frank
fort Saturday throwing out some of their
votes.
The Breckenridge men claim
to have discovered numerous cIer-
ical errors in their favor, rednc-
ing Owens plurality to less than
So In one precinct. Owens home. they
claim there were over 50 fraudulent
votea cast or miscount to THAI extent
Desha Breckinridge is at Georgetown
today looking after that precinct and he
teleRraphs that there are frauds at that
place that will more than overcome the
estimated claims of the Owens men.