New-York tribune., 1901-09-26
SWINGING AROUND TO LOW.
SENTIMENT IN THE GERMAN-AMERICAN
REFORM UNION - MR.. RIDDER RE-
PUDIATEs O'BRIEN'S STATEMENT.

Sentiment in the German-American Reform
Union is steadily swinging around in favor OF
Seth Low for Mayor, no matter who may be
nominated by Tammany Hall.
The executive committee of the organization
will hold a secret meeting Tonight at the Grand
Central Palace That meeting is expected to
settle the attitude Of the organization. Herman
Ridder. one of the leaders of the union told a
Tribune reporter last night that Mr.. Low would
have to declare his attitude on the excise and
Sunday laws before he would gain the support
OF the union.
Mr.. Low. in my opinion cannot be elected
against the Tammany candidate added Mr..
Ridder unless he makes his position with ref
erence to the excise and Sunday laws perfectly
clear. If, after he is elected he expects to en-
force strictly the laws with regard to the op-
servance of Sunday, the Germans generally VIII
vote against him. This is his great opportunity.
and he will have to say what he will do. III
Coler is not nominated by Tammany for Mayor,
and we have TO choose between Low and Tam
many. then there is no doubt that our organiza-
ton will be for Low. There is no truth in the
story of a revolt in our organization against
those who have consistently favored the nomi-
nation Of Mr.. Coler I personally have been in
favor of Coler for Mayor because believe that
he would be independent of Croker. In fact, L
think he would be more independent in the ad-
ministration of his Office than Mr.. Low VIII De
il elected / want to say that we have no fault
to find with the distribution of the places on
the fusion ticket. We had a chance to name
several important candidates. but we decided
that we did not wish to appear in the light OF
patronage hunters. and therefore we declined TO
take any place on the ticket. The city conVen-
ton of the German American Reform Union Is
called for Friday, October 4 the day after the
Fra, oitx
an opportunity to see if Tammany nominates
Mr. Coler If Mr. Coler gets the nomination
there is little doubt in my mind about our or
ganiZation supporting him."
What about the assertion by James OBrlen
that YOU asked him TO Senator Platt IN be
half of your candidacy for Mayor! MT. Riooer
asked.
municate with Senator Platt Mr.. O'Brien is the
last person on earth / should have thousht OF
to carry the message. | never asked hln OF
any one else to see Senator Platt in my behalf
O'Brien kept coming to my office with stories
of his organization He said that he had TWEEN
ty thousand, thirty thousand. forty thousand
fifty thousand. and then sixty thousand, voters
enrolled in his organization, and, to near MN
tell it, the Republican and Citizens Union or
ganizations are small affairs compared with MS
One day when he was here got tired or nearing
his everlasting chatter about the strength or ms
organization and when he said he was gong
down TO see Senator Platt about something l
said: Well give the Senator my regards | said
that Just to get him started away. That S
the extent of conversation about his gong
to see Senator Platt 1 repeat that If l had
wanted to communicate with Senator Platt, Mr.,
o Brien is the last man on eartn tnat shoula
choose to take the message