New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-09
BOROUGH GOSSIP
Discontent at WOodruff'S Lead
erShip Becoming Acute.

Tho Republican politicians of this Dor
ouch have taken heart ON hearing that
the enrolment has fallen of only between
,m0 and 5000 in spite of the fact that
.he proeressiVes have been better organ
ized i'm Kings than iu any other county IN
tho STATE. At present they are trying 10
G-urc ont how the enrolled Republicans
who deserted their ticket voted. The
urdertakius has been q large. one but
some of the leaders thiuE that they have
the puzzle solved.
For tine last few weeks many Of the
Ronublicaus who voted FOR Colonel Hoos"-
Welt have been returning to their old al
,saiarcc and the leaders believe that in
the coming municipal election. when Mr.
Rooscvelt's name will not apTca- on the
ballot. most of the former Republicans
among the Prcgrcssivcs will vote as in
other years.
Their cbccrfulncss has been increased
recently Dr.. the discussions that nave oc-
Cured among the Progrcssiv,s. At the
asst two monthly meetings OF the Pro-
gressiyc County Committee +. q. Gard
nor and f.. r. Curran, the latter second
,ice-chairInan. were expelled, intensity
ing the in feeling that already existed.
Woodruff's Absence Criticised.
The failure OF the organization to Sc
cnrc plum i'm the Registers office for
which Leader r. l.. Woodruff was angling
mas done its part to keep up the excite
ment. vt present there is much criticism
Of Nh Woodruff. especially Tor his 'ao-
sentce leadership habits, Tor which he
was criticised while leading the Rcpu'-
leans.
Taking an things into consideration. the
condition of the Progressive organization
in Brooklyn is bad. 1t is especially han
dicappcd 10y the lack of proper leaders.
It's chief people have so far been dis
gruntled politicians from the older par
ties. These leaders are rapidly growing
unpopular and are being thrust aside be-
fore they have trained others to take
their places. The result is that practi-
cally inexperienced pilots will soon be in
charge Of the organization.
There is more or less fanaticism amons
the rank and Tile Of Progressives. fanat-
icism that demands the complete elimi-
nation of old party methods and old
party politicians that looks with Sus-
picion upon all politicians. even its own
and cannot believe in the sincerity of any
job seeker Mr. Woodruff and the poll
tcians he took with him from the Repub-
lican party have beer trying to weed out
the fanatics and their methods have
sometimes been far from diplomatic. In
view Of the obvious fact that the organi-
zation is made up chiefly Of radicals and
fanatics Mr. Woodruff appears TO have
set himself the task of annihilating his
own followers politically As his inten-
tons are well known, his own destruction
appears imminent.
Smculdering Discomfort Blazing.
Most of the Progressives of the county
have felt from the beginning that Mr..
Woodruff had really no right at their
mead, and this underlying current Of feel
lag. stirred mp by disSensicns in the ranks
Wer since Election Day, is now coming
20 the surface more noticcably than at
any previous time
II seems To be the general feeling that
ne county organization has merely toler-
ated AIR. Woodruff because Of his ability.
il has no love for him, and Will get rid
Of him as soon as il possibly can. Mean
while The forces are gradually disnte-
grating. The failure Of the Progressive
machine to support a non-parusan anu
Tammany ticket next fan is about all
that is needed 10 reduce the Progressive
orsanizationa 10 the position held for sev-
eral years by the independence League
that VI a poor third.