"Bargaining Chip" Again

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>At a well-timed moment, Walter Reuther plans to throw all his chips on the
>bargaining table, and tell Ford executives that they must either grant
>pensions of $100 a month to his eligible men--or face an immediate strike
>of all Ford plants.
>         Dallas Morning News, Aug. 23, 1949, sec. 2, p. 3
>
>This is earlier, I think, than any other known example of the "bargaining
>chip" metaphor, but still leaves the mystery: what is the bargaining table
>referred to? is it a poker game or something else?

This is essentially the same as an item submitted during the earlier
discussion on this list in 2004, I think. There was at least one earlier
example still, IIRC.

IMHO, the bargaining table is being likened to a poker table or a similar
table where some sort of game is being played.

-- Doug Wilson