New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-23
"WOrId" Finds Ex-GOv-
crnOr Tried to Get Hyphen
Vote for Senator.
MOVE TO CONTROL
ELECTIONS Barred
Ridder. kOeble and Weismann
Declared Heads of CAM
paign Here.

The World" this morning publishes
evidence tending to show that wei
known German Americans throughout
the country have organized a campaign
10 control the elections TO the United
States Senate. II also accuses former
Governor Colquitt Of Texas Of surrcn-
dering TO the German propagandists IN
this country and of obcying their will
in the hope that their influence might
elect him TO the Senate.
According to The World" the cen
trail Office Of this campaign to control
elections in favor Of Germany is IN
New York. Bernard II. Riddcr, editor
of the "Staats-Zeitupg," it says, is in
charge Of it. Alphonse G. koclble
exposed as lobbying for the Gore and
McLemore resolutions. and Henry
Weismann. president of the German
American Alliance, are also directors OF
the organization.
This organization dictates which can
didatcs for Office shall receive the Ger
man American vote. When Colquitt as
PRED to the Senate. THE World" says
he sold himself TO this body.
World Building Guarded.
While "The World" was compiling
the evidence presented in this morn
ing's story detectives guarded the
building and carefully watched bots
strangers and employees. Anonymous
threats had made 1.-The World" believe
that some act of violence would be at
tempted by German Americans.
Last night these detectives were cen,
tired chiefly in the pressrooms and
mailing room of the newspaper.
When Governor Colquitt announced
his candidacy for the United States
Senate. late in 1915. he was opposed by
X. l.. Henry, United States Representa-
tive; T. VI. Campbell, Ex-Governor of
the state. and several other candidates
Colauitt's violent attacks on Presi-
dent Wilson's Mexican policy and his
pro- German speeches had caused the
hyphenate interests throughout the
country to view him with favor. On
December u. 1915, Koelble wrote him
a letter formally rendering his and his
associates assistance.
Colqutt Asks German Aid.
For some time Colquitt did not an
swer this communication. but in the
mean time Henry, his chief rival. had
begun to fight for the German favor.
On March "a. 1916. Colqutt wrote the
following letter to Koelble:
COLQUITT CAMPAIGN HEAD
QUARTERS.
o. B. Colquitt. candidate for the
United States Senate.
Dallas. Tex, March "a. 1916.
Hon. A. G. Koelble, SO Maiden Lane,
New FORK City.
Ny Dear Sir: Referring TO your
letter Of December Is. in which you
tender your assistance, If any you
could render, | beg TO hand you here
with a copy of a letter ! wrote yes
terdsy 10 Bernard Ridder. which ex-
plains itself.
/ can hardly credit the report
which reaches me from Waco that
Mr.. Ridder has written 10 the editor
Of the German paper at that place
urging the support of the Hon. r. l..
Henry, inasmuch as Mr.. Henry has
been vicious in his attacks upon me
because of my disagreement with the
President on his foreign and Mexi-
can policies.
| hope that / am not asking too
much IN requesting that you see Mr.
Rider and enlist his friendly aid
rather than permit him TO be com
mitted TO Mr.. Henry, who has no
chance TO win, but IS trying to make
Roadway with the German-American
vote on account of the eleventh hour
speech which he made in the House
few weeks ago in favor of an en-
barge on war materials. ! wish you
would also see Weissmann Henry
Weissmann, president of the Ger
man-American Alliance and talk
with him.
am inclosing herewith a list OF
papers printed in German. ] hope
sincerely that both you and Weiss
mann can write the editors of these
papers personal letters in my behalf
Of course, think it would be vel
for such letters as you should write
10 be confidential, for reasons which
you can readily understand. With
best wishes, am your truly.
o. B. COLQUITT.
But by this time the German vote
had been organized in Texas in favor
of Henry. Colquitt feared that by his
hardness in responding to Koelble's
letter he had lost his opportunity. He
then wrote a similar letter to Ridder
pointing out that his opponent was no
where near as ardent n lover Of the
Germans as he and pleading for their
support.
"Mr. Henry's speech in Congress a
few weeks ago." the letter says, Sin
favor OF an embargo on war materials
was evidently for the special purpose
Of trying TO ret the German American
support. You will recall. perhaps. that
/ was one of the first in this country
to advocate an embargo on war mate
~ al