New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-03

siexmund Kahn the president Of the James q.
Blaine Club Of Harlem. said 10 Tribune reporter
1T trouble and remedy plain as the hand
before y0ur eyes The conditions OF New-1Ofk Cty
life AZ ocular and are different from those IN any
9th pat Of the Union and that Is why 50 many
brilliant Republican leaders who have made such
great success IN almost every other part OF the country
make q failure when they come 70 New-iork CITY.
j don't pretend to know how politics should be con
Quoted outside Ct this city, but canddly think do
know what Is the great impeachment 10 Republican
growth In Harlem and especially in the districts
between Tbirdave and East River II IS simply this
question u clubs. Cubie seems TO be all lndispensa-
BILE adjusct 10 metropolitan existence. Nothing
be done .,ept through such organizations. for amid
such -whelmng OF human beings as We
have on sand one man Is practically a noncntity,
matter nov gifted. how brilliant or how magnetic.
lie is siipvl overwhelmed By the immensely Of the
human oc.Y9 that surrounds him. so that if any man
IS TO give To- TO his IDEAS, If his Views are 10 obtain
the least at ,ton must be through the medium 81
clubs. II Just In this matter OF clubs that the
Democrats ahead Of us, not that IT shows any
superior htt izence their part for the great
of them are alive New Workers and simply into
this cond IL l. while many Republicans are not
born here.
"To Ill strate the great power Of clubs In turning
Young me- f-n one party 10 another, just put yourself
I'm the pla 0f Young man who makes his $40 to u
week and lives in the middle and eastern part OF
the XXIIId Assembly District. The great majority VI
this class. OF young earnest temperate and
have the snccrest desire 10 be good citizens. After
a hard dxy's work they naturally look around for some
place to spend agreeable evening. They don't Ike
10 spend II in liquor store. They may go in one to
take drink perhaps, but they dout like to be hanging
around all the evening, for they have quite much
sense u deccncy and scfrespect their brothers In
Maids nave 20 they naturally look around for some
club And this is the turning point In their politics
Uu,n vepjft CHI he hIlf
they hare In the general dislike for Tanmany Hail.
But yha& have the Republicans to offer them In this
line Until recently, nothing. absolutely nothing
OF cosrse there the regular Republican clubs that
meet nee or twice month or In instances once
q weef in or hail. The meeting Is called 10
order by the president certain amount OF routine
business IS gone through with, perhaps there Is
shortmuscal entertainment the close Of the meeting
aud ne members spend pleasant evening aud 80
home to meet again ut the next regular meeting. In
the npantme where Is the young going to spend
his ewniDgoi Tie Democrats have great number Of
clubs ia this district which have their regular club
home open all days In the week and al hours of the
day AID every night They are fitted mp handsomely,
even luxunously. They have soft carpets. elegant
furniture billiard tables card rooms. all Tie daily and
weekly Diapers and magazines beside illustrated period
icals Tie Democratic extend him n cordial
inyttion TO become member and enjoy all this COM
fort snd Injury and in nine eases ont OF ten the young
man becomes a member. not because lie cares anything
for tic politics OF the club. for he may even be opposed
IN III principles, but because he can have a place 70
20 aIy evening and spend IN agreeable hour or two
among social men, most Of whose circumstances are
similar TO his. That is the decisive turning point In
his pditcs He Is NOT "a strong Democrat at first but
no is treated with kindness. II he Is seeking some stu
alton he Democrat leaders make great pretence OF
using their "pul TO help him. and whether or not they
do him the bit OF good. lie thinks they have done
their best and Is grateful and he becomes Democrat
Ills beng member Of this club causes him to hear
only ore side OF the story and he hears 50 much OF the
grcat argument OF the Democracy we nre no worse
than The others, that he finally comes TO believe ~
and when approached by Republicans he rcscnts all
Arguments as insulting and slander0us. This is the
history of half OF the forming the Democratic
party In the XxIIId Assembly District and guess
you'll find pretty much the same story In every other
district In the city"
within the last month a number of hepupnean