New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-12
INQUIRE AND GIBBS SECURE A BET.
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS THAT M'KINLEY
WILL HAVE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
PLURALITY ABOVE THE HARLEM

This Is 4 campaign where little actual betting has
been recorded There has been more or less talk
about large wagers. but when run down the stories
have usually proved untrue. After two days of
pickering a bet of $500 was actually made yes
terday between James K Mcclure. chairman of rtle
Committee. and Frederick s Gibbs, New-York
member of the Republican National Committee.
This is about as large bet any one is known 70
have made. Richard Croker. according to stories
has wagered through Bell & Co. about 10000 on
Bryan Mr.. Croker won't say anything about this
and is content to have the credit of making the
bets. Politicians declare that Mr.. Croker has not
wagered dollar Bryan. and that ne himself
put these stories about large wagers to bolster
Up the Democratic cause and to make the National
leaders believe him sincere in his protestations
of loyalty 70 Bryan.
The bet Yesterday grew out of statement made
on Wednesday by Norman Z. Mack, Of the Demo
cratic National Committee to the effect that Nc
kinley and Roosevelt would have 5000 ma
jority north of the Harlem River. When this was
repea ted to Frederick 5. Gibbs. OF the Republican
National Committee. Mr.. Gibbs said I do not
believe that Mr. Mack really means what he says.
and I am willing 20 wager $500 that the Mckinley
and Roosevelt majority above the Harlem River
will be not less than 10000"
Mcguire had his attention called to what Mr..
Gibbs had said. MCGUIRE then said he would like
to take that bet himself On being assured that
Mr.. Gibbs was sincere and would make the wager.
Mr.. MCGUIRE said
am betting man myself but I know a
man, who will bet 500 on the terms mentioned and
I viii procure the money in five minutes.
Mr.. Gibbs said that George ". Rouser. the chair
man of the Press Bureau at Republican National
headquarters. would make the bet. Mr. MCGUIRE
then had his stenogra pher draw up the following
agreement:
George W Rouser bets George NJ Graham that
the Mckinley and Roosevelt electoral ticket will
have 10000 plurality in New-York State above The
Bronx.
This, with $500 given to a representative of
Mr.. Mcclure, who then called on Mr.. Gibbs. showed
him the agreement. which had been prepared at
Democratic State headquarters, and also exhibited
the s5O0. Mr. Gibbs dill not ike the phraseology OF
the agreement, and had another one drawn He
had the following agreement drawn up
George W. Rouser bets George NJ Graham $500
even that the Mckinley and Roosevelt electoral
ticket headed by will have not less than 10000
plurality north Of the Harlem River above The
Bronx. George NJ Graham bets George W.
Rouser $500 even that the Mckinley and Roosevelt
electoral ticket headed will not have 100 600
plurality north of the Harlem River above The
Bronx. This bet refers 10 New-Fork State.
This agreement was then signed by George W.
Rouser and taken over to George NJ Graham. who,
having no objection to the change in the phrase
oIogy promptly signed the agreement, also.
A peculiar coincidence is that both parties TO the
bet wrote their checks for $500 and they were
promptly cashed Mr.. Rouser'S check was paid
was paid with five 500 silver certificates
Later Mr. Gibbs offered 10 bet the stakeholder
an SS5 suit of clothes against a box of fifty cigars
that Mr.. Rouser would win the net