The morning times., 1896-10-23
POLITICAL BETTING SLOW
Fear of the Law Has Sent Many
Away From Washington.
Two to One In McKinley's Favor
Seems to he the Fixed
Odds Here.

The general statute against betting on
election results has rendered The average
person with sporting blood in his veins
somewhat chary of recording or announc-
ing his wager.
"nIe the .nance of being held amenahle
To this law is regarded as rem ote, the ia w
itself being almost imperative on account
or The difficulty OF obtaining proof Of its
1nrractlun, its existence has had an effect.
bettors and Stockholders carefully refrain
from giving ahytnnIS more tnan the most
general inform alton on the subject OF their
wagers.
The few bets made and acknowledged
are So small in amount and SO varied in
character unat tney IaIl To Indicate any
decided tendency or set of the tide OF
public opinion ana show only the existence
of small etidicS and whirlpoOls therein.
They are most often the expression OF
inulviduai bias rather than the result OF
careful Judgment.
Among the department emplovrs the
class that, in previous campaigns, has al
ways been especially active in expressing
their political opinions in his way, almost
nothing is being cone. The uncertainty,
the absence OF any knowledge as TO
where they are at ana tl- 'NtefSiun
Of the civil service rules to include nearly
all employees, contribute to this result.
Since the recent" furry of Bryan money
from the w tst 10 NtN loi n VIZ ''ihS i4sA Ht
dropped from three to one to two 10 one
in favor OF Mckinley. A letter was shown
last night from Harry l.. swords, sergeant
alarms OF the Republican national commit
tee in New York, to a friend here, in which
The writer closes with this paragr
Il will give the POpocrats, Reputation
lists and Anarchists an opportunity 10 bet,
and will wager two to one ON the general
result"
There seems To he no Mckinley money in
sight at three to one ana no Bryan money
at two to one. AT the various places where
betting men usually cOngregate "A general
iu,iisposition 10 take risks was observed.
The existence of better odds at other
points may serve 10 explain the slaclnesS
OF betting here. Several stock brokers have
money Tor clients, which they are placing
in cities where the prevailing odds suit
their book better than in Washington. The
scarcity of Bryan money III Philadelphia
has caused the odds to go to to ] on
Mckinley, and several considerable bets
have been made at that ratio. Wash
ingtOn bettors regard this as a fancy
price" however, and expect 1t soon to b.
cut down.
Among the stock brokers the betting U.s.
uaHy takes the more conservative form of
bu wing or selling silver certificates Col.
Joe Hickey is backing Bryan for all he's
worth in this manner which. lie thinks
has the advantage OF hazaTding very
small loss against N enOrm Gus prospective
gain. On the other hand broker was
found last night who was buying options
on gold coin at one-eighth of l per cent. IN
expectation Of Bryan's victory. He figures
that gold Will go to a premium and give
him profit OF from 20 to 40 per cent
Atthe-Owen House a New Yorker wanted
to bet 81 900 ut TO /, on the general
result and had $500 in sight as forfeit.
Harry Sutphin is authorized TO bet large
or small sums on Mckinley's election at
the same odds. He has also $500 To wager
even on New York going for Mckinley 10y
$4,000 majority. At Shoomakers there
was no Bryan money offered and general
dullness in betting was reported.
There was a small bet made ut Wizards
last night 1t was on MCkinley's majority
in Ohio, the figure not to be exceeded being
$4,000, and the stakes at even money.
Stakes are held at the owen House in two
snail wagers on Kentucky elections, one
OF even money on the electoral vote going
to Mckinley and the other on John Rea.
the Democratic candidate in the Danyille
district, being returned TO Congress. There
seems TO be more betting OF this Kind, ON
State and district results, til an on the gen
eral outcome.