The San Francisco call., 1910-10-25
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

Weight of the publics money has
made Hiram ". Johnson a . 70 l ia
vorite in an open betting ring that is
hfeless. The offers of 10 to against
Bell that has prevailed for a week
failed to bring out any shortend money
Yesterday Commissioner Tom Corbett
wrote Johnson a TO 1 favorite with
the hope of getting action for the John
son money that the public has dumped
in on him.
The slash in price did not bring out
the Bell money. Odds OF , TO l are
anything but usual in a two handed
political fight. They are even more
remsrka bic when il is remem bered that
those ODDS were established by the
public's money, and most of that money
offered in a community which is ex-
pected TO deal gently with Bell. Cor
bett and the other betting commission
ers have some money from outside
points. but the great bulk of their
commissions consists of San Francisco
money. San Franciscans have not only
made Johnson a, . to favorite to carry
the state but they have made him an
even money favorite 10 carry San Fran
cisco. There is q considera bls con-
1ingent Of percentage sports that would
take the short end of a . TO / propo-
sition that the ocean is not salty, but
the short end Of 10 I proposition
on Bell is no temptation for them.
Neither has the offer of even money
that Johnson carries the state by at
least $4,000 or that he carries San Fran
cisco coaxed out their washers.
LONGER ODDS EXPECTED
The professional bettor may be wait
ing for longer odds. Indeed, some OF
the book makers declared Immediately
after the primary election vote was
announced that Johnson was a legiti-
mate 10 TO faVorite. That is all we'll
enough for the professional bettor, but
the occasional bettor, and it is he who
makes the price in the open ring. does
not arrive at his conclusions by the
same mathematical deductions When
the weight OF his money results in odds
Of 10 TO or TO / 1t means that pub
lie sentiment is so well defined as to
be recognized by the most prejudiced
partisan. Couple with the odds forced
by the public money the fact that there
is no Bell money offered and the fur
ther fact that the book makers have
quoted no price on Bell and you get a
fair indication Of Johnsons standing
with the public and the professional
bettor, whose patriotism and prejudices
are bounded on all sides by the dollar
mark
The publ, is down on Johnson to
win. Its opinions have not been ad-
Tersely changed by the open espousal
Of Bells cause by the special interests.
The only apparent effect on the public
mind has been the lengthening of the
odds against Bell
When the prima ries were over and
neither Calhoun. Hearst nor any other
prograft interest had shown its hand
for Bell. johnson was 2 10 to favor
ite. The public's suspicious then were
only those aroused by the primary
campaign. Bel had made no speeches
h1I .n17o, nfo al
him openly. The public had forgotten
that Bell did not see his way clear 10
denounce Ruef and the grafters in this
city in 1906. 1t was still impressed
with the gentle buncomb spread by
Hearst before the primary election
when he brought out primary op-
ponent for Bell who had advertised
HIS ineli gibility TO place on the demo-
cratic primary ballot. NJ. F, Tarpey
was Hearst's candidate for the demo-
cratic nomination for just few days
before the primary election. Tarpey's
candidacy was on tap long enough for
the development of several neat illu-
sions for the public and the demonstra-
fion Of one or two facts.
TARPEY DIDN'T KNOW
Tarpey was undoubtedly ignorant of
the fact that under the terms of the
direct primary law he was ineligible
to. a place on the democratic primary
ballot and could not be nominated for
governor. That Hearst was ignorant
of that fact when he sprung the Fres-
no mans name is not readily be-
ueved. Tarpey had the center Of the
stage long enough 10 enable Bell TO in
clude him in the list of those demo-
cratic Representatives of Herrinr who
were trying TO debeuch the democratic
party and the state
Then IL was broken to Tarpey that
the horrfd direct primary law had let
him out Of the running. He frankly
expressed his relief; he declared that
he wanted 10 forget politics and hur-
,ied away to attend to his own affairs
That was before the primary election.
Politicians, unlike the public, do not
hermit themselves to indulge in the ex-
nensive luxury of fixed opinions
4Iearst who four years ago, declared
that he got Bells biography from Her
rims Office. thinks well of Bell now
as does Calhoun. Bell has changed his
opinions about Tarpey. Regardless of
Tarpey's opinions he is on the job de-
voted 10 the task of saving the state
TO Bell and his supporters, not the
least of whom are Calhoun and Tar
news friend Hearst Tarpey is IN
rbarze Of the finances of the demo-
cratic campaign. He accepted that
most at the urgent public request of
BELLS state central committee That
p1blic request was put on the ground
OF IafpeN : AOio opOh '"S NN..ioNi -
of the state There were no references
70 the early summer charges that he
represented the special interests seek
ing to debauch. the state
The financial headquarters of democ-
-acv are separated from the state CEN
srai committee aeaquarters by several
soors of the Crocker bank building.
nuf the financial bureau is just as busy
as the campaign shop. even II II is
Tiel,er up. In any event the odds were
"a - :. They are 10 ] now.