The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-17
BIG BET ON BRYAN.
James r. Keene. the Wall Street
Hear, Makes 1t.

New York Cor. in st. Louis Republic.
Perhaps the most striking figure to
take the Democratic Bryan end of the
argument in an aggressive and militant
way is James r. Keene, the czar OF
Wall street. the unchallenged king of
speculation. Mr.. Keene was for McKin-
ley in 1896; gave $4,000 toward his cam
paign. Today he is for Bryan, and had
a long interview with the Nebraskan on
the occasion of a recent visit.
New York is shallow and there's no
voice to be so potent with New York
as the jingling voice OF money.
Therefore, the story to follow made
a deal of uneasy stir among Mckinley
folks 1t was just prior to Mr.. Keene
recent sail for England. He and party
of gentlemen were at dinner in Delmoni-
cos One of them-an adnerent Of Nc
Kinley, and somewhat Oversteeped in that
form of Eastern ignorance that makes no
account Of any West or South-was Vo-
ciferously confident of coming Republt-
can success. This sage closed his Repub'
lican defamation with a mad desire to
bet He was eager for a wager. Mr.
Keene bent on him his steel-gray eye,
that eye which for twenty years has
looked further and more prohtably into
Wall street futures than any other, and
asked:
Mckinley? I infer from your exhuber-
ance that you've something more start
ling to propose than even money!"
Call it two to one in thousands" ex-
claimed the Mckinley adherent.
Contrary to the belief of many" re-
torteG Mr.. Keene, II seldom make bet
But I'll depart from my rule on this oc-
casion, and wager a trifie with you
Moreover, l won't take the odds you prof
fer-they're- unfair I'll do better by
you. I'll wager you $500 against $4,000
that Bryan defeats Mckinley"
The Mckinley champion hesitated. Ora
tory was one thing; a cold proposal to
jeopardize $4,000 on his Republican hopes
and fears was another. Again his oppo-
nent's well known genius to foresee
events, a genius which makes him the
magician Of the course, daunted him.
Taking two other gentlemen in as equal
partners he accepted Mr.. Keene's offer,
and $4,000 against $500 that Mckinley
defeats Bryan was Wagered. This trans
action has not done little to wet-blan-
ket those forward anticipations of local
Republicans that their party is to have a
walkover Mr. Keene has never, within
their experience, failed to have reasons
for any faith within him, and his
prompt wager puzzles while 1t dismays
them.
1.-The people of this country" said Mr..
Keene, in a recent conversation, must
arouse themselves. The coming election
is of more Importance from the stand
point of pure and true Americanism than
any that has transpired since the election
of Lincoln. Money is In the saddle; it Is
riding down the institutions of this coun-
try with confident insolence that tells
of the firm belief of its own invincibility.
1t is running the government today in its
every branch and arm. If moneys power
in molding public affairs goes forward for
four years more as it has for the four
years past the name of American liberty
will only be worth recollection as a
matter of history. Money IS pressing the
people backward step by step. What is
the end to be? If it goes on there are, as
matters stand. but two solutions. One is
socialism and the other is evolution. The
American people must defend themselves
against money just as they once did in the
forests from the savages. Unless they
come solidly, shoulder to shoulder, for
their rights, and come at once. Bunker
Hill viii have been a b.under; Yorktown
a mistake"