The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-13
PAYING UP ELECTION BETS
Dignified Men Often Lose Their Heads
and Make Silly Wagers.
Gambling House Employe Who Staked His
All-Push- Cart Ride-County Candi-
date in Hard Luck.

There is nothing that will rob some men
of their dignity any quicker or more COM
pletely than TO become thoroughly wrap
ped mp in the success of some political
candidate. A man will say moro foolish
things, advance moro absurd theories as
the reason why his oIde should win, and
offer to back these opinions in more incon-
ceivable ways than it ie possibI
20 chronicle. After each election stories
straggle into the newspapers and are
talked about around the streets and in the
hotels and clubs of tie numerous outland-
ish bets that have been made. This CAM
paign has been no exception. Perhaps it
was because one side was so confident that
it has now TO suffer the most. or perhaps
because there were some men in it who
cared less for consequences than others.
Money bots were made promiscuousIy on
some almost inconceivable combinations.
Some of them might be called foolish.
One man. well-known employe
in one of the city's gambling houses,
lost his all on the State of New
York. a sum close to $1,000 He had been
town restaurants, whore he always ordered
the best. The day following the election
he came in, took bis usual seat. aud, in
subdued voice, ordered y cup of coffee anu
sandwich. After eating it he went up to
the. cashiers desk. fished around in his
pockets until he found q dime. and then
laid it down. Then he asked:
rars IOd t SUs i a4y ve0e9s S ok
tones had o sound of such utter goneness
that everybody within hearing burst into
wild laughter. Sergt James Boswell. of
the Light Artillery, is an ardent Republic
an. and Sergt Dick" McAllister is as
strong, the other way. The elimination of
several weeks oral argument between
them on the subject was bet which was as
follows. Should Cleveland be elected Bos-
we'll was to push McAllister up and down
business districts. in banana
around in event of Hsrrison's election.
The casnier of the Adams Express Com.
pany, who stood and fell with the party of
protection, found an exceedingly oDerous
duty on bis hands the day following the
casting of ballots. One of the drivers for
the company, n Democrat. made the prop
osition that In case Harrison should be
horn made of any size no desired, and he
the driver would blow Ii as long and
as loud as the other desired. The
cashier was tc. submit TO the Same
operation in case of Cleyeland's success.
That stood for few days and they had
fun with each other, until the driver
bantered the other to add still another
proviso to the original bet. On the cashier
agreeing it was agreed that the man whose
party should lose should black the boots
of the other every morning for o week.
A story Is told OF q candidate on one of the
local county tickets which at least evinced
the confidence he had in his own running
powers. He sauntered into one of the bet
w
posted @ wager at odds that he
would not be elected. He eyed it for mo-
menr. and then ramming his list down into
his pocket, covered his end: He then went
out doubtless with the feeling that hs had
squelched the man who had been betting
against him. A little later he entered the
same place again. and saw staring HIM in the
face facsimile OF the bet he had taken
earlier. Again he took his own end, and
again walked out satisfied that he had set
tied that thing Tor good. An hour later be
came around for the third time only to find
the same bot In O conspicuous place on the
betting board. He looked at il for q mo-
ment In blank nmazement, and then shot
out of the door as though propelled by
catepult, and did not return for q week.
superintendent Yesger. of the poor-fsrm,
turns his W ayers into hospitality. He has.
for several years made the bet of dinner
with a'friend of his. taking the Democratic
side always. But when he wins he pays
for the dinner himself and has the loser
at his own board at tho county
house. The two men who own aud
operate the Acme laundry are opposite In
politics. and when the vote was counted
all the "guyings" the one had received
from the other were wiped out. and one
found himself great deal richer and the
other as much poorer.
John q. McCutcheon, treasurer Of
the indianapolis Card Company, il
probably one of the largest winners
hereabout. he having pinned his
faith to Democracy To the extent of q good
many dollars. The paying and receiving
of election bets increases at least one
branch of business. The pawnbrokers have
had their hands full ever Since Tuesday.
Patrick Conlen. one of them, said that his
business had been better since the election
than ii had been for many a long day be-
fore; that not only did sad-eyed men como
IN To soak" old heirlooms. jewelry. watches
and anything soakable that they might
satisfy their wagers. but others came with
money In their pockets which bad never
been spent. and with which they paid
uncle" his little percentage for things left
with him when days were not so bright.
Twas ever TINS in this world of chanca