Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-04-04
BIN THE BUTTON MAN
How Political EmbIems Won For
tune For Meyer R. Bimberg.
HIS POWERS AS A PROPHET.
Remarkable Instances Recalled by
Politicians When He Selected Nomi-
nees In Advance and Made Thou
sands In Short Order-Nicknam He
Got When He Was Bitten.


nees In Advance and Made Thou
sands In Short Order-Ncknam He
Got When He Was Bitten.
New York politicians and theatrical
man tell many interesting stories about
Meyer r. Bimberg-"Bim the Button
Man"-who died suddenly the other
day.
There are few politicians of promi-
nence in either party who had not seen
BIN" during his trips to national and
state conventions, and all Of them re-
membered him. Numberless anecdotes
concerning him were recalled, says the
New York Herald, by way Of illustrat-
ing his speculative daring in his but
ton business and his almost uncanny
good fortune.
For instance, it was told how he
made $4,000 at the famous Republican
national convention in Philadelphia in
1900, when Mckinley and Roosevelt
were nominated. He had fairly camp
ed in the Republican headquarters of
the state and county organization, try
ing to get a straight Tip" as to who
would be the nominee for vice presi-
dent.
McKinley's nomination for first place
was assured. One day Fred Gibbs,
leader of the state organization, whose
jokes were SO persistent that even his
most intimate friends could not tell
when he was serious, said:
"'Bim,' you want to know who's
going to have second place on the
ticketW
I'D choke a regiment to death to
find out"
Roosevelt"
mo joker"
81 said Roosevelt"
That was enough. BIN made up
thousands of buttons bearing the pic
! lures Of Mckinley and Roosevelt and
having a rabbits foot attached. He
invested more than $4,000, which was
friends ridiculed him. They told him
he was playing a so to l shot with only
Fred Gibbs joke as a tip.
In Philadelphia when the politicians
began to pull wires 1t looked as if
"Blm" had made a bad guess, which
meant, of course, that his buttons were
not worth a cent Roosevelt declared
that he would not take the nomination.
When the uncertainty was at its height
"Bm" asked a Philadelphia acquaint-
ance:
Say, where is the nearest river?
If they don't nominate Roosevelt I'm
going to make mans size dent in It"
I Every one knows the story about
Senator Plat inducing Theodore Roose-
welt to accept the second place on the
ticket. Within a minute after the
nomination was made 200 men ap-
peared in Philadelphia's streets selling
Bins" buttons. In two hours the
whole supply was gone and premiums
were being paid for them.
But such luck did not always pursue
BIN" During the first Mckinley
campaign he made a good deal OF
money and got to know Abner Mckin,
ley. the presidents brother. Believing
( that anything in which presidents
brother was interested must be a
money maker, BIN" invested $4,000
In a scheme which Mr.. Mckinley help
/ ed TO promote and, through the fault
of no one. lost the whole sum with as
much rapidity as he made $4,000 In
4 Philadelphia. Abraham Gruber there
upon dubbed him BIN the Bitten
Man." and that appellation stuck to
: him for long time.
Mr.. Bimberg's profit from his sales
OF Mckinley and Hobart badges in
1896 was variously estimated at frouI
$4,000 TO $4,000. He had tip
what the ticket would be, and before
/ the nominations were made he had
100000 buttons bearing their pictures
for sale I'm the streets. They ddn'l
begin to supply the demand.
In the New York state campaign Of
1900 he played a long shot and lost
Some one told him Sheldon would b
nominated as lieutenant governor
with BENJAMIN Il. Odell. and be mad
M thousands Of buttons in accordance
with his information. Sheldon was no
nominated. and Bimberg's loss wa
very substantial However. where b.
lost once he won a dozen times, ans
for a man without actual Information
he was regarded as a remarkable
prophet.
He began his business career at tn
sheepshead Bay race track, rentinI
feldgiasses 20 the bookmakers. Tht
proved profitable. and then he wen
into the business Of selling fieldgiasse'
at the tSacks. His idea was that tn
way to make money was to do busi
ness with persons who were "fhsh'
and didn't care what price they paid
He accumulated q snug sum- and a
soon as a Newark N. - firm began {
manufacture buttons 10 be worn o.
coat Iapels he conceived the notion 0
making them 4 campaign feature.
! Ills button and badge business va
turned over to his uncle. George Bin
berg. who was aboGt his sge. and ]
. stll continued. The successe ha
styiei himself BIN the Badge Man
+ ard has continued to pick winners {