The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-02-01
GOTHAM GOSSIP.
correspondence of the Democrat
New York, Jan. %, 1888.

III ttEu D Il OPOoNN W
Politics Premature and E1agger
ated.-The Republican Party and
the Tarif.-Sunset Goa and the
Speakership.-Careful Work.-A
Prejudice arising against apart
ment Houses.-The Result of the
Recent Hotel Fires.-Ihe Rise of
the FLAT House.-Very Proper
and very DuU.-A Woman's Tn
suranceC ompday.-A Proposal to
Insure Lives Of Horses.
The report that Mr.. John Kelly
proposed to retire from all active
participation in politics and to de-
vote two years to extended travel
abroad, is l am assured on the most
reliable authority both premature
and exaggerated. Mr.. Kelly did
propose giving himself an extended
vacation to gain the rest which he
needs so much after his unremitting
labors for his party for the past
years. But as regards retiring per-
manently from active political life,
anybody who at all knows the leader
of Tammany Hall must be aware that
such an event is a physical impossi-
bility. Besides his party could i'll
spare his vigorous guidance at pre-
sent. True, Tammany holds the
trump cards but even Mr.. Kelly's
enemies must admit that she will
lose them soon, once she is deprived
of his pluck, quick decision and in
surmountable capacity for work.
l was talking to n of the most
clear headed men of the Democratic
party a few days ago about the Tar
if question now under discussion.
The gentlemen though 10 longer an
active politician yet watches events
with an interested eye. Said he 81
have watched the course of events
in Congress closely, and it strikes
me that the Republican leaders are
enacting aliving proof of the old adj
age that those whom the gods would
destroy they first make mad. They
seem determined to put their politi-
cal fortunes and future on the single
plank of a high protective tariff and
to sink or swim with it. Protection
however is the product ofignorance,
and in sustaining it they rely upon
the ignorance of the masses to aid
them in keeping alive a system which
makes the poor poorer while making
the rich richer. Now the days CT
this ignorance have gone by, and
the Republican party will have per.
manently alienated the people al
large by 1884. You mark my Words
Congressman Cox is particularly
active already in his anvas for the
Speakership Of the next Congress
True, ten months yet separate us be
fore the election, but the bright, clev
er and hard working Sunset believes
that the early bird catches the worm
His most dangerous rivals from thi:
State are General Slocum and Mr.
Dorsheimer. But should the tight
be narrowed down to these three
"the little one" ought to be the ia
vorite for the race at the odds Of a
least three to one. The only think
that may run against him is his ten
dency to be funny, but all other &C
; complishments being equal ther'
seems TO be scarcely any reason VIII,
2 the fact hat a man has a sense 0
humor should prevent him from gain
ing a place where he would be o
. great service to the country at large
. by his ability, knowledge and spiri
1 of fairness.
l. Investors and spectators VIII,
placed large sums Of money in tn,
c hands Of builders for the purpose o
4 erecting vast apartment houses, at
e beginning to feel uneasy. A reac
1 ton has set in the universal desir
C to live in them, and should this turl
S out to be more than a momentar,
S feeling, the crash which.will brin,
down large spectators will be heav
Ter than the awful real estate col
e lapse of some years ago. When frs
s these houses were started they prov
e ed a good investment. People wer
glad to have all their rooms on on
5 floor, to have Accommodations and con
e veniences which they could not en-
: joy in a private house without add
e tional servants, and to enjoy tn
q novelty Of joining the comforts of
n home with some of the advantage
e of 8 hotel. Then everybody wit
e money to invest put it IN apartmer
It houses, and speculative builders IA
enormous risks in building such ca.
avansaries by ten and twenties an
e in one or two cases by fifLies. Bt
" the risk was crowned with success
e These houses were built to q heigl
of five, six and seven stories; the
IS were furnishedin tt. e most elaborat
e style, provided with every moder
q convenience, and given high sount
ing attractive names. Apartmer
< houses became the fashion, and til
rents asked and given were emo
, nous. The building of so many
re them, however brought rents dow
Fl but even now money invested in the
brings from seven to fifteen per cen
Of per annum, an enormous intere.
4 when one can obtain but five D,
l. cent. for money loaned on first elias
n bonds and mortgages.
And is all this to be changed?
t. is a well known fact that frequent
re the smallest causes bring about I'll
Of greatest results. I met a promineI
q real estate mar the other day
l. Broadway. He seemed to be vel
r depressed. Said he, "that destru
7, tion of the Newhall House, Milwar
b., kee, by fire, and the subsequent Ii
'e tel fires have had a bad, a very BIS
effect. People who live in tall house
;" and particularly those who occur
lie upper flats have got scared. On
d janitors say so, and 1 know hot
s. clerks can hardly get guests to g
ic above~the second floor. If only TIL
flIn~ Rod MT horoanoI 4, 50.