Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-29
"Money Talks"

Campaign betting has begun. Money
begins to talk" Men wearing diamond
rings, and snowy watchchains drawn
across generous abdomens are flashing
their rolls in public places. and calling
attention to the confidence that possesses
them "touchin' on and appertainin' to-
the November result How strong is
your belief in that?' is the inquiry they
put to persons who differ with them on
that subject. They most abound in So
called fashionable barrooms. where an
aggressive front" counts for much with
the throng.
But the betting spirit is not confined to
the professional sports" Now and then
a man of business becomes impressed with
and wants his money to talk" He will
give or take odds on a campaign. and
do it with an air and in a way intended
to boom his party.
The weight Of this sort Of argument"
Is doubtful. although there are persons
who attach weight to it. Sporting men.
we are told. are cold-blooded. They look
at betting proposition with a steady.
professional eye. When they have a
party they Will bet against 1t If convinced
that defeat awaits Ii.
Just now sporting men are backing
Chanler Of New York, Harmon Of Ohio
and Marshall OF Indiana to win. and are
giving odds. The supposition is that they
have reason to believe those candidates
will win. But is this belief founded upon
Information, carefully digested. or upon
hope? Are these men guided by a cold
blooded professional appraisement Of the
situation. or by spirit Of friendliness to
candidates whose success they desire? In
other words. are these bets of the genuine
variety. or in the nature OF campaign con-
tributions for boosting purposes?
In New. York tho gamblers. racetrack
and other. are against Hughes. They re-
gard him as an enemy. and want him de-
feated. Large sums Of money. according
to common report. are being subscribed
by these men for use against the republic
can nominee. Part Of this might safely
go in bets for rigging the market
In Ohio and Indiana, the state cam
paigns are being waged largely on the
liquor question. and. in sporting lingo. the
democrats have taken 1.-The wet end Of It %
The result is the report that the strong
box Of that party in both states is full to
overnowing with money subscribed by the
liquor interests. Gov. Harris has said
with respect to Ohio:
II have information that every saloon
keeper in the state of Ohio has been COM
manded to contribute 500 to this fund
In round numbers there are 5000 saloons
in Ohio. That means 100000 from the
saloonkeepers alone! Think of 1t! Over
$500 for every voting precinct in the state
The saloonkeepers are to spend almost
81 100000 to elect a democratic governor
and democratic legislature. But that
is not all. The brewers and distillers and
their allied interests are swelling that
enormous corruption fund to an appalling
total
There is the closest Of relationship be-
tween the sports and the saloons, and 1t
may be that in the cases of Ohio and In
diana. the sports are betting on the ability
of money to talk at the polls.
Whether money will do the usual
amount Of talking in this campaign re-
mains to be seen. 1t rarely takes the
stump in force until late, and 1t is just
now finding its voice.