The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-17
Election BETS.

One OF the complications added to the
political perplexiues of the Presidential
canvass is the circumstance that so
many bets must remain unsettled and in
doubt. We have never had a Presidential
election on which SO much money was
staked ms on that for whose issue we are all
now so anxiously waiting.
The practice of betting, great Anglo
Saxon vice. has spread here AT a rapid rate
within a few years. The establishment of
exchanges for bets, under the name of pool
rooms, has fostered the habit and given il
method. No strict moraist can hail these
pool rooms rs boon to society, and
wise men keep outside OF them. even
though they may be tempted to privately
make n bet with friend. The pool rooms
encourage betting a a business. which is
bad; and though Mr.. JONI MoRRIssEY has
the reputation Of being u square man in
his games and bets, yet IT Is placing an un-
due confidence in anybody to Intrust 10
hi. keeping for an indefinite period largo
sums Of money at stake between the bet
tiers mt his pools. JAY GoULD'- Tribune
says that two millions OF dollars was so in
trusted to the pool managers during the
excitement preceding and just following
last week Tuesday. The figure is probably
too large. The Wall street shark is uccus-
toned to big sums aud very likely he has
stretched this total. However that NAV
D., It Is undoubtedly true that the gross
nmount in the pools awaiting .ne decision
of the canvass i, yrly great. The man
Ggcrs gel percentage of from three to
Hvepercent, and therefore, whoever gains
or Loses their profits will be handsome.
But these pool bets, though in the agsre-
gate they cover vast sum OF money, do
not approach in number the other stakes
hazlrded in the country ON the election.
These latter must foot up 10 thousands
and tens of thousand, and SO far rs they
depend on the election of TILDEN or
HAYES they are all still unsettled. In the
present clnjuncture it may not be safe to
assume for betting purposes that either is
elected until one or the other has actually
taken up his residence ia the White House (;
for bettcrs will of course refuse 10 pay up
except on formal aud final decision OF
the fact, though they may believe, rs the
majority Of the people do now in truth be-
lieve that beyond reasonable question
TUDES has riShtfully been elected Presi-
dent
Therefore the new hats do not appear n
the streets, but lie unclaimed at the shops
Of the a, lists who constructed them for tho
OCCASION. The wine still tries in vain to
sIpel tho cOrks. The checks remain un-
drawn and the Stockholders keep the funds
intrustcd TO them. fhc advantage Of the
tituntion-from among the thOrns Of anx-
iety there IS oltentlmes plucltcd the flower
ofcompcu,ution-is that both parties to tho
bots are certainly not worse on than tney
were before they ha1lrdcd their money
To man OF a highly sensitive nature and
profound regard for the good Of his friend,
eQuullmg il not transccndmg ms love foI
himself the trouble about bet Il that the
winning occasions Il loss to the person with
whom lie bets lie may hate to lose his
own money, but neither does it crafty
him to profit by the loss of another W.
are sorry to say that this feeling i
not yet universal among betting
men. In the present case however, We
should regard il as Il quite absurd stretcl
Of conscience for any THDEN man to fee
compunctious, If he so far violated tn
Admonltions Of the strict morallst as to be
AT all, because he had to take money from
HAYES man who added to tho wrong o
voting for the candidate OF Grantsm tn
loosoness OF betting on his election. s.
calamtou1 10 the country would he tn
success of HAYES that the loss Of his bet g.
TnnEE man would be q personal 81