Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Ridder, Herman

RIDDER, HERMAN, an American newspaper publisher and editor, born in New York City in 1851, of German parents. His boyhood was spent in various lines of industry, including life insurance, and in 1878 he established the “Katholisches Volksblatt.” He founded the “Catholic News” in 1886. In 1890 he became trustee and manager, and in 1907 president of the New York “Staats-Zeitung,” the largest and most influential daily paper, printed in the German language, in the United States. He came into conflict with the Federal authorities following the outbreak of the World War for an alleged pro-German campaign which he was charged with having carried on in his papers. In 1908 he was treasurer of the Democratic National Committee. He was an official of several important financial institutions. He died in 1915.