Evening star., 1960-02-09
BY MARY McGRORY
star STAG Writer


star etsd Writer
LAS VEGAS, New, Feb. g.
Out here in the gambling capt.
tai, where the urge to wager is
so strong there are slot ma
chimes in the supermarkets,
there is very little action on
the presidential election.
1t is not for want of bet
ting men. But the feeling in the
casinos along the strip" and
in the race-book shops down.
town is that it is much too early
to lay any prices.
Right now the odds are 6 to 5
in favor of Vice President Nixon
against the whole field of DEM
ocratic hopefuls, one Of whom,
Senator Kennedy. Democrat of
Massachusetts,, has been cam
paigning among the f1eshpots
for the last two days.
One of the leading wagerers,
Wilbur Clark, proprietor of the
Desert Inn and the Stardust.
which is the biggest hotel in
the world and boasts the most
stupendouS sign on the gaudy,
neon-lit strip, would not say if
he had any money out on the
Democratic hopefuls.
He said that Senator Ken
nedy is definitely ahead and
picking up strength.
But there is nothing up on
a board, and nobody will lay
any prices" said Mr.. Clark, a
silver-haired ex-Illinoisan,
whose watchband is made up
Of tiny playing cards.
Mr.. Clark, who always loses
on horses but wins on elec-
tions. sees the Democratic race
as between Senator Kennedy
and Senator Lyndon B. john
son of Texas.
AS for dark horse Senator
Symington of Missouri, he says.
Hes one man I've never seen
any action on"
Senator Humphrey, of Min
nesota, he sees as a long shot.
IF someone offered to take
20 to / on Humphrey, I think
I would take it," said Mr..
Clark, a man who believes in
betting odds and who kicks
himself for not having taken
15-to-1 odds against Harry
Truman in 1948.
A leading contributor to the
Democratic Party in Nevada.
Mr.. Clark has learned never to
bet sentiment. Two years ago.
he made 81 small bets-the
exact amount a sacred matter
between him and the Internal
Revenue Service-on 10 Demo-
Gratis and two Republicans and
collected them all.
Seldom FAN
Gamblers, he said, seldom
miss on elections. Their politi-
cal racing form is all the news
papers they can read and the
people they talk to in every
State.
Il talk to big guys and little
guys" said Mr.. Clark, "and I
talk to 200 people a day from
all over at the hotel"
Mr.. Clark, for once out Of
the sound Of the ever-whirring
slot machines, told reporters
his views at a reception held
for Senator Kennedy at the
towns civic auditorium. Seven
hundred people, mostly repre-
senting the quieter side of Las
Vegas life, braved a sand storm
to come out and greet the 'front.'
runner.
The campaign of Senator
Kennedy took on a little of the
glamour Of nearby Hollywood
here.
No Casino Clocks
He has been staying at the
Sands, which advertises THE
Most Philanthropic Tables and
Slots at Vegas" His brother
in-law, Peter Lawford, is one of
the stars in the floor show of
the plush hostelery. Featured
also are Frank Sinatra, Sammy
Davis, jr., and Dean Martin, who
are all members of the cast of
a film in production which has
required the retention of
Christmas decorations.
Time does not matter here
anyway. AS matter of policy,
there are no clocks in the
casinos, lest anxious wives drag
their husbands home before
their life-savings are gone. The
same old ladies are standing at
the dime slot machines at mid
night and at 6 in the morning.
Everything is on 24-hour serv-
ice, including a downtown we'd
ding chapel whose marquee
promises flowers, photos and
recordings"
Politics is always a gamble,
Of course, but the struggle at
Los Angeles seems remote to