The San Francisco call., 1909-10-30
PUBLIC FEAR
CHECKS SLUMP
OF REPUBLICANS
Managers Say Voters Have
Turned to Crocker to Beat
Mccarthy
Professional BettOrS' Odds Make
Leland Third Man in
the Race
By GEoReE A. VAN SMITH


the danger of the election of Nc
Csrthy had resulted in something more
than checking the republican defec-
tion TO Leland was the insistent and
confident declaration OF the republican
campaign managers yesterday.
They asserted that public apprehen-
sion had not alone stopped the repub-
hcan drift TO Leland. but that it had
resulted in the alignment under the
Croker banner of lifelong democrats
whose investigation of the situation
had convinced them that Lelands cleo
tion was impossible, and that a vote
for the democratic candidate was vote
for Mccarthy and his Paris of Amer
lea government
As the latest conspicuous evidence of
democratic detection TO Crocker the re-
publican managers cited a message
which they said they had received late
yesterday afternoon from John McDon-
aid OF the City improvement company.
one OF the largest contracting concerns
on the coast, which formerly did much
OF the city's work. According TO the re-
publican manage Mcdonald was ap-
preached by Jack Kennedy for a con-
triburion TO the Leland campaign fund.
Mcdonald, a lifelong and energetic
democrat. declined to contribute TO the
Leland fund. explaining that he con-
sidered Leland's election impossible and
that he and his associates were for
William Crocker.
BERGERoT FOR MCCARTHY
The republican mana gers do not at
tempt TO deny that there have been
independent republican defections to
Leland, as there have been machine re-
publican defections TO Mccarthy. Every
one acquainted with politics knows
that p. A Bergerot businessmen's can
dtdate for republican nomination TO the
board Of supervisors. was billed to
speak with P. H Mccarthy at Eddy and
1>arlSin streets last night
Every one acquainted with politics
and many persons who know nothing
Of the practical side of the great Amer
ican pastime know that Senator John
p. Hare. democratic incumbent from
the twenty-third district. and all the
democratic assent blymeu who took
their orders either directly from Nc
Carthy or Harry Flannery, are work
ing just as hard TO deliver their demo-
cratic followings to Mccarthy.
The republican mana gers irsist.
however, that the independent repuhll-
can stampede" to Leland has been
grossly exaggerated. They, in COM
mon with virtually all Of Leland's sup
porters. are of opinion that Leland
must secure at least 5000 republican
votes TO bring him within the zone of
possible success. They insist that at no
time has the independent republican de-
lection represented a total of moro
than 1000, and that a reaction grow
ing out Of a fear OF Mccarthy has set
in. The good government league man
ayers declare that they have checked
up something like 1900 republican
votes for Leland as the result of
canvass Of the city.
FIGURES BASED ON CANVASS
The republican managers assert that
they base their contentious on the pre-
cinct canvasses made by their repre-
sentatives. and the fact remains that
while the public declarations of all the
party managers ring loud with the
usual protestations Of entire conf
,dence." the private declarations of the
republican managers have taken on a
new tone of confidence within two days
Some Of the best informed and most
conservative democratic leaders and
workers admit that the republican
slump has not yet attained the pro-
portions necessary to elect Leland, but
they hope 10 start a landslide in the
last three days that win sweep the
democratic nominee into Office"
One significant effect of the persist
emily reported republi landslide to
Leland has been the lengtheniag Of
the Mccarthy price ia the betting ring.
without affecting the betting prices as
between Croker and Leland. A. Tom
Corbett's, where most Of the bettir
commissions are placed Mccarthy went
yesterday from 10 to S to q 10 u fa-
vorite against the field, while virtually
all the money sought to be placed as
between Crocker and Leland was
Crocker money, with no takers.
BETTING AGAINST LELAND
Virtually all the betting commits
sions placed so far have come from
the professional bettors. The small
bettors from the ranks of the general
public have not put in their appear
ance in any considerable numbers and
are. not expected before tonight and
Monday. The appearance of the small /
bettors always means a food Of money
and may affect the odds radically The |
present prevailing prices are made by
the bettors, and not by the poolrooms /
or book makers. They represent the
opinions OF the professionals
The lengthening of the Mccarthy /
price was admittedly the result Of the |
belief that there was a pronounced |
slump from Croker TO Leland but the
marked absence Of backing for Leland |
to run second indicated that the pro-
fessional bettors considered the pro-
portions Of the alleged slump only suf-
ficient TO beat Crocker without taking
Leland out Of third place This belief
was further emphasized by the pre-
ponderance Of the money sought to be
placed on Crocker TO beat Leland
EGGERs A FAvoRITE
Fred Eggers remained yesterday an
even money favorite against the field;
F'ickert. 10 to 9 favorite over Heney:
Hynes. 10 to 6 against the field: O'Don-
nell, even money against the field.
There was some even money that Short
al would get more votes than ConIan
/