The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-03-02
tst. Louis Globe Democracy


Oh, yes, II is very easy to beat the
races!"
Harry Bowlaker was at one time n
rather shifty sort of fellow. He had
dealt faro, keno, poker, worked the
river steamboats,, conducted dice
games, craps, chuck-a-luck, etc. Later
on he took up the biggest game of all
the horses-with varying fortune.
Later he went into the get-rich-quick
turf schemes of the 1900s. These
schemes, you may remember, prom
ised investors 153 per cent per annum,
paid in monthly installments, and in
one case-that of Honest Johnnie
Ryan"--250 per cent per annum, all
to be made in race-track speculation.
1t escaped general notice that if a
few men like Ryan, r. J. Arnold, etc,
could make the turf their melon and
make it yield, indefinitely, from 153
to 25O per cent per annum, the turf
coud not long exist.
1t would sop up all the money in
the world and give it to Ryan and
Arnold. Then if man can make $50
per cent why declare the public in?
At one time these worthless had some
SO, 100000 in their vaults, enough TO fur
nish capital to own and operate all the
race tracks in the United States, all
the horses that ran on them, all the
books that took bets on them, all the
saloon and other concessions and
then have lot of idle capital left.
In other words, Ryan and Arnold
could not employ $6,OOO,OO0, or $3,000,-
600, at per cent, not to speak of
1853 or $50 per cent.
But 100000 free-born American citi-
zens with a constitution and public
scools invested $6,OOO,OO0 in the
scheme.
Bowlaker got share of this easy
get-rich-quick coin later on, about
100000 of it. 1t did not last long. He
finally became preacher and fought
his old pals. He is now city light
somewhere i'm the West, Mayor or
something ike unat.
At the time to which we have refer
ence he was down and out, ambitious
to gamble, but 1000 miles away from
even one dollar Needing $1,000, he
bethought Of way to cover the 100,-
600 miles that lay between him and
them. He had counsel look UP the
laws of Illinois and advise him IL
there was any punishment for "welch-
ing'--tbat is, for taking bets and re-
fusing to make them good If the bet
ters won.
The lawyers assured him that he
could "welch" as often as he wished
to and no law in Illinois would punish
him. With this collateral in his
pocket he went to a friend with a
proposition to borrow $1,000, to cut
in-that is, buy in as bookmaker--
at the Harlem race track. get in all
the money he could In bets and
"welch." The lender of the $1,000
agreed on condition that Bowlaker
should declare him In" for half of
the gross.
Bowlaker "cut in" as bookmaker
for one day, Saturday, at Harlem. He
drew the best stand in the ring. He
was right in line to make 100000
that day If fortune favored his plan
to "welch."
The black mare, Imp, was 3-to-5
favorite in the first race. Bowlaker
was to lay even money, take all he
could get, about $4,000, and when
she lost "welch." He had an outside
man" working on the other side of the
fence. When Imp won Bowlaker was
to throw satchel containing what
money he had taken in over the fence,
the outside" man was to grab it,
rush for the train and go to st. Louis
The race was run. Imp finished
third
The Outside man" drew a long,
glad breath and smiled pleased
smile. No need to "welch' now. He
could stay and bet on the other races.
So he bought ticket, entered the
race track and was soon at Bowlaker's
side.
Pretty nice" he whispered. Got
it on the level, too, ithout having to
take chance. How much?"
go away" said Bowlaker, angri-
ly. Il booked the race on the square"
"What!" gasped the outside man"
as he fell in faint.
Booked on the square" meant that,
so far from having laid top price
against Imp, Bowlaker had held her
out"--that is, refused to take bet on
her and took bets on all other horses
In the race. In other words, he had
refused to carry out his agreement to