The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-29
Bnit for Guhgenns.


An election bet is not always what It
seems. For ways that are smart and tricks
that deceive. the man who makes bets
on elections is a dandy. He bats a hook
for gudgeons. and frequently lands them.
case in point comes over the wires from
Denver. fellow out there put on bait
for gold gudgeons, and the report is that
he has hooked a fish in New York.
The Denver mans proposition was this:
He would bet $3.50 even, that he could
name twenty states that Bryan would
carry, and then $500 even, that Bryan
would carry half of the balance; the
bets to be considered together That is,
if the first bet were taken the other
must be also.
On the face of the scheme it would ap-
pear, at first glance, that the Denver
man was an enthusiastic free silverite, a
disciple of Bryan so thoroughly convinced
Of the Righteousness of his cause, and
that the majority of the people would
soon come TO the same way of thinking,
that he was willing to wager $3.50 that
Bryan would make practically a clean
/ IL 4
name twenty states that will go for
Bryan, and that half the others will go
for him also" That is apparently what
the Denver mans proposition means.
But in reality it means no such thing.
1t is skin game" from beginning to
end, in which the westerner is playing a
dead sure thing for a stake of $3.50.
/ And SC fIa u do
he comes to naming the twenty states
that Bryan will carry-the $3.50 bet-he
viii begin, Maine New Hampshire, YER
mont, Massachusetts,, and so on, selecting
all the states that are morally certain to
go republican. He will lose that bet of
course. Then will come the $500 bet
that half the remaining states will go for
Bryan. The number remaining will be
twenty-five. He will have TO name only
thirteen to win. Nothing in political
speculation could possibly be easier. And
the Denver fisher for gudgeons will take
in a profit of $3.50 without having risked
a cent.
1t is reported that a New York man
has taken the bet-swallowed the bait
whole. 1t has frequently been asserted
that all the financial ability in the coun-
try is not to be found in the neighbor-
hood of Wall street. This is one incident
going to prove the correctness of the as
sertion.
Would-be colonists with the LAberian
fever will no doubt soon come to their
senses. Despite the fact that the true sit
uation has been shown up time and again,
many negroes have been as eager as ever
to pursue this fatal Liberian ignis fatuus,
ignoring the fact that the search for the
truth has been for their own good. The
story told by six of the colonists who
sailed on the Laurada from Savannah las,
March, and who have just landed in Phil
adelphia on their return is enough to send
cold chills down the back of any man
who has ever given the question of go.
ing to Liberia a moments thought.
Twenty-Five acres of barren land, without
home or employment, and with a good
dose OF deadly malaral fever which only
the acclimatized can stand. tells the story
which will make the most sanguine shua.
der.
The police in the large cities of the north
seem to have no trouble in arresting hi
cycle scorchers. Six of them were fined
s. each in Philadelphia the other day. The
majority of the bicycle accidents are un-
doubtedly due to too rapid riding. Per-
haps. however Philadelphia scorching is
not a fair criterion by which to Judge Of
the performance of the duties of officials
in other places. Words similar to "scorch-
ing" have a different meaning in Phlladel-
phia from that given Them anywhere else.
Gen. Martinez Campos, who was re-
moved from Cuba on account Of his hu
name treatment of the insurgents, may
yet resume command there. There is
a strong belief in the truth Of the reports
that Gen. Weyler is to be recalled. and
the sooner 1t is verified by formal orders.
the quicker will there be rejoicing in the
heart Of humanity everywhere.