The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-13
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New York, October 12.-(SpeciaL)- 1.-The Herlad publishes the following dispatch from Washington:
 President betting in favor of Taft of 3 to l. 31s to l. and even 4 to l. would indicate that some persons with great deal of money were fully convinced that the republican presidential candidate was going to be elected
 "The market has been held up just as stiffly as it was in 1904 and 1900. The Her add reporter is informed that this betting is based entirely upon the belief of fan cial interests that Taft can win if he carries the states of Illinois and New York; that Illinois is regarded as per- fectly safe, and the financial interests have decided that he must carry New York
 This information coming with the elec- tion just three weeks and two days dis tant, rather shows that the 3-to-1 and 4- to-1 betting on Taft really represents the gamblers chance careful survey of the situation, supplemented with re- ports from states east and west, in which the fighting has been fiercest, leads
 
 the opinion that the presidential battle of 1908 is yet to be fought and won Information derived from unbiased sources all over the country is to the ef- feet that there is as yet an unknown element in this campaign that must be reckoned with and cannot yet be gauged or enumerated.
 Surface Indications.
 "On the surface MT. Bryan will appar- entity be beaten. On the surface Taft will carry most of the western states, includ- ing Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota Wiscon- sin, Michigan and with a fair fighting chance in Ohio
 '.On the surface he has slightly the best of it in New York, New Jersey, Della ware and in Connecticut and in the re- mainder of New England. He also has the advantage on the surface, remember, in West Virginia These states are suf- fcient to give him the election.
 "On the surface also Taft should be able to hold enough of the great republican majority given for Roosevelt to sweep all most the entire territory that has been regularly carried by the republicans since 1892
 "On the surface the business interests
  for him, the agricultural interests are for him. In spite of the panic of last De- tober and in spite of the fact that a large number of employees are out of work he is going to poll the republican vote very generally.
 ''On the surace the bad business condi- tions of various sections are offset by tremendous crops and the great regions of the west are not yet willing to make | change.
 But these things are only on the sur face and they furnish the view favorable to Taft.
 Underneath the surface there are many | disquieting disclosures. A great blanket manufacturer came to Washington the | other day from Ohio. He reported that his workmen, who have for many years | been republicans, are this year going to | vote for Bryan. Railroad presidents all l over the country, who had under-officials
 making inquiries, have brought reports that the engineers, fremen, switchmen and | telegraphers, who have been emphatically republicans under Roosevet's leadership are now indifferent to Taft and a very lit | tie would be required to turn the scale l and send them all to Bryan. 'fUnder the surface. in the far west
 there has been great resentment against
 the fact that Roosevelt himself would moi i run and that by the use of federal pat 1 ronage he has dictated the nomination ol 1 Judge Taft.