New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-03
TAFT MONEY FLOODS
DEMOCRATIC BETT0RS
BRYAN RACKERS IKE
SOON EXHAUSTED.
Boohmahers' Syndicate Tries in Tain
to Make Chanler FaUOrite OUer
Hughes in Speculation.

There was mighty little betting at the Hof-
man House last night. Where in former years
tens of thousands of dollars have been wagered
on the eve of election only thousands were wag-
cred last night. and not many OF those There
were several wagers Of comparatively large size
placed on Taft early in the evening, but the
Bryan money soon became exhausted. and after
8 O'clock no more could be found.
There was a lot Of Chanler money dribbled
out in small lots to influence the betting in favor
Of the Democratic candidate. 1t reported
that this money had been raised by a syndicate
of bookmakers who saw last chance possibly
of influencing few votes in favor of Chanler
by forcing him into the position OF favoTite- In
this the trick failed, but 1t did change the odds
from 10 to : on Hughes, which had prevailed
for several days. to 1c to and 10 to 9. In some
cases bets at even money were made.
The odds 1uctuated rapidly that it was
clear indication that no stable basis had been
fixed, and that most of the bets were put out
for the sake Of influencing the situation If pos
sible. For instance. there was one bet of $500
to $1,000 on Taft at 612 to L Then there was
report that a Bryan man had wagered $1,000 to
$1,000 that Bryan would win. which would be
/ to 312 and another report Of Bryan bet Of
$500 to $1,000. at odds of to Is; but just after
this and in the same group into which this re-
port had been brought a man bet $1,000 to $500
on Taft at odds of TO l. Later. when a man
with Taft money went looking for Bryan back
ers, he was told that the odds were 10oOeVO
to 1. which meant that there was no Bryan
money at any price
In the afternoon Pop freeman. the picture
man. who has been all over the country supply
ing campaign committees with transparencies
walked into the Hoffman House with a small
bale of $1,000 bills He said he willing to
bet anywhere from 81 600 to $4,000 that Taft
would have at least 2S0 electoral votes. Certain
men who had been offering Bryan money at once
faded away Then he offered to bet even money
that Taft would carry Indiana No takers. As
last desperate attempt to get a little Bryan
coin he offered even money that Taft would
scarrv New York Indiana and Ohio but II
no use.
To show how the odds huctuated, here are
some of the bets in the order they were made
on Hughes. $4,000 to $500 $1,000 to 5000, two
of $1,000 even $500 to s4OO.
There was a bet Of $4,000 even that Chanler
would not get 10000 plurality in Brooklyn, which
was the largest wager Of the evening Then a
man gave $500 to S4O0 that ChanIer would not
get $4,000 in Brooklyn
Fred H Brooks who four years ago handled
100000 in bets decided after consulting legal
authority that election betting Illegal He
announced in Wall Street some days ago that he
would not handle any money. and brokerage
houses following his lead refused to take money
Last night at the Hoffman House he was in
dignant when he the small betting going
on without any attempts to stop It
After this is all over" he declared. I am
going to see that this law is enforced or re-
pealed I have upheld the law and lost thou
sands Of dollars IN commissions. This year
have refused some 100000. II is not fair"
A fund Of $4,000 ChanIer money was taken
into Wall Street yesterday, the first consider
able amount seen in this campaign, and
offered by leading brokerage house through
IT'S curb representative being speedily covered
bv Hughes supporters at 10 TO S, most OF the
bets being $1,000 to $500
A bet OF $3.50 TO $500 Taft was reported
on the curb. Al the close the prevailing odds
were to l on Taft. with l TO asked by Bryan