The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-06
GAMBLERS ON ELECTION.
SUMS wAGERED IN NEW YoRK.
The Sporting Syndicate Has Agents In all
Doubtful ststes-Scenes ~ Head
quartsrs--Third Party.

all men and things political. are becoming
interesting. At the Hoffman House, In
the famous barroom where pictures which
cost fabulous sums are displayed on the
walls, the betting Is lively.
IT'S remarkable thing to me-the num-
Der Of men who have money to risk on the
outcome Of an election in which millions
of voters are TO take part, and in which the
conditions are so complicated and unusual
that the man doesn't live who is wise
enough to foresee the result. Yet here are
hundreds Of men lettering about in the
hotel corridors or the gilded barroom with
thousands OF dollars In currency In their
pockets looking for the man who wants TO
bet precisely the opposite way to the way
they want to bet
Here are politicians, business men, pro-
fessonal gamblers lawyers, public officials,
sporting men, Wall street brokers, with
their pockets bullying with ten dollar bills
Some Of them are bright and keen. and as
we'll informed about the campaign az any
man in the country. The fact that these
men, who have their friends in the national
committees. and who systematically and
skillfully gather information from great
variety of sources, are betting their money
against each other, pitting judgment
against Judgment, shows how useless it is
for the outsider to delude himself with the
thought that be knows how the election is
going.
Some men make their living betting on
elections. 1t would seem precarious
method of gaining livelihood, but they
do not find 1t 80. They reduce election bet
ting to a business. Having organized a
syndicate, with headquarters In New York
and branches in Chicago and other centers,
they send out shrewd and experienced men
to watch the progress Of the campaign in
all the doubtful states These agents are
cool, critical fellows, who care not rap
who is elected, their only desire being to
find out how the state to which they are
assigned Is to cast its verdict.
They worm themselves into the conf
dence of campaign managers on both
sides They are ready to spend their
money opening wine or in any other way
that will place them in possession Of cam
paign secrets. Managers feel more free in
talking to them. because they know what
these agents hear will not find its way into
the newspapers Gamblers know how to
keep their mouths shut.
II one campaign committee is actually
confident Of victory you may rest assured
these special agents Of the sporting mems
syndicate will find it out. They will also
learn upon what state of facts the COM
mittee is depending for success, and if they
think it advisable they go out to the coun-
ty seats and investigate the facts for
themselves.
But the shrewd special agent depends
less upon what a campaign committee
claims than upon what it confesses. 1t is
in the nature of politicians TO claim every
thing. They appear to think that an ad-
mission, even to their friends, of the posi-
bility Of defeat will hurt their cause. |
nave known a state chairman TO claim the
success of his ticket by big majority the
day before election. and the day after cleo
ton to admit, with obvious candor, that he
knew be was beaten all the time.
inexperienced bettors make wagers up
on the claims Of the managers who repre-
sent their own party. The professional
bettor never does. And you may be sure
that if there is a weak spot in the armor OF
one Of the rival committees the confiden-
tial agent Of the sporting mans syndicate
will find it out. If the committee is max
ing losing fight he will get hold OF some
one who knows the truth and will tell IL
TO him. If the agent after diligent prob
ing finds no weak spot on one side and
several weak spots on the other. he knows
what sort of report TO make.
When information thus obtained has
do, arta 3 ha
various doubtful states it is very easy |
matter to form pretty intelligent opinion |
as to which of the candidates has the bet |
ter chance 10 win. II the reports are a |
"split"-that is, If they favor one party |
here and the other there in such a way as |
to leave the outcome still in doubt-the |
syndicate puts most Of its money not upon |
the general result but upon the states OF |
which they feel sure.
At this very moment, venture to say, q
coterie Of professional bettors in this city |
have clearer idea how the election will |
result in the doubtful states than the man
ayers OF the campaign, either Republican
Or Democrat. The explanation Of this is
very simple National campaign managers
are dependent for their information upon
The state campaigns rarely confess to the
national committee that they are beaten.
II they do so at ALL it is only day or two
before the election. Having their reputa-
ions as politicians at stake. and being
proud Of their work, they go on hoping
sometimes against hope 10 the last minute.
Not so with the gamblers They seek only
he facts and govern themselves according
o what they find.
There are two or three of these syndi-
ates this year, and they are betting a good
Ieal of money. One OF them is represented
" the we'll known Billy Edwards. Al.
most any hour of the day or evening blue
yed, thin faced Billy Edwards may be
ound in the sample room Of the Hoffman
louise, with all the way from $4,000 to
30 coo lin his Clothes" and only too glad
o come upon a man who will cover his
money.
While the betting is going on in the no
els, at the headquarters not far away are
Genes Of activity and suppressed excite
lent such as only presidential election
an produce The work il now nearly all
one, so far as the clerical force is con-
erned. The employees of the two COM
littees now have little TO do save sit
round and speculate on the result OF their
forts. They have worked hard.
Ar the Repu blican beadnuartars hear