Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-29
SALE OF BAGGAGE TAGS
BAROMETER INDICATIVE OF
LOCAL POLITICAL OPINION.
Roosevelt Apparently in the Lead
Early Squirt in Favor Of
Parker

Like the traditional banners hanging ION
| the outer WALL are the presidential bag
tags which many Washingtonians are
wearing and which dangle from their watch
pockets. announcing that the wearers are
either for Roosevelt, 1904, Fairbanks or
Parker, 1904, Davis. These ''bag-tags"
are gotten up in imitation Of baggage
checks or tags, and are SO arranged that
they can be worn watch fobs.
They are regarded by some people as a
sort Of political barometer which indicates
the direction the storm of ballots will blow
next month. when the voting masses of
the country will decide whether it shall be
Roosevelt -four years more" or whether
Parker shall be the next occupant Of the
White House.
In order to get correct reading of this
political barometer reporter for The Star
interviewed number Of wholesale and re-
tail merchants who have been handling the
"bag-tags," as well several street
"fakirs' and peddlers who hand them out
to the passing throng at nickel or 10 cents
each.
There is a wholesale dealer on Louisiana
avenue near 9Th street who has supplied
many hundreds of the Roosevelt and Fair
banks and Parker and Davis "bag-tags" to
the retailers throughout the District When
asked about his sales he replied:
when we commenced to handle the fobs.
September IA. we sold about an equal num-
her of Roosevelts and Parkers. During the
week following the Parker bag-tags took
an upward jump and we sold three Parkers
to one Roosevelt. This was only q squirt,
however, for five days later the Roosevelt
tags were in the ascendancy at the ratio
of three to one. This Roosevelt rise has
continued and our books show that from
October Is to date we have been selling
eight and nine RooseveltS to one Parker.
In fact as election day draws near 1t seems
hat borg M ca
There is no demand for them now. and they
are regarded as dead stuck.
No Sale for Parker Pictures.
This same merchant has in stock num-
Der of large sized photographs of the presi-
Dental candidates for framing. Being
asked about their sales. he said:
I'VE do not find any sale for the Parker
pictures. Those of Roosevelt are in fair
demand"
A canvasser. who stands on the sidewalk
at 9th street and Pennsylvania avenue
northwest, stated to the reporter that he
sold to passersby twelve bag tags-eight
Roosevelts and four Parkers.
merchant on Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween 9th and 10th streets northwest re-
ported that he had sold two and a half
times as many Parker tags as he had
those bearing the names of Roosevelt and
Fairbanks. His figures were: Parker's sold.
1870: Rooseveit's. g.
A boy who peddleS newspapers. tags and
other things in the pension Office park,
said:
II sells about ten Rooseys to four Par
kers. I guess that's because the clerks
in there (pointing to the pension building)
are for Mr.. Roosevelt"
7th street dealer reported that he sold
the bag tags at the ratio Of about two
Roosevelt and Fairbanks to one Parker
and Davis, while storekeeper in the
northeast section stated that the sales
were even.
street peddler, when seen at 9th street
and Pennsylvania avenue, said when he
first began to sell the tags the Parkers
were the favorites. but now he sold more
Roosevelts.
Ratio Of Two to One.
A novelty dealer on Pennsylvania avenue
near 7th street said when the tags Arst