| Show BETTINg gETTING AS A GUIDE Tha h l gamblers view of oC a political situ situation situation atlon is always of ot interest as an index of oC the professional bettors views but it is no safe ate guide to public sentiment as a expressed at the polls The gam gambler gambler gambier bler bier bets on form tonn as the bookmakers call caB It an on form fonn the Republicans are naturally natural the favorites in presidential elections because they the have bae a long record of ot victories But like the bookmakers presidential elections have bave their upsets For In Instance Instance Instance stance when Cleveland defeated Blame Blaine In 1884 the odds were overwhelmingly in favor tavor of ot Blame Blaine He was the idol Idolat of at the politicians of ot his Darty ing the Conkling wing vying he h e had t d been b the the most brilliant orator and most JOost distin distinguished distinguished leader of his party for tor years He had it is 15 true been deserted by the but they t ey were not regarded as potent for harm hann Throughout the nation his success was regarded as s in inevitable I evitable and the betting went accord accordingly In 1888 1858 Cleveland was the favorite so 50 much so that in Chicago on election night Cleveland money went we t begging I for tor takers Yet he was beaten and beaten badly by Harrison who was never a popular leader andt and whose nomination had been secured cured only by bythe bythe bythe the extraordinary use of ot colored dele delegates delegat gates gat s from Democratic states Again in 1892 came a reversal of at form Har Harrison Harrison Harrison rison was the favorite at big odds until within a few tew days of at election yet Cleveland carried Harrisons own on state state Illinois Wisconsin and other states that had been e n regarded as s Republican R a fixtures The situation this year almost duplicates cates the history of ot 1892 Tafts T ts nom nomination nomInation like Uke Harrisons H then was due to federal officeholders backed by pres pros presidential power As in 1892 the Demo Democrats Democrats are united have a or organization and are sanguine of success while their opponents are hampered by factional ta fights in every doubtful state and In many that are not regarded as doubtful Taft personally personal Is not at all popular among the common people while Bryan has a tremendous follow tollow following following ing In every class Taft TaU bears the odium of at the Roosevelt methods and the panic and he has the added handicap of opposition from the laboring men who have heretofore been counted largely in the Republican col eel column cOlumn As a betting study Taft has bas two things in his favor the success of oC his hili party for a term ter of years and a great campaign fund for tor use in the closing days of at the campaign That his bis chances are regarded with diminishing favor by bythe bythe bythe the gamblers Is shown by y the drop in inthe Inthe inthe the odds on him At one on time em ey was offered d at seven s ven to one on Taft yesterday It was three to one Consid Considering ering ertag the fact tact that much of ot the money bet was as furnished t by the Republicans to influence sentiment the change is significant and indicates a weakening confidence In his Ids cause But as an an Index of real sentiment the history of ot the past twenty years shows that the only sure thing about betting is the certainty that the gambling ele element element element ment knows mighty little about the drift of political battles |
