Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-01
our New York Letter,
THE GREAT AGoSY-THE POOLS.
NEw YORK, November 18th, 1876.

! To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times:
Tie one prevailing topic in the city now
Is g who is to be PRESIDENT" The Republi
cans are smiingly confident and the Democ
racy are as ugly and waspish as they can be
They claim that if Hayes is declared elected
1t will be by fraud. and in the gin mills an(
gambling hells they talk loudly of resistance
and of inaugurating Tilden by force. 1t ii
very hard for these red-nosed, moustacheC
gentlemen who have promises of places un
der Tilden in the event Of his election to re
sign their hopes, and to be compelled to &C
back 10 ordinary thleving for living. Sine
| cures IN custom-houses, with unlimited op-
portunities for stealing, are much easier, and
when they think how close they came to il
they gna-h their teeth in rage. But the bust
ness men in the Democratic party take nc
such view of it. They say, without excep.
ton, that ii the returning boards declare
| Hayes elected he must be inaugurated,
and that there will be no fight over it. The
fact is the business Democracy who voted
for Tilden would a little rather see him de-
feated than not, now that they see the reck-
less, revolutionary element that stands be-
hind him. And they don't like the attitude
he occupies. In all this excitement, he has
said not II word to allay the fever, or quiet
apprehension. He has not said that il his
opponent should be declared elected he would
acquiesce quietly, but he holds himself in
position to take the Office by force, if need be-
And 1t Is a significant fact that all the threats
Of trouble, in this city, come from those who
stand the closest to him. He conducted the
campaign with bluff and money, and ne will
stop al nothing to secure the seat he has SO
long coveted. Heaven help the country if
TINS arch-demagogue by any means gets his
grip on the Presidency.
TIE POOLS.
Among the betting men, and their number
is legion, great deal of interest centres in
the pool rooms. Pool betting is a species of
gambling without cards or dice and has be-
come quite fashionable, even among so-called
respectable men
The pool rooms have been the arena Of
much excitement during the past weeks
There are a number of these fashionable
gambling houses on Broadway. The most
largely patronized are known as Johnson's,
corner of Twenty-eighth street, and the pala-
tlal establishment of ex-prize fighter, ex-
congressman John Morrissey.
There are several kinds of pools, known rs
auction, French and combination. por-
ton of the room devoted to such purposes is
fitted up with an elevated platform, upon
which are seated the auctioneers and clerks
A4N lNA-AAn Ait HIONllGd Win StAis, ana lOrll
a comfortable lounging place for the fashion,
ably dressed loaters Of the city. Hundreds
are usually III attendance but not three per
cent are bidders or buyers. The auctoneer
announces that hundred dollars is bid for
the first choice On the general result. The
iayorite candidate Is then named, generally
thus One hundred dollars for Tilden, how
mnch do ! hear for Hayes The bidding is
varied according to the working of the poll
llcel thermometer, varying from thirty to
eighty dollars for Hayes. Tilden one hun
dred. The bidding having closed, the gross
amount for both candidates, Is written on
two tickets, and one handed to each party.
The successful bidder receives the entire
amount. less three per cent, which is the pool
sellers fee.
French pools, in another part Of the room,
are number of frames constructed with
spaces for names and TO indicate consecutive
numbers. The favorite candidate Is indica-
ted il a slip inserted on the board, together
with an Indicator, to tell the number OF times
such tickets have been sold on this fayorite.
As between Iilden or Hayes there would be
but choice between the two, but when used
for horse-racing it Is frequently choice
among many. Tho whole Of the money
realized by the sale of tickets for both par
ties Is divided pro rata among those holding
tickets bearing the name OF the successful
candidate. For instance, pool of three
dollars, made up by the sale of tick
cts at five dollars each, would indicate SIX
hundred subscribers. If divided as follows
Three hundred and fifty sold for Hayes and If
Hayes was successful the three thousand dol
lars would be equally divided among the
three hundred and fifty Hayes tickets. II
Iilden were successful, the three thousand
l..
dred and fifty holders Of his tickets. This
class OF pools was extensively sold in New
York, upon the local, State and general cleo
ton.
Combination pools this is a favorite ar
rangemeut, from the fact that the amount
paid TO the successful subscribers is much
larger than by any other. The process Is
this The pool seller puts up four doubt
iul States, say Louisiana, North Carolina,
Wisconsin and California. The buyer Sc
lects his States as he chooses, and pays five
dollars for a ticket indicating his ideas. Thus
he might bet that Tilden would carry Cali |
fornla and North Carolina, and Hayes Wis
consin and Louisiana. 70 win, the result |
must be precisely as his ticket reads. He !
may be night on three of the States, but if
the fourth goes against him, he loses. This |
is a iavorite method, for the profits OF the
few winners are enormous. To win on this |
combination. the bettor would have marked
Louisiana. California and Wisconsin for !
Hayes and North Carolina for Iilden. The
money IN tho pool Is divided among the few
who were lucky or wise enough to make that |
choice. Sometimes five dollar ticket has
won as high as a thousand dollars. The |
amount invested was enormous.
There is nothing to write about in New |
York but the election, for it is the only |
thing talked about. Everything has TO make |
make way for it. Things will change as soon |
Is we know who is elected.
Yours, ALTON.