Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-06
Seeking to Buy German Newspapers.

The power of money in politics is
known TO be great and Senator Han
ma, the owner of the republican par
", fully realizes the fact. In addi-
ton TO the other methods by which
money may be made effective, he has
attempted to purchase or bride every
German newspaper in the country.
J. l.. Pickering IN the st. Louis Re-
public has been investigating this
matter in illinois and says: lin
every town | have visited where a
German paper exists. have heard
stories of attempts of the Yates fac
ton in the state committee to induce
German editors to desert Alschuler
and the democracy. ridicule imperial
ism and declare for republicanism.
In Lincoln the Volks biatt-Rund shau.
edited by Paul Mueller, and one of the
NEST influential German newspapers
in the state, recently contained a ref
erence to the attempt to induce him
to prove traitor to the principles of
He says in his paper:
As always, the republic aus have
plenty Of money and the democrats
not enough TO pay Legitimate ex-
penses. The writer of this had occa-
sion to visit both headquarters in the
last few weeks. With the democrats
it was voluntary visit; with the re-
publicans it was accidental. The re-
publicans made us a splendid offer.
but we are democrats from conviction
and not in the market. consequently
we refused the offer, and told the gem
tlemen they could buy our paper, but
not our convictions. The democrats
are not making any offers. They
haven't any money. Democracy
counts on the loyalty and honesty of
its editors without buying them
"On July IL dispatches. dated OF
tawa, were sent to seven or eight Ger
man editors in the rural districts of
of which the following is
copy:
Inject me at Bismarck hotel, Chi
cago, IL o'clock Friday morning.
.(Signed.) H. j. c. ZwANZIG.'
In response to the messages seven
German editors met Mr.. Zwanzig on
July Is at the Bismarck in Chicago:
Alderman, of the Streator Nolks blatt,
who came out for the republican ticket
last week; Julius Ditrich. of the
Journal, whose paper is
still independent and does not print
politics, but who is expected soon TO
decide; a Rockford gentleman. repre-
senting the Germania, now out for the
republican ticket; Mr.. Mueller, of the
Lincoln Observation-Disclosures, who
was and still is a strong dem ocrat; Al
pert Gravenhorst, of the Bingham
German paper, who was aud still is
stalwart democrat like Mr.. Mueller;
Mr.. Zwanzig. of the Ottawa Herald,
and one other, whose name have been
unable TO learn.
lone of the democrats ssked why
he meeting had been arranged and |
what was its purpose. Mr.. L yanzig |
stated that explanations would be |
given after lunch snd at Otto Georges !
vine cellar near the Bismarck. Here |
I was adroitlv urged that the German !
papers never had been treated right |
" the democrats and never had been |
-iven anything for their services. a /
nance was offered to them this year
o make some money on the republi-
an side, and the chairman of the re-
VI blican state committee and Con-
FRESHMAN Reeves, it was stated. would
,e present at the Great Northern hotel
I o'clock and talk the matter over.
very editor present was assured that
he sum he would receive would be
.ot less than $500 in cash.
Mr.. Gravenhorst spoke up hotly
nd said the repu blicans couldn't buy
ne column for one issue in his paper
Or $500, and he wouldn't have any
hing to do with it He thought it
urning shame that an effort should ,
e made to buy the convictions Of j
onest men in that manner.
Another democrat present, who
Tanted to learn as much as possible
( the scheme. said nothing, sud at \
ended the meeting in The Great 7
Iorthern, which was held in J s.. re-
headquarters This man, ,
u told, was offered 1880 to come