The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-20
Exact Situation In Sporting
Circles
IN CITY OF GOTHAM.
Betting Is Even on Results In
New York City.
Some of the Bets Made In Last
Few Hours.

New York. Oct. 2O-Betting on the
candidates in the presidential race is
beginning to liven up. A strong "tip''
that Bryan may be "a good thing has
been circulated among the bettors with
in the last few DAYS and it is signifi-
cant that the Mckinley hackers have
been forced from offers of four or five
to one down to two to one.
Ten days ago all sorts of fancy odds
We're talked of, although there was lit
tie else than talk. but yesterday and
last night and today two to one was
the best that could be found. There
were rumors that So and So would give
three to one on the general result, TAX
ing the Mckinley end Of it. A re-
Porter ana a wei known betting man
spent all of yesterday and today tracing
such rumors, and at the end of every
one was found this: Two to one is the
price now"
Billy" Edwards Of the Fifth Avenue
hotel always an authority on such
matters, said last night that the best
ne could OlTer on the general result was
two to one on Mckinley. "The odds"
he explained-and his testimony is en-
tirely nOn-DOlitical-"h have fallen very
rapidly in the last week. The best
can get now to offer on Mckinley is
two to one. with a possible small bet OF
two and a half to / occasionally. The
largest amount that I have had left
with me is $4,000 to beton Mckinley, but
the man who offers it wants $4,000
against his SO 600
On New York city nothing but even
money is offered. As for the doubtful
Kentucky. Illinois. Indiana.
Michigan and WiscOnsin-the Mckinley
bettOrs viii not offer anything but even
money, and on some of them they are
asking odds
1t was printed several days ago that
Banker Chapman had commissioned
Brokers Moore & Schley to offer
million dollars on Mckinley. This
Banker Chapman denies. He has no
bets to offer at odds better than two
to one.
Chairman Peterson of the stock ex-
change says that two to one ON Nc
Kinley is the best he knows Of. Colonel
Henry L. Swords of the Republican
headquarters says the same thing.
On Thursday, however, a little money
was placed at better than two to one
possibly $4,000 in all. But yesterday
$500. 900 could have been placed in this
city easily if any one cared to give
thTees. They are therefore not lndi-
ca tive Of a market rate on the candi-
dates chances. Such bets are often
hedges" The following wagers are OF
this stray" kind.
George Dickinson bet So. 600 against
$l5.OO0 offered by brokers, that Bryan
would win William Learning posted
81 GOO against the same amount that
California would go for Bryan Book
maker Wheeler made a bet of $500
against $500, taking the Bryan end of
it. E. T. Talcott bet SO 600 on McE<in-
ley against $1,000 put up by T. O. Oil
phant of Pennsylvania on the general
result
To illustrate how bets are often made
at bigger than the ruling odds-''laying
off as it is called-to save the bett0r
no matter which way candidates wins.
Suppose early in the campaign a man
has bet $4,000 on Bryan against $4,000
on Mckinley. Later. when these odds
drop from to I to to 1. the Bryan
bettOr goes on the other side and bets
$4,000 on Mckinley against $40, 600 for
Bryan He can easily get q customer,
for he is giving Z1s when the ruling rate
is ?.
The result is that if Mckinley wins
he saves his original $4,000 bet on Bry-
an, and comes out even. On the other
hand, if Bryan wins. he loses his S25, 900
bet, but wins his original one of $4,000
against $50,000 leaving him $4,000 win
ner.
He is safe. by laying off. no matter
which man wins. Indeed when odds
are changing, he may place bets so that
he viii win, no matter which man Is
such bets are often made, and do not
show the actual market rate for new
Mr.. Talcott also announced on the
stock exchange that he would bet $500
even that Mckinley would receive a
plurality of 200.0 .0OO in New York state
and another $500 even bet that McKin-
ley's plurality would not exceed $50 900
in New York state. Graham Brandy Of
fered to bet $4,000 at odds Of to 1 that
Mckinley would be elected.
George Mooser has tried In vain to
get better odds than ? to I against Bry-
an. He has placed several interesting
side bets. He bet George w. Millar, Of
81 Duane street. $50 even onfthe results
in Kansas, Kentucky. California, and
Michigan. Mr.. Mocser takes the Bryan
side. Mr.. Mooser has also made a bet
with John Duffy. Of No. 68 Duane
street, of 500 on the results in Nebras-
ka, Kansas. Kentucky, and Michigan.
Mr. A1ooser heard that Mr. Adams, at
the Republican national headquarters.
wanted to bet to / on the general re-
suit but when Mr.. Adams was seen
the best he would offer was to 1. MT
MOoser went to the monday meeting Of
the wholesale men, but there he could
get no offers of odds at all.
There was a story afioat until yester-
day that there was a large sum to be
had for the asking that McKiuley's
plurality in New York would reach
300 600. A we'll known Wall street bro
ker heard Of it and hastened up to the
Boolmekers' club. in Twenty-seventh
street yesterday afternoon, looking for
q part Of it. He searched in Vain.Them
he offered to lay $4,000 that the Republi-
can candidate would not have a plural
ity of 200 600. There We're still no TAX
ers. Then he cut the majority to 10000
without success. Finally he agreed to
bet $4,000 against $4,000 that Bryan
would be elected That, too was de-
cIined. His bet still remains open at
the Boolzma<ers' club
VIII Bet Three to One on Mckinley.
Chicago, Oct 2O.-Charles H. Smith.
a tea w orer-a FOR on the hoard of trade