The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-02
RIDDER is DEAD
Treasurer of Democratic Com
mittee Passes Away.
Was Powerful Politician and
Noted Publisher.

New York, Nov. Herman Rid
der, treasurer of the Democratic ma
tional committee a publisher of the
New Yorker Staatz-Zeitung. died sud
denly late yesterday at his home in
this city.
The cause of Mr.. Riders death was
kidney trouble in an acute f,rm. He
had been i'll about ten -Ionths and for
two weeks past his condition had been
critical. He was in his sixty-fifth
year
| Among a large number of German
American citizens of the United States,
Herman Ridder was one of the most
conspicuous figures in the newspaper
publishing business and in politics His
associates in the publishing business
had honored him at one time with
the presidency of the American News
paper association and for many years
he held high offices in the Associated
Press, as treasurer and as a director.
/ In politics he was such a factor that
| he was talked of at the national DEM
ocratic convention at Denver in 1908
| as a possible nominee for vice presi-
| dent on the ticket with Bryan, whom,
however, Mr.. Rfdder opposed at that
time. He also was discussed later as
a likely selection for ambassador to
Germany.
Big Aid in Bryan Ca paign.
Following the nomination of Bryan
at the 1908 convention, after former
Governor Charles N. Haskell of Ok
lahoma had resigned as treasurer of
because of his affiliation with Stand
ard Oil interests, Mr. Rider was
chosen as treasurer, and in his own
name and those of his brothers, he
contributed $4,000, the largest single
contribution to the Bryan campaign.
Mr.. Ridder was owner and editor of
the New Yorker Stats Zeitung, one of
the foremost German newspapers III
the United States, and through this
he was especially conspicuous recently
in his ardent defense of the German
position in the European war.
Mr.. Ridder was one of the so-called
self made men and a New Yorker
from birth until his death. He was
ents were not far removed from pow
erty-so near it that young Ridder be-
gan earning his own living when IL
years old as an errand boy in a hat
store. By stages he served in Wall
street brokers' office, as employee of a
fire insurance company and then as an
insurance agent. At Is he had become
interested in politics and at that early
age, before he cast his first vote, he
Stumped the whole lower east side of
New York city and won for his favor
tie a nomination for district Judge,
later electing his man.
First Starts Catholic Paper.
He entered the newspaper business
when II years old by establishing the
first Roman Catholic newspaper in
New York city in German and soon
afterwards started the Catholic News
in English, which, in a short time, be-
came recognized as leading Catholic
paper of the country.
In 1890 Mr.. Ridder became a stock
holder in the Daily Stats Zeitung and
was elected treasurer and manager.
Under his direction that paper as
sumed leading position in it's field.
He became president of the corpora
ton in 1907 and at the time of his
death he was publisher of influential
morning and afternoon papers in Ger
man.
Although Mr.. Ridder championed
Germany's cause in the present war
he was always a loyal American. His
motto was: "Our country, right or
wrong. If right, to be kept right; if
wrong, to be set right"
The funeral will be held from the
Church of the Blessed Sacrament here
on Thursday. Burial will be in this
oifU