Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-07-05
RIDDER [S#~ + hD MAN
Bryan - Said to Be German.
.nerican Editor.
MAN FORMERLY OPPOSED HIM
Member of Gold Wing of Democratic
Party.
PREVIOUS SUPPORT UNNECESSARY
Bid for Votes in States with Large
Foreign Population.
NEWS MAKES STIR IN DENVER
Comes when MIR. Ridder Begins
Campaign to Prevent Choice
of Bryan for First
Place.
REvIoUs SUPPORT UNNECESSARY
Bid for Votes in States with Large
Foreign Population.
NEWS MAKES STIR IN DENVER

DENVER, Colo, July Alderman Ridder |
Of New York proprietor OF the New York |
Stats Zetung, for vice president
Upon good authority this is said to be the
Bryan preference at the present time. |
with the arrival in Denver early today of
several prominent democrats who are close
IN the confidence Of the Nebraskan, came
the report that Mr.. Bryan had decided
that Mr.. Ridder was strongly available for
the nomination. Not that he expects to
dictate to the convention the man who
shall be named, but to let it be known to
hts supporters the name Of the man
whom he believes would strengthen the
ticket.
According to the reports which have
come from Lincoln, the reasoning Of the
Bryan managers in their suggestion Of Mr..
Ridder for vice president is as follows:
Mr. Ridder Is one of the most prom
inent citizens OF German descent in the
United States. He was a gold democrat
and possesses In fullest measure the conf
dence Of that wing of the party. He has
been affiliated with the conservative wing
of the democracy for the last twelve years
and would command the support OF that
element for the ticket.
"A very large per cent OF the population
of the United States are of German
descent In New York state, the electoral
vote of which state Mr.. Bryan is anxious
to carry If nominated, "a per cent of the
population are Of German extraction"
Bryan Prefers Gold Democrat.
It Is said to be the idea of Mr.. Bryan
| that he must have a man as his running
| mate who will represent that wing of the
party which has antagonzed him in the
! past. He IS said to prefer gold demo-
| crat;" a man who perhaps did not sup
| port him In either of the last two cam
! paigns. who can command the support OF
| the German-American vote of the country
who comes from New York state, and who
fnvors tariff revision and other policies of
| Mr. Bryan. Mr.. Ridder fills all Of these
qualifications, the Bryan people claim. He
| did not support Mr.. Bryan for the presi-
dency either in 1895 or 1900 Mr. Ridder has
already informed Mr.. Bryan personally
! that while he is strongly opposed to Mr.
| Bryan's nomination this year. he will, II
| the latter is nominated, support him, ard
| will lend him also his active personal aiA
| Mr. Ridder arrived in Denver this morn"
! ing and announced his unaltered anlag-
onism to Bryan's candidacy, and stated
/ that he would at once inaugurate a cam
paign among the delegates to this
| convention to encompass the defeat OF
the Nebraskan. He said that as soon as
he had rested fto his railway journey
he would begin his work among the Bryan
and uninstructed delegates in an effort
to convince them that Bryan could not
carry New York this year. and that The
electoral vote of New York was neces-
sary to the success of the national ticket
Mr.. Ridder gives It as his unqualified
opinion that Mr.. Bryan cannot carry New
York.
Bryan's Radical Tendencies.
He cites as his reasons for this the MEM
ory which fingers in the minds of the
New York voters Of Mr. Bryan's free silver
views, which they disapproved Also the
statement which he made in his Madison
Square Garden address in which he favored
a national acquisition of the railroads.
While these matters may not be injected
into tho campaign the recollection of Mr..
Bryan's alleged radical tendencies would
result in his defeat. argued Mr.. Ridder.
Mr.. Ridder stated that he expected to
visit all of the different state delegations,
particularly those from the south. and
address the delegates upon the subject Of
Mr.. Bryan's political weakness in New
York. He expected also to work un-
remittingly among the individual delegates
from now until the time the nomination
is made.
What the result might be in New York
, il vice presidential candidate of Mr..
Bryans choosing were selected and plat
form adopted which would appeal to the
country, Mr.. Ridder refused to hazard
He said that OF course it might be possible
for Mr.. Bryan TO carry New York at the
coming election, but he did not believe So
Mr.. Riders interview with Mr.. Bryan
> at Fairview was confidential, but Mr.
Ridder in a statement made public at Lin
coin last night did not hesitate to say
t that he told Mr.. Bryan frankly of his
: opposition to him and Of his intended
efforts TO defeat him in the interest OF
the party.
Dahlman Boosts Ridder.
Mayor James S. Dahlman of Omaha, who
? is credited with being one Of the official
spokesmen for Mr.. Bryan In Denver. wher
? asked about the report that Mr.. Bryan haC
expressed himself favoriDg Herman S
Ridder of New York for vice president
said he had not discussed Mr.. Ridder in
particular with Mr.. Bryan, but that hC
knew that Mr.. Bryan was strongly in ia.
vor of such a man. He said that Mr.
Bryan had no idea of insisting that the
man who should be named for second plac,
must necessarily have been a supporter Of
him in the past On the contrary, he pre-
ferred some man who would represent th'
y conservative element OF the party and whC
q at the same time was in favor of the
; urgent reforms Of the present day.
Mr.. Bryan no longer considers the pas
d with reference 10 his leadership of the
party" said Mr.. Dahlman. He has mo-
o the slightest feelings OF revenge. or o.
8 unalterable Rntagonism TO those who hav,
opposed him. l know he would rather. FOL
y | reasons OF eXpedency, see some man nom
= mated who has been aligned with the othel
X wing OF the party so long as he is righ
o on present day issues.
Il know that he wants a man who, Will,
I being Of unimpeachable standing. person
Z ally and on public matters, would also b,
satisfactory 10 the great German elemen
: of our population.
With a man like Ridder on the ticke
u | with Bryan, We could carry not only New