New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-08-23
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH
Examples of Independence of Vot-
ers in Rrooklun.


tons signify above everything else that the people
Of the borough have broken away from the old
traditions and determined to be free and In
dependent in their political operations. 1t is an
adage with State Senator Patrick H McCarren,
the outiawed leader Of the majority of Brooklyn
Democrats that the local voters are the most IN
dependent that be found and that one can
never tell in advance what they win do proof
of his words the Friday before the spring
primaries, when seven of his leaders Suddenly re-
volted from his sway and went over to the fac
ton which is commonly considered to favor ram
many Hall rule Brooklyn These leaders them
selves likely to feel the influence of the moe
pendence of their followers his fall, for three
of them at least are in danger OF losing their
membership on the county executive committee.
McCarren himself showed his belief in independence
two years ago when he risked his ieaoefsfiip 10
oppose William r Hearst He set dangerous eN-
ample He promised TO deliver to the Repuoficahs
1000 votes for Charles E Hughes. He was not
able to keep his promise.
The last week has seen strong demonstration of
Independence among the Republicans IN the Fesis-
nation of ex-Naval Officer Robert A. Sharkey from
the leadership of the 5th Assembly Dfstrfct' ene
second strongest Republican district in the Dor
ough After twenty-five years OF Ieadership ohat f
key has become genuine boss, accoroihs - &c
people of his section For the last decade the Iee
ing against him has been growing Last IAN !.
hurst forth into en- opposition that Sharkey oueed
with diligently though he had with him then many
of the strongest men in the vicinity. Ihes Seoo1
nv him because they were old friends OF MS anu
did not Ike to turn their oacks on MN ~: -.
the urinary fight was they told MIN that
thera vas only one thing for him TO do-radlcahS
cbanee his WAYS. He promised Ihe next lie
they knew he had taken the job OF Deputy Sos
clerk This was not pleasing to many OF his oiu
friends Ansered by further exnfniuohs oi az.
- ,,,a- ti,s old friends who had stood yitn MN
tfo-n,ed him that he must retire from the leao.i
shin He promised to resign this fan In III, VI.
sprins the district was surprised AGAIN o -.
once more turned against State Chairman w.
oli.e =. go ~ his agreement, and proposed 70
-. IT., This 6ckleness estranged more peopi
80 bir, As urinary day approacneo II o.eal-
annarent that Sharkey would not solu |. s,sar
sion ss he had promised Ii was tneh &c ..N 1a5.-
oan william A wentz who Is 10 DC 'io -.
e,a,,bs- &. Henry Wefsmsnn, henry 'o
thrs vent over TO the opposition III 80
81 took control of the fight to GUST ohaihe' e.
Monday night the opposition orssniAed " ths
meeting at the Levi p morton - ..ars That
a+-er,ent Of Wentz weismann ana otnels -
N~t, cbarkey determined tnat Ms SCI
- - rrbToush his friends he arranged -
in,, between his representatives aio ~
tstives of the opposition .s +ha terms
"a oar,tI,lation committee received the
Inc ti",. c,a,,e,y would get out He wanted 10
ui - 20 retatu control of thirteen Oh ~
- thrsa election districts and TO nave f -.
t,ro5r Charles Weber renominateu- N 80 70
+ar was decided, Sharkey was nh, -, aistr,ct
-, y, his control of even part 0i ~ -,
srho 5is+rct organization changed Is s'rones
-. Its fundamental principle is no poss
-, :, Jte leaders are strong Republicans pu' 80
60 5.+srr,ined to retain their inoIViou -
iii work with the county organization ioi - p.
~ tho nartv. but they viii insist upon Deihs Pc
nnitted to act they think ana ieei' Gnu --O
country leader thinks and feels
,rbe t-aependence of this section is only a coun-
+er,,art of the independence OF other sectioIs. 60
fan the same independence was eHhpi.eu Ny 60. -.
-, IF the nth Assembly District, where State
e4or T,,eeue NJ Travis led a reVot against
postmaster George H Roberts. VINO hao oe '. -.
a,,roJ of the section for a score of years travis
led the revolt on a strictly Hughes plauor1fl AZ a
time when the county organization was opposeu
HUGHES Two other important independent disuicts
Gre the 18th Assembly District and the 12th AS
san,bIv District The 18th is the Fiatbush district
,,ta-, Naval Officer F. J. H. Kracke Is leader Inc
so+,on has always stood with Hughes IN spite OF
e., continent of the county organization Kracke
has svulpatffzed with Hughes and ne would never
have held his against Congressman George ID:
waldo In last falls primary contest had he not proved
h;,oS.If Hughes follower. In the 18th, the PARK
Stone section Congressman William M Caoer is aiso
forced 10 stand by Governor Hughes. CALDER mas
always preserved Independent spirit ana ms
d,strirt demands IT. He must be with Hughes.
ILL. nv without the rest of the county, TO hold MS
place Hughes League was formed In the ais
trict q while ago. and at the time several of the
oldest Republicans of the section declared IN open
meeting that if MI Woodruff did not support the
Governor for denomination he could look upon inc
10Th Assembly District as a foreign land. Calder
bl,,,,7an Green Register Prendergast and the
rest of the influential o. the section have had
their ears 10 the ground and are ready to follow
where the people call.
The Independence of the voters of Brooklyn is no
neyv thing though II is developing more and more
along rational lines as the years go by. few
wears aso It broke out IN the Independence League
movement AS as the people realized that 1T
was not what it seemed to be the league lost their
s,pport Even the officials which II had placed in Of
6ce deserted IL But the movement has not died out
While many Of those vino carried Borough President
BIRD s Coler into office have sone back TO the two
great PARTIES vast number have continued inoe-
PENDENT voters Some still support the league as
sort of independent body. Many more have joined
the anti-McCauen movement. Whether or not
their leaders have made dicker with Tammany
Hail. they not for Tammany They have
dozen leaders. but they are so independent ana
divided that their value is only negative AS a re-
suIt of their weakness they and the Kings County
Democratic party present curious spectacle.
The Kings County Democratic party. 1t would
seem. is not preparing to make Brooklyn a strong
hold of Tammany. Two years ago. when McCarren
repudated Hearst, the county machine had no place
TO send its literature. The party was then
struggling to effect county organization IL was
made up OF the remnants Of the followers Of the
late Hugh Mclaughlin and Independent voters. 1t
saw chance to make itself stronger and more eff
fective in fight and IT became the local agency
of the state machine. That is what II is day,
and a wofully incompetent agency it is. Made up
of the followers of ex- Warden Patrick Hayes and
John H Delaney ard having as allies the followers
of ex-SheriH Michael j. F1aherty, James ShevIin,
Bird S. ColeI and the seven revolted leaders IL is
incapable Of any united EFFORT. This heterogeneous
band is not party It is simply association of
allies who have neither ideas ideals in COM
mon Their only bond is the negative determine
ton to destroy McCarren. They have nothing to