The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1916-11-16
$6,OOO,OOO Is
New York Bet
HEAVY LOSSES AND HEAVY
GAINS BY MEN WHO GAMBLED
ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELEC-
TIpN
THIS is ONE OF THE LARGEST
STAKES EVER PLACED BY THE
MEIN OF THE METROPOLIS.

M
Ne York, Nov. 10.-In what was
pronphnced emphatically the widest
and tneaviest betting campaign ever
wagered in this city on the outcome
of a Presidential election more thar
six million dollars, it was calculated
was, 5eaked on the respective chances
of Mr.. Hughes and President Wilson,
Betting was continued until after
the polls had been closed. While
the dountry was casting its ballots
more than one million dollars, it was
estimated, was wagered around the
hotels and uptown brokerage offices
in this city,.
"Never in the nineteen years in
which ! have been in the employ of
Mr.. Bolt" said Joseph Smith, head
of the house detective force at the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, ''have seen
so much money wagered on a Presi-
Dental election as has been placed on
this contest"
Mem occupying positions similar
to Mr.. Smiths at the st. Regis, the
Plaza, the Belmont, the McAlpin, the
Biltmore and other hotels confirmed
his statement.
Bewildering changes occurred in
the odds. At the opening Tuesday
Mr.. Hughes was.a favorite at 10 to 8
As the hours passed, however, those
odds were changed and before noon
the quotation was "even money and
take your choice" In the afternoon
another change took place and the
o2dsk@h hhed again to Mr.. Hughes
at 10 to 9, only to recede almost inn
mediately to even money.
Drift Toward MIR. Wilson
From that level the drift was
steadily toward Mr.. Wilson until at
the hour for the closing of the polls
the President for the first time in
the campaign was the first choice in
the betting at odds of 10 to 9. In
the vernacular of the race tracks he
"went to the post favorite."
The fact that the polls had closed
did not stop the speculation. With
the early returns from Kansas indi-
eating Wilson victory the odds on
the Presidents change were increas-
ed to to l, at which figure they
stood until after the returns from
this State had indicated a much
larger plurality for Mr.. Hughes than
the speculative element generally
had expected.
1t was not until the first returns
from Illinois had been received in
dicating that State had gone republi-
can by big majority that any of
the Wilson men attempted to hedge.
From that stage of the proceedings,
however, a rush developed to bet on
Mr.. Hughes until at half-past eight
o'clock in the evening odds of to 1
against Mr.. Wilson were offered with
no takers.
At Fred Schumm's chop house, in
Fulton street, Brooklyn, $4,000 was
placed on Mr.. Hughes at odds rang
ing from 10 to 8 to 10 to 915 during
the day. The odds opened at 10 to
8, and Wilson money came in in a
steady stream. An hour after the
opening the odds jumped to 10 to 9.
The odds ruled steady during the day,
with Hughes money growing more
scarce as the day wore on. The last
bet made was $4,000 on Hughes
against $1,000. Mr.. Schumm report
ed last night that he had posted with
him $4,000 of Wilson money, which
was offered at to 10, but that the
best odds the Hughes hackers would
offer were 10 to 9.
to Bet on Ohio
President Wilson became a 8 to
favorite to win Ohio. At those odds
$4,000 was placed on him, and Mr..
Schumm had $4,000 more to offer,
but there were no takers.
Mr.. Hughes was slightly favored
to win Indiana and Illinois. A bet
of 500 against 5000 on him to win
Illinois was recorded, and there was
another bet of $1,000 against 5000
on him to win Indiana.
At even terms 100 was wagered
that Mr.. Wilson's plurality in this
city would be $4,000, and $1,000
was placed at even terms on New
York State to give Mr.. Hughes
plurality of $4,000.
At even terms $1,000 was bet on
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