Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-30
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Politics ut ADbany-IIOnest Men Have
No ShOW-A Libel Suit in Wall Street
Newspaper Changes-Frcd. Gerhard
Again-Mrs. Langtry ON the Wane-
MOdteska's Success
ce of The EVENING STAR.

Special Correspondence of The EVENING STAR,
NEW YORK, December 90
i dined with an eminent old Albany politician
. night or two ago. He couldn't or wouldn't
talk anything else but Albany and the men who
had figured in its political fights.
How s it that so many bright. brany young
fellows turn out failures at Albany 2" | asked
" i have known more than one capable and hon.
est man who fzzed out through the whole ses-
sion. and came back to his constituents almost
disgraced."
There is almost no chance for an honest man
at Albany" said the old man sententiOusly
He is hedged In. badgered and often undone
without having any chance at all to defend HIM
self Take case. Young Mr.. Jones. of saw
Steubcn county, is known to be square, up
right and honest man. with unflinching zeal
and good business standing. The peo-
pie of Steuben county want tine legis-
lature to build bridge across their
river-if they have One-and they
believe that a live assemblyman can do it, The
old aSSeniblyman may have done his work we'll
at Albany and be In every way worthy of re-
election. but a few of the more prominent peO-
pie seize young Mr.. Jones and push him for
ward The bridge is made an issue and hot
canvass ensueS. Young Mr.. Jones is fired by
real patriotic enthusiasm and goes In for all he IS
worth. The old asseHlblyman works hard too.
but he cannot withstand the immense move
ment in favor OF the man who is pledged to
give the people of Steuben a bridge. So Young
Mr.. Jones becomes Assembyman Jones and
goes to Albany to legislate for the bridge A
m0nopoilst measure comes up. Young Assem-
blyman jones is approached by the lobbyists
and Indignantly scorns their advances
Very well, Young Mr.. Jones' say the
lobbyists we snail see we shall see Young
Assen'byman Jones-a clearheaded. honest
and upright fellow, mind you-the next day
rises in the chamber to make a little speech
against corruption. but is howled down For
weeks he tries to get hearing. but somehow
through the efforts of the shrewd old mOnopo-
list paramentar.ans or the mysterious rulings
of the speaker he is held down until he finds
that he has almost no chance. Meanwhile he
constantly receives letters frOm home asking
him why he does not stir things up. Then comes
up another monOpOlist bill. and the honest
young ASSEMBLY lyman is visited again. His con-
stituents are against this bill, and 1t will be a
severe check on his career if he votes for it. His
political opponents announce through their
papers that this will be q test of his sincerity
If he votes for this monOpOst bill he takes big
risks The friends of the bill come in and say
Mr.. Jones' We want your vote for this bill. We
have thirty-iOur names, and we wish to add yours
to the list
"'No. no. gentlemen. can't think of it, l
would be glad to Oblige you. but my people are
dead against this BILL says youn. Assemblyman
Jones, who is not so violently moral as before
but still honest. If give you my vote it will
Kill me at home
= We'll then. the monOpOliSts say. we will kill
your chances if you don't vote with us. We
know that Your success depends upon getting
the Steuben bridge bill through. Here are
thirty-fOur names this list. Give us YOUR
vote and your bill goes through. Deny the
vote and these thirty flour men go against YOUR
bill. Thirty-four names added to the oppose
ton will Kill it as dead as a door nail. Will you
give us Your vote:'
18Th tell you gent-gentlemen mutters
agonized young AssemblyIaan Jones' as he sees
his chances of success almost crushed I'll stay
away and my y0te'll be lost, won't count Can't
you let me off that way
''Give us your vote or the bridge bill goes
under
Young Assemblyman Jones is in an awful
Quandary- The monopOlist bill is VIGOROUSLY
corrupt. He is an honest man. He refuses to
give his vote and the monopolists go away. That
Is all. After while he rises in his seat pre-
pared to make the greatest effort Of his political
life. As soon as he mentions the bridge bill it
s swept away and buried under a sweeping
majority. ard the people of Steuben howl in-
dignantly at their honest assemblyman. He
goes home disgraced. and the former member
goes back with triumphant sweep"
Rather a dismal picture"
''As true as life though. OF course 1t is pos
slble for shrewd and capable man to worry
through a session without absolute dishonesty
but he can not accomplish anything for his peO-
pie"
KATE FIELD.
Kate Field bears her misfortune with great
calmness- In fact. l may go a bit farther and
say that she seems not little impressed by the
importance of having failed for more than $780,
COO What mOnstrous fizzle the Cooperative
Dress association has been. Everybody now
says that the thing was inevitable; that no wo-
man ever did carry on such vast commercial
enterprise. and consequently no woman ever
could do SO. There is no doubt that most men
will believe this decidedly ungallant and GER
tainly ridiculous course of reasoning. Expert
ence has gone long way toward supporting it.
Time and again in New York women have
started out boldly in one way or the other.
made great stir. been widely written I'D.
strongly supported and heartily encouraged
They have subsequently cut their hair and as
suned manners calculated to impress feminine
admirers with the idea that great brain
power lurked beneath the short hair
After this stage things went on quietly enough
until suddenly the smash came and then the
short -haired woman lectured for a living. 1t
mas been so with the great charitable enter
prlses, musical enterprises, and banking enter
prlses- i use the word .enterprseS' because
women are fond of it. The above remarks are
am aware. atrociously discOurteOus. Undoubt-
edly they will stir many valiant women up to an
indignant denial and in all human probability
some champion of outraged wOmanhoOd will
write letter to the editor signed Justice"
Don't. / don't advance any opinions on the
subject | simply record the facts Women
have not been successful as managers in New
York Kate Field is not cast down She is a
woman OF amazing force of character and never
so happy as when up to her elbows i'm work
what she will spring upon the unsuspecting pub
Tic next Is question. She has probably had
enough of things cooperative.
LIBEL SUIT.
There is a good deal of talk in newspaper
circles about the trial of Charles d. Keep editor
OF the Val Street Daily Ne,cs. Mr. Keep is
charged with libel against the Denver and Rio
Grande railroad The alleged libel is concealed
In these simple words: I'VE understand that the
fresh notice of Denver to be made soon to the
stock exchange will be for about 40 600 shares
But 1t is the intention of the managers to make
up the entire amount of new stock to twelve
millions There seems to have been no malice
In Editor Keeps action in publishing the above,
nor In noting one or two other street rumOrs
The trial has brought TO light some interesting
facts for the lambs of the stock exchange Mr.
Keep is young man with light hair. a blonde
moustache, and an air of quiet determination
He is a member OF the I.otOs Club, and enjoys an
excellent reputation.