The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-25
A DESPERATE GAME.
''BluR is Now the Plan OF Campaign Of the
Nieht Fusionists.

The Wichita fusionists are getting des-
| perate. They are precisely in the same fix
that the historic boy going through the
grave yard WAS in-they have to do some
thing to keep up their courage. He had
to whistle and the fusionists have to
| bluff" bluff is their plan of campaign
from now on. A new and brighter sun
rose over the political horizon yesterday
and for the first time since the beginning
of the campaign the seriousness of Jerry
Simpsons political condition began to
dawn upon their minds For some reason
very well known TO Republicans on the
! inside, the fusionists around town began
to experience feeling of lassitude early in
the day and the more tho day became old
er the more the lassitude Increased. No
one wanted! to bet dollar on Jerry.
although heretofore they have been giving
odds. This feeling was reported in the
Alliance aud Democratic headquarters,
where, to tell the truth, it
also prevailed; and it was at
once seen by the thirty day cam
paigner Rufe Cone that something had 90
be done and doue quickly. He grabbed his
hat and made bee line for Jesse Hay
makers Office and very soon both of them
were seen hurridly going across the street
to the Demo-Alliance organ to consult on
some plan to prevent the entire coll apse of
that blind confidence many people have
been having in Jerry's ability to beat
Long. They first tackled Frank Smith
and insisted that some betting must be
done to restore confidence in Jerry. Frank
took long and lingering look at the pat
tern of the wall paper on the ceiling and
finally concluded to talk to j. S. Richard
son, Jerry's chairman, about the matter.
Rufe and Mr.. Haymaker were very
anxious about the matter and helped him
to make the talk.
"What do you suggest?' was finally
asked of of Rufe.
1--WE must make bluff" said that gen.
tleman.
'But hows"
WELL" said the exshern, "we must
60 to the leading Simpson men about
town and make up purse of $4,000 to bet
with"
"But." said Frank Smith, instinctively,
"who is to pay us back, for my honest
opinion is that Jerry is not safe to bet on"
"Ah," said Rufe. you don't understand
me- don't mean that we shall bet this
money; mean to bluff with it. A bluff is
as good as bet in this case"
''In my opinion better" said Frank
Smith, with his characteristic financial
intuition.
Finally Jesse Haymaker broke in with
the remark: "Well, boys, l am opposed
to betting, but not to bluffing, and if ! am
guaranteed to lose nothing by the opera
ton / will put in $780," Mr.. Richardson
was of the opinion than his church rela-
tions did not conflict with buffing
either, and SO then and there $40 of the
s., 900 was raised.
Tue idea is to bet the 500 that Rufs put
in and that is all of it that will ever go up
ON Jerry and that, when lost, will be put
down as campaign expenses.
The balance of the money will be in the
form of checks from these and other in
dividusls to be held by Rufe Cone and
slyly shown around whenever there Is any
sign of a weakening backbone anywhere.
For instance, If man is seen whose Con-
fidence in Jerry is at zero Rufe will con-
fidentially show him these checks and
then say: "Do you think these men who
are in position to knew something about
politics, would put up their money if they
were not confident of Jerry's election"
Well. they will have a chance to place
every dollar they can raise, and bluffing
won't go either; it is now too late in the
campaign to make bluffs. From now on
il will be put up or shut up"