New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-12

PRENDERGAST SPEAKS OUT.
HE BREAKS WITH WOODRUFF. AFTER
BURY AND THE MACHINE.
REPUBLICANS IN BROOKLYN LOOKING AHEAD TO
1eoo-THp TwENTY-THIRD WARD LEADERS

REPUBLICANS IN BROOKLYN LOOKING AHEAD TO
1soo-THp TWENTY THIRD WARD LEADERS
ATTACK DRAWS A SHARP ANSWER.
William A. Prendergast of the Twenty-second
Ward. political associate OF Lieutenant Governor
Woodruff and twice Republican candidate for Con-
gress In the lid District. yesterday replied IN
singing terms to the attack made on him py
Walter r. Atterbury. chairman Of the Republican
County Committee in connection with the Commits
sioner OF Records bills. which Mr.. Prendergast OPP
posed at the hearing before Governor Roosevelt on
Wednesday
His battle cry is the raying call OF what appears
to be the beginning OF long and bitter hgnt
against the political supremacy OF the big three
woodruff, Atterbury and Dady. who al present rule
the Republican organization in Kings County. IL
is useless at the present time predict the out
come OF revolt against the leaders. but there IL
a growing feeling OF unrest in the Republican
ranks. The election OF Mayor Van Wyck hurt the
Republican party In Kings. and the showing last
fall. when the county went Democratic by 1900.
strengthened the conviction that the party has lost
thousands Of adherents. Since last fall the organ
ization has been without any clearly defined policy
or leader The approach of 1900. with Presiden-
tial campaign to manage. has awakened Repuo-
lcans to the importance of getting things in better
shape than they at present for next year. The
so-caled organization is losing some OF It's
strongest men. and now comes the detection OF
Prendergast and others.
II may not be generally known. but II is a fact.
nevertheless. that Police Magistrate Bremen has
broken with the Big Three. and is now practically
at the lead Of the malcontents He was one OF the
abest men in the organization. and he can make
a lot OF trouble for the leaders.
John D. Post State Committeeman. one OF the
sbest politicians In the Twenty-third Ward. is not
at all satisfied with the shabby treatment he has
received from the party and some OF his friends
assert that next year will ind him opposed to At
any else.
against the Lieutenant Governor yesterday wrote
a long letter to him. Mr.. Prendergast followed
this up by freeing his mind about Mr. Atterbury
Mr. Atterburys opinions statements on politi-
cal questions are unworthy Of serious attention
said he. "He has the best developed capacity for
misstatement of any man have ever known. In
addition to being a political pervert he is man
OF vast and varied misnformaton. After be-
came candidate for Congress in 1897 Mr.. Wood
run oT Of 70 fe 10 sst out hf
fused. and Mr.. Woodruff kept out Of the fight alto
friends forced Fielding out Of the race After my
nomination Mr. woodruff gave me his personal
check for $500. told Mr.. Woodruff afterward that
would return $500 to him. and he expressed his
great surprise as he said i was campaign con.
did not contribute a dollar to my campaign ex-
penses last year, and an offer he made to do so
me The financial ledger is balanced"
The interesting thing with Brooklyn Republicans
now is to learn just how great backing Prender-
CAST has in his fight II is known he has the
support Of Postmaster Wilson and 1t is believed
he has that OF Police Magistrate Bremen and Dis.
trict-Attorney Hiram r. Steele. 1t is rumored
that the appointment bv the latter OF a Com
missioner OF Records. IL the bill is signed by the
Governor will be hostile to the organization lead
ers 1t Is known that Mr.. Steele is considering the
name Of Major Thomas d. Mosscrop. OF the
present Commissioners. Mr.. Steee's friends say
that he will leave the matter largely with Gov
ernor Roosevelt who in turn is likely TO tell the
District-Attorney that the appointment Is to be
made by the District-Attorney Of Kings County.
and by else.
Chairman Atterbury, when seen last night. re-
fused to say anything. 81 do not wish to be drawn
into any controversy" said he.