The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25

the city OF smoke and steel and nerve
Pittsburg Phil, whose baptismal name is
George Smith. Not long ago on the Eastern
circuit on a particular day the bookmakers
refused to take any more of the Staley
coin OF the realm, claiming that he was
acting as Pittsburg Pills betting commits
sioner. He wasn't, but he isn't the man
TO get into an argument needlessly. so he
accepted their decision without complaint.
Subsequently Phil was reproached by a
bookmsker for sending Staley around as
his commissioner, and In reply said: IT
is not so. Staley was betting $40 TO my 81
at that particular time and has frequently
done so. He bets no mans money but MS
own. and when he thinks well OF a propo-
sition he will bet any man that know or 10
a standstill."
Pittsburg Phil is a close friend of Staley,
but they have probably never been assoc
ciated in betting pool Phil makes more
of a business of the races than does Staley
and Is conservatively estimated TO be worth
something more than million.
When President Mckinley received his
second election TO the Presidency John
Staley did an unprecedented thing, and yet
this is the first time the fact has ever been
even remotely limited at In the newspapers.
He had bets on the results or the majortties
in every State OF any consequence and
every city OF Importance In the country
and on the congressional and gubernatorial
elections and did not lose single wager.
Had this occurred in New York or had any
OF the spectacular plungers accomplished
1t the exploit would have been heralded
from Maine to California and the yellow
journals would have devoted pages to the
man whose clever figuring had made such
thing possible. Had the worst come 10
the worst, had his guesses gone awry
Staley stood to lose something like 100000.
How much he won no one has ever heard.
He got odds in some cases, IL Is true, but
he also gave them as high as 100 to l.
With head filled with political informa-
ton and statistics, Mr.. Staley is a walking
encyclopedia. He keeps his political data
carefully noted down in various note books.
but he also stores il UP in the wonderfully
productive mine of his head and rarely
has to consult his notes for specific infor-
nation.
BET RING TO sTANDsTILL
Just prior to the last three elections In
Mr.. Staley came within the lime light,
from which he shrinks like bashful child,
because Of his betting proclivities. In the
past he had been known as a heavy bettor,
but nothing approaching the way he picked
up the machine money had ever been wit
messed In Pittsburg before. He simply bet
the ring agents to a standstill, took them
off their feet and paralyzed their roofing
heelers. His confidence and courage in
spired the reform workers as nothing else
had done during those memorable cam
paigns. Before he had appeared on the
scene the ring agents, pursuing their old
tactics, were parading through the prin-
town and offering large sums on the So
called regular ticket and machine nomi-
nees. Staley quietly took all the money
they were offering and then began 10 do
$4,000 offered by machine newspaper so
quickly that 1t made the editorial head
swim, and when all this money had been
exhausted offered to wager any amount
from $1,000 up to 100000 on the general
result. There wasn't any more ring money
in sight after that
The accuracy, not only of his calculations
on the general results, but as to districts
and the vote for particular candidates.
counted, and ii was found that he had fig
ured great deal closer than the political
managers themselves. In fact, his grasp
Of the situation was at all times more
comprehensive and his calculations more
trustworthy than the official party statis-
ticians. The Citizens leaders frequently
called him in conference regarding the
conditions In various districts of the city
and county. and they learned to have such
a wholesome regard for his guessing abili-
ties that his estimates were given the bene-
fit of the doubt whenever they confiicted
with those of the party workers In the par
ticular districts under discussion. In this
way and in many others Mr.. Staley proved
a tower of strength to the Citizens move
ment.
In business way Mr.. Staley has been
interested in various enterprises. He has
made great deal Of money in real estate
speculation and Is now a fairly heavy
holder of downtown property. At the pres
ent time he is not engaged in any particu-
lar business, though he has some large in
vestments and is putting out his money on
the fall elections in Allegheny county, Ohio
and New York.
Mr.. Staley is said to be about forty-two
snow back of the temples and a rather
shiny pate he has a youthful face, a bright
frank eye and a pleasant smile.