New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-13
Colquitt and Ridder
Deny Viereck' S ale
OF ConferenceHere
Son of Late Editor Says
Dernburg Was Never at
Fathers Home

Vehement denials were issued yester-
day of the parts assigned by George
Sylvester Viereck to Bernard Ridder
and Ex-Governor O. B. Colquitt, of
Texas, in the course of conferences
which Viereck says were held in this
city with view to buying a New York
newspaper that could be devoted to
the interests of German propaganda.
The former editor of "The Father
land" made his accusations when tes-
tifying privately under oath to Deputy
State Attorney General Alfred L. Beck
er in connection with the investigation
of DR.. Edward A. Rumely's purchase
of "The Evening Mail" Mr.. Becker
made this testimony public yesterday.
The conferences, in which, according
to the Viereck evidence as given out
by Mr.. Becker, Bernard Ridder and
ex Governor Colquitt participated,
were said to have been presided over
by himself and DR.. Bernard Dernburg,
the late propaganda emissary of Ger
many to this country. In the course
of these conversations, Viereck de-
clared, there was considerable talk of
buying "The New York Sum-" and the
witness swore that Mr.. Rdder assert
ed he could unquestionably secure
The Associated Press news service for
that paper if the deal went through.
j. E. Ridder in Denial
Mr.. Riders denial was issued by
II ,(cto
full follows:
"The statement given to the press of
this morning by Deputy Attorney Gen
eral Becker alleging that a conference
or conferences were held at the home
of the late Herman Bidder for the
purpose of purchasing metropolitan
daily for the German government is
absolutely false. Dr. Dernburg neve
crossed my fathers threshold
During the period that these al
legged conferences were supposed to
have been held Herman Ridder was
confined to his bed with the illness
from which he soon thereafter died
My father never knew Dr. Rumely or
Heinrich Albert. My mother was in
constant attendance at the bedside of
my father from January l to November
/, 1915, and does not recall any visit
of Viereck. Governor Colquitt called
on one occasion, but my father was
too iii to talk with him.
"The remark attributed to nv father
by Viereck. | know that if l get The
Sun the Associated Press must give it
franchise. know so much about
the history of the Associated Press and
it's secrets that hey could not refuse
me, is the braggadocio of blackmailer
and could never have been uttered by
Herman Ridder, who was loyal friend
of the Associated Press. My broth r
Bernard never attended any confer
cnces at the Ritz Carlton with DR.
Dcrnburg or Albert or any other rep
rcsentatives of the German govern
ment.
at reflects no credit on Deputy At
torncy General Becker to publish the
statement of an impossible person like
Vicrcck without first making an at
tempt at vcrihcaton."
Colquitt Defends Loyalty
Ex-Governor Colquitt, while admit
ting that he was in this city in Janu-
ary 1915, and did then discuss the pur-
chase Of "The New York Sum-" declared
that the discussion was held with sew
eral other Texas men who were anx-
ious to buy metropolitan paper, and
that it was purely informal.
"No German propaganda was at the
bottom of the conversations" Mr.. Col
quit said, in dictated statement
sent out from Dallas, Texas, whore he
now is. ~ had no conference with Dr.
Dernburg, and if | ever met him |
don't remember it. | have an indef-
mite recollection of meeting Mr.. Vier-
eek at a hotel. have conducted no me-
gotiations with any persons for any
purpose having for its object the Gre
alton Of disloyalty toward the United
tu+a