Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03
AN ELECTION PROPHECY

L
| Say, Warmrags," remarked the manag-
| ing editor to the horse-racing editor. "our
| political forecaster sends word that he won
| be able to get down today-guess he was
out too late last night with those national
| committee fellows-and 1 want you to
write me up little review OF the political
| situation as it stands for the weekly edi-
| ton. Make it impartial and to the point
See If you can't point out the way the
winds going to blow on election day. Want
this for early copy. So get move on"
I'm worse'n platter on an outlaw track
at that kind O. work." demurred the horse
racing reporter. What's the matter with
getting the cop on the beat to do it?''
But the managing editor shriveled him
with glare, and he sat down to write out
his review of the situation. AS rescued
from the waste basket this is how the re-
view read:
''Yhe race for the presidential stakes on
Tuesday next promises to frame up into
ripping contest Although there are sew
eral additional entries, the affair is bound
to be match between the two top-weights
Mckinley, the well-known stake winner,
and Bryan, who. although he has given ex-
cellent evidences Of stake form, failed to
earn brackets in this event at its last run
ming off. four years ago. These two will,
of course, have the event between them all
the way. and it will only be question Of
lOrn as 10 winch tnlS PAIR gets unQeI
the wire first. At this stage of 1t Mckinley
Is an overwhelming odds-on favorite in the
future books, but 1t Is not entirely out OF
the question that the long-shot players will
push such weight of dough in before the
field goes to the post that the figures
against Bryan will be materially cut.
There is no doubt, however, that Nc
kinley will face the flag top-heavy IA
vorite. He will be justifiabe favorite. at
that. He has been trained to the minute,
and his handlers are universally regarded
as the most experienced as we'll as the clev-
crest men in the business. When Mckinley
strips for the race he ought to be ready to
make the run of his career, and he probably
will. All reports agree that he has worked
well for the event. He is both Splinter
and a route-goer. He has won at from six
furlongs to the full cup distance of two
miles and a quarter, and he never knows
when he has been beaten He hasn't been
drummed and campaigned to standstill,
as has his chief opponent, but has been
taking it easy in his stall. He is free
running racer and will not need much urg-
ing from his rider.
"Our readers will recall that on the last
occasion Mckinley ran for the presidential
stakes he came away handily in the stretch
and won off by himself. although in the
early stages of the journey he seemed to be
menaced by the same runner that Is against
him. row-Bryan. 1t was, as will be re-
membered, head and head between these
two from the drop Of the bunting, but In
the final eighth Mckinley forged ahead and
Bryan didn't stop on that occasion, but he
appeared to be trife outclassed at the
distance he was asked to go, and, more
over he was handicapped by the BAD ride
given him by Silver the jock who had the
leg up on him on that occasion. On the
contrary. Gold. McKinleys rider, gave the
racer a beautiful bit of handling. and there
can be no doubt that the result was largely
due to this fine piece OF jockeyshlp
LAS to Bryan this thoroughbred seems 10
be in excellent form. He is snowy run
ner but 1t should be remembered that there
have been a-plenty of swell lockers on the
American political turf that haven't sue
seeded in clipping with the big prizes. inns
Bryan runner, however, Is always IRVING
to win, and that is something that's always
in a racers favor. Bryan'll be out for the
stake, sure enough. Our most prejudlced
readers will be forced to admit that he has
proved himself capable of going any dis
lance. He has been subjected to merc1-
less hammering ever since he went into
training for this event, but, aside from a
trifling affection of his breathing apparatus,
due. in large part. to the dust rising from
the many tracks which he has made his
preliminary canters, he seems to be as fit
as fiddle, and we are not exac..y ready
to admit that his famous opponent will be
able to tow-rope him from the drop Of the
flag.
THE fact that this seems likely to be
Bryans final race If he does not wfn and
that his defeat will probably mean his per-
manent retirement, will unquestionably in
spire his stable to frenzied efforts to keep
him a-going until the judges stand is
passed, and this Is one of the elements of
the contest that must be taken into con-
sheraton. Persistent rumors have been
afloat lately that one or both of the racers
is to be doped before the field goes to the
pump, but we are free to confess that we
take no stock whatsoever in reports Of this
character, which are always circulated on
the eve Of the running Of a classic event
on the American political turf.
Viewing the great contest of next Tues
day, then, from every standpoint, and not
permitting ourselves to be in the least af-
fected by the overwhelming present odds
in favor of the former winner of the event
we find ourselves compelled to give prefer
ence to the favorites. but we wish to go on
record as stating that when the timers
split watch snaps at the finish the Bryan
colt will be looking the winner in the eve
or thereaboutS. We would strongly advise
our readers not to play their selections an
til the field goes to the post, for the post
time odds in an event Of this character are
pretty liable to indicate what the result is
going to be- Sentiment Is eliminated when
the field is actually facing the starter, and
those who put their mazuma down at the
last minute are out for the engraved gov
ernmental papers and nothing else