The age-herald., 1900-08-02
BIG LOSS TO M'MINLEY They Will Not Stand Under Any
 Party Yoke. MEANS BIG GAINS FOR DEMOCRATS He Estimates That Bryan Will Gain from 3o,OOO to 5O,OO0 Votes in
 Ohio and at Least 10000
 in State of Illinois
MEANS BIG GAINS FOR DEMOCRATS

Washington, August 1-(Special)- w. Habercom, a prominent correspondent for several German newspapers throughout the country and until recently active Re- publican, when asked today as to his opin- ion of the probable course of the voters Of German extraction in the present cam- paign, had this to say
 What are the German-American voters going to do in the coming election? That is hard question to answer at this time, because a great many German-Americans have not fully decided what to do, being desirous of doing the right thing. I can only speak from personal knowledge and information gained in various ways, and must not be understood speaking from reports to Democratic committees for I am not, as some people think, attached to either of these committees in any capacity.
 Let me say to you first that the Ger man-Americans are In no wise banded to- gether for political purposes; that there is no concert of action among them. They are divided politically, as other elements of our population are, each acting for him. self on his own judgment But in great national crises they have always shown large degree of unanimity, as, for instance, in 1880 and in 1S96 The same has been true to a lesser degree on some other occasions, especially in State elections. Such unanimi- ty Is spontaneous. Does Not Like Party Yoke ''The German-American does not like to bear heavy party yoke, and he is not an abject and willing slave of the party bosses. He is at all times disposed to be independent and arguing for himself and from common ground, all being devoted to liberty and the constitution, and to stabili- ty in business and financial matters, it is perfectly logical that he should reason out questions pertaining to either of these fundamental beliefs with about the same result.
 At the present time the German Ameri- can considers if liberty and the constitu- tion, or if business and financial and mon- etary stability is in the greatest danger; if he comes to the conclusion that the policy of the Republican party must lead to imperialism and militarism, he will vote for Bryan; should he be of the contrary opinion, but believe that our monetary sys- tenn is in danger, he will again support Mckinley.
 Vote in Last Election
 ''This much is already absolutely certain. Mckinley received in 1896 not less than 80 per cent. of the German-American vote perhaps S5. Of the more than four hundred Democratic German-Amerfcan newspapers, perhaps less than twenty supported Bryan; all the rest, Republican, Democratic and Independent, advocated the election of Mckinley. Today the more than four hun dred Democratic papers, with the excep- ton of less than about fifteen, support Bryan and of these fifteen not more than five, I think, support Mckinley, while the other ten will almost certainly be found in the Democratic camp before the campaign
 Ne At.- rlz -yt-nw a.x1 Ts.AA AAeA papers, more than twenty already support Bryan on account of the imperialistic poli- cy of the administration and at least an equal number are decidedly antagonistio to the administration policies. but are not yet supporting Bryan.
 Private letters received by me recently from many States indicate strong opposi- ton among German-American voters to im- perialism
 German Papers Oppose Mckinley
 'The Republican papers printed in Ger man have mostly violently opposed the administration and have accused President Mckinley of following policy which must wreck the Republic. At present they are engaged in trying to undo the work they have done and hold up 16 to Las the para mount issue an issue dead for this cam paign at least. This is not especially to the liking of the editors I imagine, but 1t is done by order of the owners and business managers, to whom politics is nothing but business In the realm of the Almighty Dollar that is but natural. A few of these papers have at one time or another, when some, but not all, of their patrons revolted against their party, followed thedr con science and also declared against their party and in favor of the opposition, but found it losing business and were glad to recant. Such experiences are not soon forgotten It is to be presumed, therefore, that when Republican German-American papers now support Bryan. they are sure that their readers agree with them.
 'I find that the rich German-Americans in the cities regard the danger from 16 to l, although it is purely imaginary, the paramount question in this campaign, while the great maority of all the German-Ameri- cans do not seem to share that opinion, but believe that the Republic is In danger from imperialism and that mlitarism Is to be our fate.
 Bryan wm Get 60 Per Cent
 Drawing conclusions from the foregoing. and desiring to be very careful and con. servative, think that the 80 or 86 per cent of the German vote which was cast for Me- Kinley in 1898 will be reduced to at least. 70 per cent. it may go even lower than 3Q per cent, but that depends on futurx events. Bryan will get not less than 60 per cent. of the German vote. and, in my judg.
 
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