The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-31
FAVORABLE TO MIR. BRYAN.
Attitude of the Germnn-Americans
on the Lending Issue.

w
OF the Treasury during the Harrison Ad-
ministration, and who recently resigned
as German Secretary OF the Republican
National Committee that he might work
for Bryan and Stevenson, was seen by
Times reporter last night Mr.. Habercom
said:
What are the GermanAmerican 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
DESTROYS of doing the right thing. l can
only speak from personal knowledge end
information gained in various ways. and
must not be understood as speaking from
reports. to the Democratic Committees, for
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
nc 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 Uhanimity, as for instance
in 1850 and in 1896; the same has been
true to lesser degree on some other oeca-
sions especially in State elections. Such
unanimity is spontaneous. The German
American does not like to bear a 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 com
mon ground, all being devoted to liberty
and the Constitution. and to stability in
business and financial matters, it is per-
fectly logical that they should reason GU.
questions pertaining TO either OF these
fundamental beliefs with about the same
result.
AT the present time, the German
American considers whether liberty and the
Constitution, or business and financial and
monetary stability is in the greatest dan
ger. If he comes to the conclusion that
the policy of the Republican party must
lead to imperialism and militarisn, he
will vote for Bryan; should he be of the
contrary opinion, ;.1t believe that our
monetary system is II danger, he will
again support Mckinley.
This much is already absolutely certain.
Mckinley received in 1896 not less than
so per cent OF the German-American vote,
cratic German-Ameriean newspapers. per-
haps less than twenty supported Bryan.
all the rest, Republican, Democratic, and
Independent advocated the election of Nc
kinney. Today the more than 400 Demo-
cratic papers, with the exception of less
than about fifteen, support Bryan. and OF
these fifteen not more than five. l think.
support Mckinley. while the other ten will
almost certainly be found in the Demo-
Ia. hrf1 Abo
or the Republican and Independent papers
more than twenty already support Bryan
on account of the impeTialistic policy CO
the Administration, and at least an equa,
number are decidedly antagonis,ic to The
Administration policies, but not ye- sup
porting Bryan.
Private letters received by me recently
from many States INDICATE strong opposi-
ton among German-Anerican voters to
Imperialism.
The Republican papers printed in Ger
man have mostly violently opposed the Ad-
mnistration and have accused President
Mckinley Of following a policy which must
wreck the Republic. At present they are
engaged in trying to undo the work they
have done, and bold VI 16 to 1 as the
paramount issue, an iss.e dead for this
campaign at least. This is not especially
to the liking of the editors ! imagine, but
/. is done by the order OF ~ 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 al enc time or
another. when some. but not all. their pa
irons revolted against their party, fol-
lowed their conscience and also declared
against their party and in favor of the op-
position, but found it a losing business, |
and were glad tp recaDt. Such experiences
are not soon forgotten. 1t is to be pre-
sumed. therefore, that when Republican
German-American papers now support Bry-
an. they are sure that their readers agree
with them.
Il find that the rich German Americans
in the cities regard the danger from 16 to
/, although it is purely imaginary. as the
paramount question in this campaign, while
the great majority of all the German
Americans do not seem to share that opin-
ion. but believe that the Republic is in
danger from Imperialism. and that mill
tarism is to be our fate.
Drawing conclusions from the foregoing [
ard desiring to be very careful and con-
servative. | think that the so or So per {
cent of the German vote which was cast (
for Mckinley in 1895 will be reduced to at /
least 40 per cent; it may go even lower |
than so per cent, but that depends on flu |
ture events. Bryan will get not less than I
go per cent of the German vote and. in /
in Ohio from 10000 TO $4,000 votes; in In
diana. 5000 to 14.0C0; in Illinois, not less !
than 10000; in Wisconsin 10000: in Michi- |
gan from 10000 TO $4,000; in Minnesota, |
from SC0O to 1900
''In Kansas the gain will probably not |
amount to more than 1.500 or 2G00 and in |
Nebraska ii may not even be so large pc |
culiar conditions prevailing there. In New |
York and New jersey the gains OF Ger
votes for Bryan are less
promising, but they may improve In 1896.
however. Bryan undoubtedly received a
larger percentage of Gernan-Ameriean
votes in New York State than elsewhere:
they seem to have reached about SO per
cent which is considerably more than what
he received even in Indiana, where COM
paratively more such votes were cast for
him than in any other State now consid-
cred doubtful, excepting New York"