New-York tribune., 1896-10-27
"WU1T JEY"

1t is perhaps the most remarkable feature of
the Presidential campaign now within six days
of its close, that, with the betting odds 3 to on
the result. the party whose candidate has the
short end in the betting persists in claiming
through its newspapers and representative men
that ii has the advantage in the running and is
reasonably sure OF success. In no campaign
within the memory of living man has there been
such an overwhelming preponderance in the odds
upon any candidate While there Is no argu
ment in a wager Of money, at whatever odds
and while the practice Of betting should be dis
couraged in the interests Of public and private
morals it would be idle TO undertake to conceal
the fact that the odds offered upon the result by
men who make profession Of that and other
sorts of gambling do furnish in some sense
criterion of the trend Of public opinion. For the
men who make a business Of calculating the
chances upon a future event. whether 1t be a
horserace or an election. do not, as a rule. per-
nit their sober judgments to be carried away
by partisan feeling. by prejudice or predec-
ton. They are cool and clcar- headed. and In the
case of Presidential election they compute the
chances instead of consulting their preferences.
Politics Is with them a subordinate considera-
tlon. They are intent on business, and their
business is 70 make winning wagers. They avail
themselves of all sources OF Information. They
are shrewd enough not to be msled by the con-
fdcnt predictions of either side but to form
their own judgments ny careful comparisons Of
both and an impartial survey of the whole situa-
tion.
SO now the betting Is 3 to on Republican
success. with, so far as can he ascertained,
few takers at that or even any other odds. No
such odds were ever generally offered upon the
result Of a Presidential election. Gauged by the
betting market. no election result was ever be-
fore so completely discounted. Not only that.
but in the more legitimate field Of business and
finance the forecast IS no less positive and un-
mistakable In all financial undertakings and In
all departments Of business which depend for
success upon political cOnditOns-Or. at least
appear TO dc,>cnd upon them-the same conf
dence is manifest. Reports from all parts Of
the country are to the effect that large numbers
of financial and business enterprises waiting
upon the result OF the election: but waiting with
a degree Of conidence-upon which borders n
thin margin OF hestatiOn-not unlike the san
grline feeling pervading betting circles. which
NAV be described as three 10 one. The doubt Is
n shadow, but IL Is nevertheless "a doubt They
are In a state Of preparation which means con-
siderable loss In the event of disappointment OF
their political expectations, hut large profits and
ensuing prosperity II their confident prognosi!ca-
tons are verified.
This being the situation. IT has 10 be remarked
also. by way Of paradox. that during these last
DAYS Of the campaign what may he described
"a a cold ahiver has crept over great many Re-
pubyicans and Sound Money Democrats. to whom
there mas suddenly come-not any revelation OF
q change in the trend Of public opinion but