The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-23
OWENS THE NOMINEE.
Breckenridge Protests, but Will
Not Make a Contest
he SAYS FRAUD WAS PRAcTicED.
However. for the Sake of Tariff Reform,
Devoted Years, He VIII Submit.

FRAsEFoR-, ky., Sept 22.-The men,
bers of the Democratic congressional dis
trict committee met at noon. After can
wasting the vote by counties resolution
was unanimously adopted declaring Owens
the nominee by a plurality of 255 votes,
ana the committee adjourned.
A protest against Chairman Mcleod
voting and decision OF Chairman Carroll,
of the state committee. that Mcleod could
vote only in case of n tie. was filed IN be-
half of Breckenridge. The following COM
munication from Col. Breckenridge was
received, read and ordered filed:
ITO the Democratic Committee of the
Seventh Congressional District: Under the
statutes of Kentucky and the order of
tins committee you are duly authorized
and are constituted the governing author
ity empowered TO count the votes received
by the candidates in the primary election
of September Is, and TO declare the
candidate who received the highest
number of votes the nominee of the Demo
cratic party in the district, and you alone
have power to determine upon the form
and manner of the proceedings you will
take TO discharge this duty. In case OF
contest you, and you alone, have the
power TO hear and determine such contest
and decide who shall be entitled to the
nomination, and you owe to the Democratic
party of the district and 10 your sense of
right that the duties imposed upon you
shall not be performed by any one else.
nor shall they be encroached upon. You,
and you alone. have the power to pre-
scribe what political qualifications shall
be possessed by such legal voters
as reside within the district
and desire to participate in that
primary. and you. and you alone. have the
right 10 determine whether the rules laid
down by you, and in which were necessar-
lily incorporated the provisions oi the
statute. have been complied with. deem
il the duty owe TO the Democratic party
of the district, to my frinds and 10 myself,
to state the principle and protest
against any action of any judge. county
committee of any county, or private indi-
vidual which encroaches or attempts 10
eneroach upon your exclusive jurisdiction.
so that whatever has been done in the
Urinary may not be held 10 be precedent,
to be used hereafter for the want OF an
open and formal protest against IT.
II formally protest against the action of
the Judge of the Fourteenth judicial dis
trict in the issue of the extraordinary or
der in the case of W. f. Sims ana Others
VS. others. This committee met Sep
tember and adopted certain rules.
The plaintiffs waited until the after
noon of Friday, the Iith, having
al ample time to take such steps as they
deemed necessary and give proper notice
TO me or to the nominal defendants so that
a hearing might have been heard. This
delay was known to that Judge, and was
OF itself cause for refusal to issue any re-
straining order. But /, as we'll as the NOM
inal defendants, lived near enough for
notice TO have been given of the applica-
ton for the restraining order, so that the
Judge might pass upon it after hearing
and with the opportunity afforded to pre-
sent reasons against ii. and the issue of the
so-called temporary injunction. which un-
der the circumstances was equivalent TO
final and permanent one. and the setting OF
the hearing of any application for Its disso-
luton or mod lfication for date six days
after election, when it would already have
accomplished its purpose, Is such an ex-
traordinary abuse of the discretion lodged
in judicial officer, even II that officer had
Jurisdiction and the order were one which
ON hearing might properly have been issued
that it ought not to pass without attract
ing universal attention and receiving
condemnation. and when IL is
remembered that this Judge has been Tor
many years my bitter personal enemy. per-
hitting and participating in malignant
attacks upon me in many courts OF the
country. and was also my hated political
enemy, his action becomes the more extra
ordinary. This action of itself would
Justify me in making contest. and will
Justify this committee IN refusing TO de-
clare the beneficiary of such conduct the
nominee of the party.
II also deem Il my duty TO solemnly
avow that / have not the shadow OF
doubt that | have received. as against
William {. Owens. OF Scott county, a ma
jorifv OF the legal Democratic votes of this
district, and that | am legally en-
titled 10 be declared the nominee
OF the Democratic party In this
district The nexplicable increase in the
votes of this primary over the vote cast in
IS4a would be sufficient reason TO require
OF this COMMITTEES an investigation. | Az
pend 70 this a comparative table of the
votes cast for Mr. Cleveland aud myself in
ls92 and for governor IN ls9l, IN the
e ght counties constituting this district,
aud the votes east at the recent primary.
an apparent Increase of over = 800
votes This increase is mainly in the
counties OF Fayette, Franklin and
Scott The increase in the county
of Frsnklln, watch Is nearly 81
per cent, accounts for the plurality
received by my competitor IN that
as the increase IN the county Of
Scott. which = aboga 80 per cent. accounts
Tor the majority received in The counsy OF
s-NUAks anu AAlE AtNA11k A8N bVA 4aktAt 80
increase in the county of
Woolford explains the majority re-
ceived there. Bat under all the
circumstances DO not feel called
upoa 10 make q formal contest or
TO oppose the declaration OF his nofuina-
tion ap0n the face of the returns. | accept
the result Of the election rather than enter
upon I contest which in my judgment
would result IN the election OF a Repub-
H4e a. Z 49, he
est doubt that the contest would result IN
the declaration 4 my nomination, but
this IS not enough 70 justify re II enter
ing upon SQcn contest. l would not
feel. however. that | had performed the
duty / ow- my trends every here, bat
especially IN Scott county. n did not en-
ter my protest against the aciion Of the
COMMITTEES OF scoEs county IN this pri-
mary.
"fIrst-In the apportion msnt and sp-
pointment Of the judges o. election, which
wss only rectifed sitter bad appea Ell 10
this COMMITTEES.
.Secona-Agalns. its refusal TO forward
the proofs upon which you acted TO this
Committee
Three gsinst its wholly inercasabie
refusal b permit me 20 obtain 8 copy OF
the names 81 TIE voters in tSeoFEetoEn az
the late primary. 80 that | might make
such insesslg agaon as / desired. and as was
MY rsgat-
RI charge upoa that committee the de-
lihcrste purpose TO defEaaa me oct OF the
nomination. and / now pat upon record
In this Ssy these proofs, tina; the charge
and proof may remain part OF the per-
n aneat record Of lie political history OF
his district.
NO naan can estimate tie Importance Of