New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-26
BIG BETS AT ODDS ON ODELL.
JACOB FIELD TAKES THE. COLER END.
THOUGH HE THINKS THE GOV
ERNOR'S CHANCES BETTER.

For the hrst time since the present campaign
started the men who make it a practice to bet
on elections have begun to pay attention to the
contest, and from Friday until last night bets
amounting to more than 100000 on OdeI have
been made against Coler at odds varying from
21a 10 l 10 . TO 1. The majority Of these bets
were made on the Stock Exchange
The Coler end has been taken by Jacob Field,
a member of the Stock Exchange. and one of the
most spectacular and successful plungers in
Wall Street. II Mr. Field who offered to
bet James r. Keene a week before the Presi-
Dental election in 1900 any part of $5O0OOO that
Bryan would be defeated. MIR. Keene refused TO
take the bet
A few weeks ago Mr. Field placed 5000 900
in the hands of a betting commissioner to bet
Oden at odds of TO l. He did not succeed
in placing any money After studying the situa-
ton he came TO the conclusion that Coler had
a chance of winning, and Friday he appeared
on the floor of the Stock Exchange and offered
to take the Coler end of the bet against all
money that was offered on Odell at odds OF
2h to l. He was backed by w S. Oliver an
other member of the Stock Exchange. and by
William Kahn. also of the Stock Exchange
both plungers of the largest kind. Field sue
ceeded in betting about $4,000 at odds better
tan to /. Friday night Field appeared at the
j. +.
Kramer. Alexander Caspary and others and re-
peated his offer. He succeeded in betting about
$4,000 more Yesterday Mr.. Field on the Stock
Exchange and later at the Morris Park race
track succeeded in betting an additional $4,000
so that he has wagered in all up to date bout
$4,000 as against more than 100000
Mr.. Field. when seen at Sherry's last night.
said
Il don't want any one to get the idea that L
am a Democrat. l am Republican I started
out to bet on Odell. but 1 couldn't get any CoIer
money. Then 1 looked into the matter care
fully. and I found that this election was no
certainty. I don't believe that it is any two
and one-half bet on Odell 1 decided TO take
the COier end of 1t purely as speculative vent
ure. don't believe the conditions warrant
any one betting 212 TO l on Odeu 1 think it is
nearly an even break, but l would not wager
single cent on either man at even money. am
taking what you might term the gamblers
chance in betting CoIer think the odds
warrant it, | would not be surprised to see
odell win. In fact. ! think he ought to- but
tell you it is pure speculation with me.
Il base my action upon precedent. Here we
elect Mckinley President in 1896 and carry
New-York County for him by something over
10000. Four years later after he has made
the best President this country has seen in the
lifetime of the present generation. Bryan car
ries the county by over $4,000 Mckinley gets
something like 100000 majority in 1896 in the
State, and yet Alton B. Parker on a Demo-
cratic ticket for Chief Judge, of the Court of APP
peals. is elected by a substantial majority two
years later. Roosevelt, fresh from the war with
the glory of hero around him. barely scrapes
through. / cannot make il too strong when I
say this betting is simply upon betting chances
and my own feelings don't enter into il at all.
This is an uncertain State, and i take the
chance that the pendulum is swinging the other
way. That is ALL