St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-11
INSULT TO GOV. ALTGELO.
HIS PORTRAIT REFU:ED BY THE CIT
cAc0 GERMaRiA CLUB.
LEADING MEMBERS RESIGN.
The Affair Caused by the Refusal
OF the German Consul and the
Fair Commissioner to Speak
at the Banquet in Case Altgeld
Should Be Honored-A Very
Unfortunate Situation. -

CHICAGO, Dec. 9.-The Germania
club. the most influential German So
cial organization in Chicago, has. by a
vote of to 2, by its directors, refused
the preferred gift of an oil portrait Of
Gov. Altgeld. As result of the inn
piled insult, the governor, who came
from Washington to speak at banquet
to be given by the club tonight, has
refused to be present. The ac-
ton is taken. it is said. because of Gov.
Altgeld's pardon of the anarchists.
Carl Buenz, German consul in Chicago.
and DR.. Emil Richter, representative of
the German worlds fair commission,
announced that they would not respond
to toastS at the banquet if the affair was
to be in the nature of an ovation to Gov.
Altgeld. The affair has caused intense
excitement in German circles, and a
split in the Germania club is expected.
Philip Henrici, the donor of the por-
trait. promptly resigned his membership
in the club. Another resignation was
that of Adolph Sturm. 1.-The whole
trouble began
WITH THE ACTION
of these two imperial representatives, :"
explained Mr.. Heinrich. 'They refused
to speak if there was to be any ovation
to Altgeld. and out of that grew the
opposition that resulted in the re-
fusal of the painting. Neither one
is a member of the club, but they took
it upon themselves to regulate the pro-
ceedings at the clubs banquet. They
are backed up by some of the members
of the club who are opposed to Altgeld,
but whose names l do not care to give,
and finally the directors decided not to
accept the painting On account of the
oppositions.
Three weeks ago." continued Mr.
Henrici, IL heard that there was opposi-
ton among some of the members, and
went to President Koch and offered to
withdraw the painting. but he would
not near of it. He told me to go ahead
and present it. and it would be put in
the gallery with those of other promi-
nent Germans. There was very little
opposition at this time, only such as
might he expected, but little later the
imperial representatives
WHO WERE GUESTS,
not members, Of the club, took hand
in the affair by announcing that they
would not speak if it were to be an Alt.
geld ovation, and the next thing l knew
the painting had been refused"
"What is the reason for the Opposi-
tion?'
''Oh, 1t is on account of the pardon of
the anarchists. There was such hue
and cry raised over that that some of
them are afraid. They fear that they
may be classed as anarchists OF an
archist sympathizers."
"What will be done now?"
There Is nothing to be done. 1 have
resigned from the club. and | have
every reason to think that great many
others Will resign also. 1t is too great
an insult to submit to. 1t is so utterly
uncalled for, and the circumstances
surrounding it make it particularly in
eXcusable. 1t is trucking to purely
partisan Republican sentiment"
Adolf Strum. who also, resigned from
the club. is exceedingly bitter In his
denunciation of the men who succeed
ing in having the painting refused at
the last minute.
Later-At the banquet tonight the
club rescinded its action regarding
Gov. Altgeld's picture. and every
thing went off in peaceabIe
manner. Carl Buenz. German con-
sui at Chicago, and DR.. Emil Richter,
the German imperial worlds fair
commissioner, however, did not
appear at the banquet, having declared
in the afternoon that they would not do
so if the club endeavored to show any
honors to Gov. Altgeld. 1t was thought
that $50 people would be present at the
banquet. but only about $50 appeared.
A letter of regret was read from Gov.
Altgeld.