Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-02
FIGHTINGIS BRISK
Campaigning in the Lexington, Ky,
District.
MANY DEMOCRATS WILL BOLT hardin
But They Think He Will Pull
Through.
WORK OF REP U UBLICANS
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.


the political center of the famous district
made notorious by the fight which Col
Breckenridge waged for denomination to
Congress, and lost. This is the district
which in 1892 gave a democratic majority
of T,15J, and last year reduced to 1O1-with
even that disputed. This is prosperous,
aristocratic Kentucky, the blood of the peo-
pie circulates warmly, and they are aggres-
sive and partisan.
Under existing conditions the campaign
has been briskly conducted, and public feel
ing has attained an intense pitch. This is
a sound money community, and the demo-
Gratis are impatiently intolerant of the free
silver sentiments of their candidate for
governor. The sentiment of the section is
strongly in favor of rebuking Mr. Hardin
for his temerity in breaking out of the pace
set by the democratic platform, by Mr..
Cleveland and Mr.. Carlisle. Whether on
election day they will inflict the rebuke to
the extent of, and at the risk of, electing a
republican, is another matter.
The opinion of the best posted democratic
politicians of Lexington upon the subject
may be summarized as follows: They believe
that Mr.. Hardin'S name will be extensively
scratched and that he will run far behind
his ticket, but that he will carry this section
nevertheless. They expect him to carry the
section on account of the big democratic
majority of the district under normal con-
QltlOnS. 1nlS norman lIOlii
. 6O0O to 1900.
The fast that it was wiped out at last
years congressional election does not as
sTme any significance to them in connec-
tion with this contest, for the reason that,
as every one knows. there We're unfortunate
ard fatal local complications growing out
of Mr.. Breckinridges candidacy. y full
democratic vote is expected this fall, and
the normal democratic majority thus poled
Is depended upon to furnish margin suf-
fciently broad to permit the sound money
mel. to scratch Mr.. Hardin ard yet leave
CROUCH to give him majority over Mr..
Bradley.
If the animosity of the scratchers goes to
the extent of voting for Mr.. Bradley as
we'll as scratching the other man, of course
Il will upset all their calculations.
The Australian Ballot.
There is one feature of the situation
which is troubling the democrats here, and
in fact all over the state This is the op-
Grafton of the Australian ballot system.
Heretofore the democrats have always
been enabled to handle" small propor-
ton of the negro vote. which, while not
very large, would be of Importance in a
close contest like the present one. These
votes were handled in numerous ways.
and those interested with doing it could see
that the goods were properly delivered as
per contract at the polls.
Under the secret system, according to the
Australian plan, it will be Impossible to
guarantee the deliverey of the goods, and
the suspicion is that this merchantaDle
vote will be lost to the democracy and go
to the other side, the legitimate deStinati IN
of the negro's ballet.
The democrats are relying upon one COM
fCrting assurance to save the state ticket
and that is that there will be full demo-
cratic vote. The contest over the financial
question is expected to bring them out.
Silver Men Aroused.
A great deal has been said about the
animoSity and activity of the sound money
men. but it must be remembered that it is
rot on their side alone. The free silver
democrats have some feeling and some
pride, too. This talk of knitting Mr.. Hardin
en- account of his financial views has arous-
ed the silver men to extra energy, and 1t
VIII, 1t is believed, cause shem to turn out
on election day to man, stir up the ordi-
nary stay-at-home vote and increase the
Volume of democratic ballots.
The fear is, however that some of the
sound money legislative candidates may
get badly stung in this outswarming of
free silver hornets, but no great harm could
result, for, as stated in these dispatches
yesterday, even the republicans themselves
do not seriously contemplate being able
to control the legislature.
There is talk here, as well as at Louis
vile, of possible combination between
lhe sound money democrats and the repub-
hcans in the legislature to elect an anti
ellS yer democratic Senator, under the condi-
tions explained yesterday. That is if the
republicans carry the state ticket, though
they lose the legislature, they will be will
ing to combine with the sound money dem
icrats to elect an administration Senator.
This complaisance upon the part of the
Republicans would be due, of course to
their appreciation of the efforts lent by
the sound money scratchers to defeat the
Hardin ticket
Feeling at Lexington.
In the vicinity of Lexington the disaf-
fectaon among the democrats to Mr. Hardin
9 IN fnV mo Sric
party leaders. but extends to the rank andt
file. The merchants of the town are very
much awry and there is considerable feel
ing among the well-to-do stock raisers and
prosperous farmers of the surrounding
country. 1t would be worse, it is said, but
for the personal popularity of Senator
Blackburn. who is expected to hold many
of the disaffected country politicians in
check.
Col Breckinridge has thrown his person.
al following into line for the state ticket
also and has. made many speeches. He
studiousy avoids the money question. but
beCS the people to lay all outside matters
ASIDE and vote for the democratic ticket to
Save the state from the republicans.
1t is said here that Col. Breckenridge is
In a fair way to regain his political popu-
Hrity, and that he will be a candidate for
Congress again. either next year or q; the
succeeding election He has built up his
law practice and Ut the same time has
been repairing his fallen political fortunes
1S degrees.
The republicans are conducting vsIy
vigorous campaign in his section and are
appealing to democrats 20 meet them on a
higher ground than partisanship, namely
the financial welfare of the country
This is good ground IN which to sow
such appeals. the republicans believe.
There is a good deal of business in this
section. and the stock raisers, tobacco
growers and d!stilers IRE quick to feel
the fluctuations of the financial market,
end are in close touch with the business
world.
The republicans say to them: Here you
are convinced that the preservation of the
financial stability of this country is your
hitf est personal interest. for Mr.. Cleveland
and MIR. Carlisle have told you so. How,
tfen; can you vote for free silver legisla-
tive candidate and for a gubernatorial can
d'date. who. If elected. would appoint a
free silver Senator If the opportunity should
ever come to him?''
This is the kind of arguments that have
been put to solid men of this section.
N. 0. NJ.