New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-04
VIEWS OF MR.. OTTENDORFER.
THE EDITOR OF THE "sTAATs-ZEITUNG"
ON THE GERMAN VOTE.
sYMPArHIZE WITH TAMMANY-EFFEcT OF
Mr.. RoOsEvELTs COURSE AND THE
RAINES LAw-sOMEwHAT PEssI-

RAINES LAW-SOMEWHAT PESSI-
MYSTIC AS TO THE FUTURE.
The venerable Oswald Ottendorfer Editor Of
the Stats -Zeitung" was seen yesterday after
noon at his home, No. $50 Central Park South
Mr.. Ottendorfer said that he had not yet had an
opportunity to study detailed returns Of the cleo
ton. and could not before making such inquiry
give any estimate Of value as to the probable
proportion in which the German vote had been
cast for Low and Van Wyck II Henry George
had lived. Mr. Ottendorfer thought, the result Of
the election might have been materially differ
ent: but much Of his support both among Ger
mans and other voters formerly Democratic,
was based on sentiment Of personal loyalty
and devotion to Mr. George himself and with
his death the sentiment died. and the George ad-
herents fiocked home to Tammany Hall. Tam
many stood for many of the things the Germans
felt and believed. 1t denounced Theodore Roose-
velt's course as president OF the Police Board
and the Germans. too. were indignant at Mr.
Roosevelts conduct Of that office, despsing and
condemning especially his institution Of the spy
system. Mr. offend )rfer spoke strongly on the
subject saying that the employment OF a spy
to Induce person to commit offence. and
then to arrest such person, utterly unjusti-
fable. At the time the system was put into
operation. ne had consulted many authorities, he
added. and had found that the practice OF using
spies was justified only in certain contingencies
In international law. Mr.. Roosevelt. too though
probably wc-meanng he continued. had a
rather rough and abrupt manner which might
be ascribed to vanity but which had the effect
OF alternating Germans and others with whom
he was brought into contact while on the Police
Board And. although Mr.. Roosevelt was Re-
publican. he was an Office holder under Mayor
Strong. and Mayor Strong stood for the same
principles those to which Mr. Low might be
expected 10 adhere If he should be elected Mayor.
the antagonsm to Mr. Roosevelt may have les
sencd Lows vote
The Raines law issue. too In Mr.. Ottendorfer' ;
opinion. might have been another OF the causes
of part Of the German vote going to Van Wyck.
This was a cosmopolitan city, and could not
be conducted on New England lires. and Tam
many gained strength by recognizing that fact
and taking the affirmative Of the proposition.
Again. there had been much dissatisfaction
among the Germans especially on the East Side.
the condition Of the real estate field. The
Germans not spectators. but wanted solid
!ty; 50, when they had accumulated little
money they invested it in store or residence
cant now the East Side that had beer occu-
pied when Tammany went out Of power In iris
city and many others commanded materially
lower rents than they brought then: and the
Germans saying that real estate was in flour
ishing condition when Tammany was last In con-
| troll, and was depressed during the reform ad-
mnistration Of Mayor Strong reasoned-settlna
aside all other possible factors-that with Tam
many again in charge their property might again
bring In a revenue. and so many OF them cast
their ballots for Van Wyck.
Mr. Ottendorfer said. In closing his re-
marks that he was still Of the opinion which ne
had long ago expressed that the first Mayor OF
Greater New-York would make a failure OF his
administration. The task he believed. was toe
vast 70 be accomplished by any one man, and
even Mr. Low himself could not have conducted
the affairs Of the gigantic city satisfactorily be-
cause of the bewildering multiplicity OF new
problems Of every sort which must be CONFRONTED
and solved arising from the sudden substitution
OF new laws and provisions for those under
which the several bOrOughs have been admins
tared and their nnumerable interests rave been
fostered Until the death Of Henry George, al
4 least Mr. Ottendorfer had felt that the great
hulk Of the German vote would he cast agaihs'
Tammany. and he feels rather pessinstlc as &c
the future. feeling which he thinks may III
part be- induced by his ill-health