New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-17
STATUS OF THE GERMAN VOTE.
THE PART 1T WILL TAKE IN THE MC-
NICIPAL CAMPAIGN.
HERMAN RIDER DECLARES THE REFORM
UNIONS DETERMINED HOSTILITY TO TAM
MANY. WHOEVER THE WIGWAMs
CANDlDATE MAY BE


CANDIDATE MAY BE.
The German Reform Union. organized to secure
an Improvement in the municipal government
through the defeat and overthrow or Tammahy
Hall is gaining rapidly in strength and influence
While independent German Democrats are among
the leading promoters Of the movement its mem
bership includes all parties and is composed OF
citizens mainly OF German birth and lineage VINO
ardentIy desire honest government in Newt orA
City.
Herman Ridder. the business manager OF the
'.Staats-Zeung," who is charter member oil the Or
ganizaton and one Of the most active ana zea'ous
supporters Of the pan said yesterday that the Union
was daily becoming more popular among 'hose II
Is intended to reach, and was gaining fresh ac-
cessions to its ranks. When asked Wna' '"e
strength of the organization was he SAID
eve had upward of 5000 in the last CieveiaHu
campaign We shall be stronger this year. es'l-
mate our voting strength 5000 to $1,000
Mr. Ridder was asked whether, If popular
German should be induced to take the Iamm'V
Han nomination for Mayor, it would be likely to
split the German Reform Union vote as some am
many men have asserted. He replied:
They cannot get such man. No German run
ming on the Tammany Han ticket cou-u secuie
any following with us
IF TAMMANY SHOULD PUT Up Mr. sTEINwAf'
What of Mr.. Stenway, If he should be the ram
many candidate for Mayor
"You may say for me that II Mr.. Steinway is on
the Tammany Hall ticket. the 'Staats-zeiiung' Will
oppose him. 1t will oppose any German VINO runs
as Tammany Hall candidate.
Mr.. Ridder added that the members Of the Ger
man Reform Union had no personal ends to gam
in the coming contest with Tammany Han. IL was
by no means asserted that German should De
nominated to gain its support. The organization
was Just as ready to support man OF diiiereht
nationality The Germans might possibly support
Republican on an anti-Tammany PLATFORM he
said. The name of President Seth Low. OF Column
bia College. was mentioned as a Republican VINO
might receive the support of the Union
Oswald Otendorfer the president OF the German
organization. and editor and proprietor OF The
"staats-Zeitung." is a warm friend Of Mr. Low
and is inclined to regard the suggestion OF Mr..
Lows nomination with favor.
.If the independent Germans of the city should
propose Mr.. Low" said Mr.. Ridder. and the
Democrats who are opposed TO Tammany Hall
should indorse him. think the Republicans ought
TO abandon any plan they may have for straight
Republican ticket and support ticket headed By
MIR. Low"
ABOUT POSSIBLE CANDIDATES.
The strength of the independent German organi-
cation is regarded with no little apprehension by
the Tammany leaders. and they are anXousy
looking about them for a candidate of German
lineage who might capture a large part OF the
German vote. Mr.. Steinway's name has been sug-
gested. and he has doubtless some elements OF
nopularitv But the Rapid Transit Commission, OF
which he is the head. has been such utter
failure that doubtful If he could be considered
a strong man in a municipal contest III the peopie
OF New-York have earnest and unanimous WISH
II Is TO see real rapid transit speedily established
Mr. Steinway would be placed upon the defensive
on this issue from the start. and as 1t Is 10 De
wear there is a strong impression that the shrewd
men of the Wgwam not likely 10 take a can
didate who must enter the canvass with n defence
of his own record this most important subject.
Controller Ashbel T. Fitch has also been spoken
of as a possible Tammany candidate Tor Mayor;
He received most of his education IN Germany, ana
his affiliations with prominent and influential Ger
mans have been numerous and strong. Some poll
ticans have thought that he might draw heavily
on the German vote If he were put at the mead
of the Tammany ticket this fall. But Mr.. fitch
said yesterday that he would not take the nonina-
tion IL II was offered to him. rive successive
campaigns in seven years" he said are SUM-
Client for me. l left Congress to take this place.
and / shall keep it till my term expires: .
statstican yesterday called attention 70 the
Controllers run last fall. showing that he did not
then draw on the German vote or run ahead of his
ticket