Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-02
HERMAN R|DDER,
EDITOR, IS DEAD
Famous Newspaper Man Dies in
New York After Long
Illness.
HIS CAREER is NOTABLE
From Errand Boy He Becomes
One Of Country's Lead
ing Citizens.
HIS CAREER is NOTABLE

NEW YORK. November 1-lIerman
Ridder. former treasurer Of the Demo-
cratic National Committee, and pub
Usher of the New York Staats Zeitung
died late to-day at his home in this
city.
The cause OF Mr. Riders death was
kidney trouble in acute form. He had
been i'll about ten months. and for two
weeks past his condition had been crit
ical. He in his siXty-tifth year.
Members Of his family were with him
when he died.
CONSPICUO FIGURE
IN NEWSPAPER WORLD
Among a large number Of prominent
German American citizens of the United
States, Herman Ridder was one of the
most conspicuous figures in the news
par per publishing business and in poll
tics. He at one time was president of
the American Newspaper Publishers
Association. and for many years he
held high offices in the Associated
Press as treasurer and a director. He
was talked OF at the l3OS National
Democratic Convention at Denver as a
possible nominee for Vice President on
the ticket with Bryan, whom. however.
Mr.. Riddcr opposed at that time.
At the l9)S convention. MIR. Ridder was
chosen as treasurer OF the Democratic
National Committee. and in his own
name and those OF his brothers he con-
,ributed S37 600. the largest single con-
trihution. 10 the Bryan campaign.
Mr.. Riddcr was owner and editor OF
the New Yorker stats Zeitung. one Of
the foremost German newspapers i'm
the United States, and through this he
was particularly CONSPICUOUS recently
In his ardent defense OF the German
position in the European war.
Mr.. Riddcr was born March =. 1851.
His German parents were not far re-
moved from povc:ty-So near. in fact
that young Riddcr began earning his
own living when eleven years old as
an errand boy. By stages he served in
Wall street brokers' Office. as en-
p!oyee OF fire insurance company and
then as an insurance agent.
At eighteen he had become Inter-
es;ed in politics. and before he cast his
first vote. he stumped the whole lower
East Side of New York City and won
for his favorite a nomination and cleo
tion for district judge.
He entered the newspaper business
when he WAS twenty-seven years old
ny establishing the NrSt Roman Cath
Ollie newspaper in New York in Ger
man. and afterward started the Cath
olic News in English. which soon be-
came recognized as a leading Catholic
paper Of the country.
In 1890 Mr. Riddcr became a stock
holder in the Daily Staats Zeituug,
and was elected treasurer and man
aEer. Under his attention that paper
assumed a leading position in its field
He became president of the CORPORATION
in 1907. and at the time OF his death
he was publisher of influential morn
ing and afternoon papers in Germany.
RECEIVED IN GERMANY
Bi EMPEROR WILLIAM
Mr.. Ridder made several trips abroad.
during which he was received by En-
peror William OF Germany, and he
brought back the Emperor's enthu-
siastic wish that he might some day
visit the United States.
At the time of the reciprocity ncgo-
tiations with Canada. Mr.. Riddcr was
one of the most vigorous in denuncia-
tion of the paper trust prices for