Woman The Cause Of His Fall
No election or.other occnsion ever causad suoh a general suspension of business and daily duties a thig contest. The district is the S-'venth, but ie better known as the "Ashland." For montbs it haa been ulive with tbe moet bitter personal agitation. It was Dot a political, not even a factional, figbt. It was a moral contest, and during th lst (ew days it became intemely personal, fo much so tbat the nominatiou was not the only issue. Colonel Breckinridge was fighting for life, and he never before made such speeches or diplayed Buch executive ability in organization. He marshalled every man he could cornmand, but he could not comrnand the women. They had no votes, but they were the oontrolling element in the fight. At the Owens headquarters they say in their rejoicing: "The ladies did it. " The ladies could not get ward workers to their prayer or other meetings, but their organination of coniinittees of one generally got promisea at home out of voters who needed no watehing on entering the boothg. With the galoous closed, the women praying and the best influences all aroused there was a tolerably quiet election, with excitement and bitter feeling at their highest pitch. The greatest surprise of the day was tbe good order everywhere. There were some personal encountt-rs, but not as many as usual at closely contested elections. There was, however, great precautionn taken to prevent trouole. O d ífieud aud neighbors liad been haring their inning aul they wnnted only the votiug. IL the Breckinridge men had enforced their challenge rule strictly as they had expected there would have been trouble. So closely had the canvussing and polling been done that the chailengers knew how alinost all the Democrats stood, an i they could have kept many from voting. But the Owens men procured an injunction from court restraining the enforcement of the rule, and little attempt was made to carry out the nstructions of the district committee. The abseuce of serious tr ouble was the result probably of the i'act that every one knew that if trouble did begin it would be very serious; therefore everybody was on guard to prevent a begiuuing. But there were a few ontbreaks in some of which deadly weapons were used. Duriug the afternoon of the election Desha Breckinridge, the colonsl's son, was passing precinct D votiug booth wh(n he eaw J. Walker Peak, a strong Owens worker, inside the booth preparing an affidavit. Desha spoke to hiiu throuyh the window aud told him that üe bad no business in there and that he had better com out. Peak replied that he would not come out and Breckinridge went into the booth after him. The two men clinched, but were separated. Peuk soon afterward came out, when Breckiuridge met him the second time, and a lively fiïht followed, both men had their f ices scratched.several blows being passed. Both men had pistols, but they were separated before they had a chance to draw. It is only fair to state that Peake was violating the law In going into tbe voting booth. At Centreville,: W. A. Gaines, a Breckinridge man, ordered the Breckinridge men to pay uo attention to the injunction against the rule passed by the committee requiring voters to swear that they would support the nomiuee, in cases of challenge. Colonel R. G. Stoner, aa Owens man, owner of Oakland stoeit farm, and Gaines liad some words on the street later over G lines' HCtion. Stoner slapped Gaines aud knocked him down. Colouel Sloner is the gentleman wbo Blapped Breckinridse duriug the war.
Article
Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News