New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-23
BOROUGH GOSSIP
Small Politicians Excited Over
Effort TO Gust Woodruff.

Midsummer political madness has come
10 amount to something in Brooklyn. In
fact. il appears that Brooklyn politicians
seem TO think that the summer IS the
propcr time 10 begin all sorts OF reforms.
Most Of the reforming done by the Demo-
Gratis at the close of .hc McCarren regime
occurred I'm the summer time Just how
much il would have amounted to had 1t
not been followed by the death of Mr.. Nc
Carren is a question but much that was
done was accomplished in hot weather.
Now the Republicans are following the
example set by the Democrats. Before the
dog DAYS are over the reorganization Of
the party will have been planned and even
partly executed. At least this Is a time
that energetic men of small avoirdupois
should come TO the fore and secure foot
holds on the important offices, as no men
who feel the heat will be willing 10 oppose
them This principle may underie the re-
fusaI Of Representative Calder TO accept
the executive committee craftsmanship the
other evening. IT also may account for the
present prominence and activity of Naval
Officer Krackc. who is slender and pre-
tumablv less depressed by the hot weather
than some.
hut II can probably he charged to sum-
uer madness simply that so many of the
secondary figures in the movement for the
Custinc OF Mr. Woodruff from the county
leadership are running about proclaimng
that their principals arc acting from purely
dlsintercetcd motives and with a single eye
TO the rehabilitation of the organization.
The twcntv-eighth annual VolksfeSt of tho
Plattdeutsche organization Of Brooklyn,
which includes more than fifty societies.
will begin to-day at Timer Park. ii Will
continue five days skipping from Wednes-
dav TO next SUNDAY. This is one of the
three great festivals held annually IN
Rrooklvu. The others are the Bavarian
and tho Suabian festivals. Each has
tts own peculiar features, imported from
the parts OF the Fatherland from Whlch
the celebrants come. a feature that is
worthy OF particular attention from VlSi-
tors is the cuisine at the festivals, lor
The Germans consider the eating Of old
country fare a necessary part OF the ceIe-
hrations. Al all the festivals certain
members of the societies appear in the
costumes OF their countries. ana plays are
rrosented recalling the folklore of the
race. Similar festivals are held IN All inc
large cities of the United States. ChiehN
because of the large German population
Of this country. affairs of this sort are
more common among them than among the
naturalized citizens from other races
Tho Central Branch of the Young Men
Christian Association is having consider
,ble success with its swimming campaign
among the boys of the public and Sunday
e,bnols. AT the third of the course OF
lessons I'm the Central Branch the oIher
dav q hundred boys turned up for in
.tI.uctiou. The teaching is done IN the
Ifa pool IN the basement of the Bond
street building. Home work is also recon-
,ronded. the youngsters being ADVISED I"
practise the strokes while living on chahs
a, boxes. vt the end Of siN IessohS
tcst yin be held, and each boy who cat
swim the length Of the tank viii get
silver button
Joscnn .BalIou. negro. faced Judge
Dixie in the County Court Friday morn
ing. lie did not know what was before
him. but he took for granted that the
worst WAS e. come The grand jury had
l.en investigating his conduct lie knew
called TO the bar Of justice.
You are guilty, are you not?' the court
demanded of the anxious prisoner.
vas yo' honor replied Ballou
,"Guilty:'
"Nh suah is
.nveu. the members Of the grand jury
tbiul, YOU are innocent. In fact, they came
- that conclusion and recommend your
cischurec. YOU may go.
There is at last = judicial decision in
this borough determining the answer to
social problem of considerable importance
how Iong should mOthcr-in-law permit
1crsclf the Indulgence Of visiting her
children by marriage? The dictum came
the other day, when Mrs. Mary Coyle' Oh
Ne $40 Carlton avenue, had her mother
iu-law summoned before Magistrate Nc
C;uire. I'm the Flatbush police court with
tears streaming from her eyes. the plain
4iN told how her mOthcr-in-law had ar
- rived fiom Boston ten days before. taken
possession Of her sons house and declared
I,r Overwhelmingly unfit to look after her
sons welfare. The magistrate listened 10
Q partial denial from the older woman
and then said:
"Tcn days is long enough for one visit
From what your daughter-in-law says,
Instead ga minding your own business you
spent all your time i'm minding hers. il
s. about time that you started back for
NOur own home