The Washington times., 1916-04-24
ANTI WILSON MEN
WILL GET BALLOTS
or GERMANC|T|zENS
Victor Bidder Quoted On an
Organized Campaign For
Congressman. !.

The New York Times this morning
publishes the following:
Victor Ridder. the brother Of Ber-
nard Rider. editor OF the Staats-
ZeItuns, said last night. that the Ger
man. American vote was being orsanized
In ttis country In a campaign against
any Presidential candidate not accept
able 70 the German-Americans. ana tnat
the start of that campaign. was peins
made new In an effort to see that no
Congressmen or Senators were returned
to Washington who were not in opposi-
ton to President wilson.
Believes Course Justified.
in his statement, as re3Srted to the
Times, MIR. Ridder said ho believed mat
the use OF the Gcrman-American vote
TO beat inen foe Congress who mirnt
support Wilson was perfectly Ju'tined
In view Of the unwarranted attacks MT.
Wilson had made upon tho Germans ana
the German-Americsns living here.
Mr.. Rld6et was asked about the story
appearing IN n New York newspaper TO
the effect that Bernard Ridder had
written to German language Teas
newspapers asking them to support o.
Is. Coiquitt. one of tho candates for the
United States Senate.
ut In true that my brother and tho
staats-Zeitung are using all the infiu-
encc in their power" Mr.. Bidder In re-
ported TO have said in reply. ITO see
that as large a vote Ms possible 10
swung to support men for Congress-.
Senators md Representatives who are
not in sympathy with President Wilson
and who can be depended upon to pp-
pose him 10 the last.
ct consider this is perfectly tusu-
fable action on our part In view OF tho
unjus. and unfair imputations OF Pres
ident wilson against the German-Amer-
leans who are living peacefully as MEM
bers Of this nation despite the troubles
In Europe. 1t Is true that Bernard Rid
der has written to friends In Texas ask
irg their support Of former Governor
Colaultt's election to the Senate.
There will be no attempt to swing
the entire German-American vote until
after both the Democratic and Repub-
lican parties select their nominees Tor
President. but we will support that can
didate who Is satisfactory to German
Americans and fight the other"
Weismann Knows Plan.
Henry weismann. president OF the
German. American Alliance, admitted
last night nat he knew OF the plan to
organize and swing the German-Amer-
lean vote In support of one candidate
who might be acceptable. but he de-
o!ared that he was going to Keep out OF
the whole thing.
when asked about this matter BY
the Times. Mr.. Ridder responded. simp-
ly: -
"It hardly seems credible. does IL,
that German Americans would support
a man solely on the ground that he
was opposed to President wilsonf Any
night that was made by us against q
Con gresham would also depend
good deal on who was the nomineS
who might run against Mr.. WILSON
Mr.. Ridder refused to answer the
direct question as to whether or not
the German American vote had been
organized and would vote one way or
another as a solid body In the coming
| election. He said q reply to that ques-
tion would have to be maze 1s. by MS
fused to make any statement last
Utterances OF President Wilson to
which exceptions have been taken by
many German were con-
| tanned in his message to Congress de-
iivered December 2, 1915. in which he
| smoke OF those who have poured the
poison OF disioyaIty into the very
arteries OF our national life; who
have sought to BRING tS the aov vstn1r,5y
into contempt; to destroy our indus
i tries wherever they thought II ef-
fective for their vindicttve purpose
/ to strike at them. and to debase our
politics to uses OF foreign intrigue"