New-York tribune., 1898-11-21
SOMETHING ROTTEN IN BROOKLYN.

THE TROUBLE WITH THE REPUBLICAN oRGANI-
zATIoN AND THE NEED OF PROMPT REMEDY.
To the Editor o, The Tribune.
Sir: The fact that Brooklyn gave 1924 majority
tor the Democratic ticket at the last election, wnen
a Republican majority was predicted and expected.
indicates that something is wrong with the Repub-
lcan organization in that borough. And that
wrong should be Immediately discovered and
remeded, to which end the knife should be used
unsparngly, but with discretion
Had M.ssrs. Woodruff. Dady. Atterbury Co.,
Republican managers OF that borough betaken
themselves to South Africa. and left the party
without organization Of any kind the result in
Brooklyn would have been little. II any. worse.
Even in the palmest days Of the 'old Brooklyn
Ring. with its water scandal It's McKane IN
timida tors and ballot-box suffers when Boss Nc
Laughin dictated the nominations of both par
ties-the Democratic 10 win and the Republican TO
lose-it worse. The Democrats even then
rarely, II ever, had over 1900 majority In Kings
County
That Messrs Woodruff. Dady. AtterDury & Co
performed enormous amount of useful and
essary campaign work is not denied. But that is
the question. The question rather is when
all that work has been done. when the meetings
have all been held and everything is ready for the
polls to open If the rank and file Of the party or
any considerable portion Of II. then refuse TO
the polls and vote. go and vote against the
licket. is it demonstrated that something is
wrong? and somebody to b.amo? If So what is 1t
and who is it? Let us find these Jonahs and
make short work Of them. desperate cases re-
quire desperate remedies is the old rule. And
that the Republican party in Brooklyn is in a des-
perate position scarcely be denied Heroic
treatment Is then necessary.
In these days the corruption and incompetence
of political managers at home is just as serious,
Just disastrous, II not as criminal. as the cor
ruption and incompetence OF military managers In
the fed. All that has been won by the sword in
be trifed away and lost by political mis-
mana cement at home. TIE victories Of Dewey,
Sampson and Schey abroad will avail nothing
If we at home allow candidates to be elected op-
posed to taking advantage of these victories. And
that Brooklyn is placing itself in that po-
sition is very apparent
When the post-eection figures show us that
nearly 20c0O Brooklyn Republicans chiefly business
men, who cross to New-York every morning, re-
turning to their homes in Brooklyn at night. and
who care nothing for political Once, IalrIy re-
addition about Il 7.nO other Republicans must have
voted the Democratic ticket something Is wrong
and somebody Is to blame
The fact that the e 6s2 Repubican majority for
Governor Black in Kings County in 1925 has neen
turned into Democratic mai iority OF 1924 against
Roosevelt. the successful war Colonel in 1888. is
answer to it, and but one conclusion deducble
from il. viz. that something is radically wrong
that with New-York pivotal state continus
tion of such party management will elect a Demo-
The Undersigned, as one of the aforesaid rank
ana ME. demands TO KNOW Wndl : lne ndllei anu
who is to blame'
II a reorganization Of the Republican party In
Kings County is necessary. II would seem. let
whom the general public will not believe are in
partnership with Willis. Coombs & co. or other
Indicted officials.
Are you in a position 10 give lis helping
hand by opening your columns 20 discussion
which will throw light the subject. and may.
perhaps. find something to prevent the disaster or
Democratic President in 1900. elected through
the blunders and mismanagement OF Brooklyn Re
publicans9
| believe it was Napoleon who said
Damn your excuses. tell me the result and that
is the way We all feel about our party manage
in Brooklyn.
We know that in order to succeed II is necessary
to have party organizations machine. you may
call II. but when that machine shows its incaTOlty
uy breaking down spillng its load overheard
il is high time that IT cast out and new
machine put IN its place. that will prove loco
motive 10 draw safely TO destination. and
not spill us overheard TO he pundered and robbed
by the Democratic brigands
AS d starter, .et me suggest that the Brooklyn
Union League Club set the ball I'm motion. as IL
did six years ago and II Is likely that equally as
good results will follow.
The appointment of a committee composed Of
such men ex-Navor Charles Scheren. ex-Con-
gressman Francis. Wilson. Sias b. butcher. An
drew Rogers. Judge Jesse Johnson, 10 investigate
the cause. recommend and to supervise the
remedy would of itself 80 a long toward re-
storing that degree of confidence in the Republican
organization now sadly lacking In Kings County.
I would like 10 hear what others Of the rank and
file have to say this ubject. L. C. q.
Brooklyn. Nov. l6, 1898.