New-York tribune., 1907-11-10
BROOKLYN NEWS
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH
Democrats Are Not Ready to Drop
McCGrren-POIiticaL Outlook.

The leading political question in Brooklyn
now is What VIII they do with McCarren?" ?"
A safe answer seems to be Nothing" In spite
of the recent Republican victory. made pos
sible by the assistance of the foes Of AIcCarren,
the probability of change in the Democratic
leadership of Kings County is remote. When
Long Pat got control OF the organization.
back in 1903. he did it in the face of stronger
odds than are against him now. The leaders
who do McCarrens bidding not loath to ad-
init that there are meagre prospects Of Demo-
cratic success while McCarren is leader, but
they invariably end with the demand to be told
who might be selected 10 take his place.
It is to the advantage of the Republicans Of
the borough that McCarren should keep his
position He is a willy foe, but he is his
party's own worst enemy. While he is In
charge of the machine. there is likelihood that
few Democratic candidates viii win office.
There are altogether about 1l7.000 enrolled
Democrats in Brooklyn and about 10000 en-
rolled Republicans If the Democrats ever
made up their minds to stand together, they
would readily realize the ideal of a clean sweep
at every election.
In spite of the enthusiastic announcement by
the leaders that Kings had suddenly turned into
a Republican county, any Republican who be-
heVes that hereafter he can stay home on Elec-
ton Day and read his paper and see his side
carry off the palm is allowing himself to be
deluded. While 1t Is doubtless true that the en-
rOiment figures do not show the true party
numbers, they the best guides. In the cam
paign of last year about 23l, ,OJU persons regis
tered here. AT that time there were about
10000 enrolled Republicans, about 11I,OOO en-
rolled Democrats $500 Socialists, and about
1000 PrOhibitonistS, total of 211,5O0, leaving
2o,5eo without enrolment in any party. There
were just about 23,00O blank ballots cast that
year. Whoever il was that cast those blank
ballots in 1906 Bruce, the Republican, got in
Kings S9,66S vOtes-abcut the Republican en-
rolment-and Chanler. the Democrat, got 126,-
oOo votes. or 5000 more than the Democratic
enrolment. If the floating. unenrOlled votes
meant anything that year. the Democrats got
all the meaning out of them; certainly the Re
publfcans got nothing TO encourage them.
The average vote cast for the seven Repub-
licans on the county ticket this autumn
$4,000. The highest vote that Republican got
was Judge Fawcett's $500. The average Dem
ocratic vote $4,000, and District Attorney
Clarke got $1,000 and led his ticket. At the
same time the Independence League, whose
members mostly enrolled as Democrats, got
$4,000 votes If the Republicans of Kings, even
while sticking together, only managed TO lead
the Democratic average by 1000, they have
small reason for considering that they have got
full control OF Kings, especially now that the
speedy dissolution of the Independence League
seems imminent The strong Republican dis
tricts kept close to their records of last year.
The strongest Democratic districts showed large
slumps There was falling off Of 10000 IN
the registrations. The average vote showed a
falDng behlnd the enrolment of 10000 or
about il per cent for the Republicans, while
the Democrats and at least 1900 Of the 33 900
independence Leaguers-who are all enrolled
together under the same Symbol-had a falling
The conclusion arrived at by aftermath poll
ticians is that while the League holds together
the Republicans may be able to win with a
narrow margin. The continued activity of
McCaTren in politics will help the Republicans.
by keeping the Democrats in the Independence
League. The fact is, however. that the Demo-
Gratis of the most pronounced anti-McCarren
type are becoming reconciled to him as the in
eVitable.
AT the last primaries Justice Walsh and most
Of those who have been following the shade of
''Boss" Mclaughlin with him crossed over into
the McCarren ranks. McCarren holds the con-
troll of every Assembly district organization in
the borough There Is no patronage for Demo-
Gratis here outside his ranks There is little
enough anyway. and his opponents begin
ming to think that they had better get together,
with him their commander. than to lose
all their chances.
The indications are that the next primaries
will find McCarren stronger still and the Repub-
licans relatively weaker. If the Republicans
score another victory in Kings for some years
TO come. 1t viii be through a superhuman effort.
or else because of some outside influence Ike
the candidacy Of Roosevelt Hughes for the
Presidency.