The San Francisco call. [volume], May 16, 1907, Page 3, Image 3

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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Self-Convicted Arch Grafter Will Reveal Upon Witness Stand All Details of Boodling by the Schmitz Administration
#*A/ not afraid and y fm not a criminal at heart. 1 may have connived
\u25a0* at corruption, but I have never set about to do a man harm. I'
didn't change my plea because I was afraid of a prison sentence. It \u25a0
isnt thai. You know my nature. You know how sensitive I am. You
know th*- humiliation I feel and then you "will understand that my mo- ,
tives were not' the hope of saving myself.— From Abe Ruefs Confession.
Unable Longer to Endure
Strain of Legal Fight
Prisoner Makes Sacrifice in Order to
Spare His Aged' Parents
COXTIXCED FROM PAGE 1, COLS. 4, 5, 6 AXD 7
his aged father. He has seen his mother's hair silvered with worry.
It was his deep lave for his parents that prompted him to bring^
all to an end.
FIRST TELLS STORY TO HIS FATHER v
Not until Tuesday night did Ruef resolve- to plead guilty. He
sent for his father and told him the full story of his part in, the
city's corruption. The elder man sat in silence, tear's coursing
down his cheeks. At the end of the recital Ruef announced his
intention to throw himself upon the mercy of,the court, and asked,
for his parent's approval of the act. For several* hours they dis
cussed the plan and finally agreed that it was the wisest course.
-Ruefs sifter demurred when she heard of his intention, but finally
acquiesced. ... /
Ruef took none of his attorneys or friends into his confidence.
Even Myrtile Cerf. who has been Ruefs one loyal friend, did not
learn of Ruefs, change of heart until he heard the remarkable
statement read 'in the courtroom. William J. Burns and Elisor
YBiggy knew of the sudden change yesterday morning and word'
was conveyed to Judge Dunne. Only, these three, besides. Ruefs
[family, were trusted with the secret. \u0084
Riiefs sister, Mrs. Altmann, called upon him yesterday, and
at the suggestion of Dr. Adler, Ruef s physician, she took her baby
.to see the imprisoned man. Ruef was found at the Fillmore street
prison house on his hands and knees, playing on the floor' witn
tne mtant.
GLAD TO SEE THE NEWSPAPERMEN
Ruef appeared glad to see the newspapermen. Although his
manner was more open and free than usual, mental and physical j
suffering Were written, upon him. His face wag drawn and his
body thin and wasted. It has been an intense strain ami the won
der is that he has been able to bear up so long.
It was a new Ruef, and yet the Ruef of long ago, that revealed
itself yesterday afternoon in a quiet talk. Sitting by the window
in the half light of approaching evening Ruef uncovered his troubled
soul. His voice stamped truth upon his words. t Ruef told his story
simply, stopping at times as his emotion overcame him.
"You don't .know what I have gone through/ he began, "or
you would not ask how I happened to alter my plea. I have -been
here in this place two months now and the strain I have been under
has broken my health. I could stand it all, I could stand the trial.
I could face an angry mob or,*' his voice sinking to a .whisper, "I
could even go to prison without flinching, but 'l have! been unable to
endure the vision of 'my parents fading day by r day under this- ordeal*
The .strain has been killing them.- They could not have.., lived
through the trial with the agony of suspense they would hayd
to endure. My father has come to my room day after day and has
sat there in misery and silence hour after houT v , It has come to
the point where he cannot endure it much longer.
"What course is open to me? I could go to trial and I believe'
I would be acquitted on this .charge of extortion, but my father
could never live through it. With my. mother and sister it is the
same. Only yesterday my sister, collapsed.. Could I sit by and
watch that? V V ;;
FORMER BOSS WOULD SAVE OTHERS
"It has appealed to me as it would to a man who is willing
ito sacrifice himself to save 'others. If a man were oh a boat and
persons whom he loved were drowning about him, would He not
'sacrifice himself to save them?
"My attorneys knew nothing, of my plan;, to alter my , plea
until I told them, this morning during our conference in court. I
;sat up all night thinking the matter over. It was 3 in the morn
iing when I retired, determined to enter a plea of guilty. I had
italked the matter over with my father. We talked for a long time
;about it arid finally agreed. My sister objected when she heard of
lit. but I showed her it was the best way to put an end to this"
suspense. >. .
"I want to say to you that I am no more guilty of extortion
in these French restaurant cases than you are. Had we gone to
(trial I would have been acquitted, but they have seventy-odd ih
jdictments against me. I could have fought them all, but: with the'
.testimony of the supervisors' they might have ;got me. finally oh
ione of them. Rather than go through this endless litigation, which
( might have gone against me in a single instance, I: determined Yto
| bring everything to an end at , once by altering my "plea. '
?SAYS HE IS NOT A CRIMINAL AT HEART '\u25a0
\u25a0 "I am not afraid, and I'm not a criminal at heart. I may have
iconnived at corruption, but I. have never set about to do a man harm.
. -.\ *'I didn't change my plea," : continued Ruef, "because " I \vas
j afraid of a prison * sentence. It isn't that. You Jcnow my nature.
lYou know how sensitive I* am. You know the humiliation T must
jfeel, and then you will understand that; my motives werenot the
\u25a0hope of saving myself.
"I have been treated well here in this house, Yas well as. I could
[under the circumstances, but it has. been £ prisqn ; and I -have; been 1
I the prisoner, and ' I have been watched as -never a man was watched
.before. Everything I have done has been noted. ;Biggy has slept
tin the same room with me. In addition three Yguards have been kept
in my 'room, every night. They change shifts and always sit ber
tween Biggy's bed and mine. One. of 'them; has kept '] a note book,
and when of late I have been sick and have' telked in : my sleep ;h'e
has noted every word. Some, little; things I have said, in ! my 'sleep.
jwhich they never could have ; learned any other way. .There was
j the woman matter. They, had iton me then, all right. It was liarm
iless enough, but'it justY illustrates what mean. ; . v '-v. . s"Y
"My every act has been watched. r If I have written a letter,
•if J have read a book, if I have received 'a ;caller, ; it is noted. What^
ever I say, whatever I do— all has .^.b'een reported to;^ Burn s^Y IYhave
' really never been alone. Every, word I have/spoken has been over
heard. As we sit .here talking now somp onj.^ is listening. to/usYf
"Andrew Wilson, the] supervisor, called on me-: the other day.
r e talked over a good many things. Y>The nextj^day '-Burns Ycame.'
He knewY everj' word Wilson said to^me: : Every'" conversation XV
have is reported. lam constantly being spied uponi Yy
"Although I have been given courteous V treatment; these" are
the conditions which have confronted Yme.Y You^ cannot- understand
what it is, you cannot know how this has told upon me in, my. illness.''
DOES NOT INTEND TO CONFESS ' 3>fJ§
"No, I have made no confession, nor have I; been- asked for one,^ nor- r do
I expect to make one.' :My rposition is this—I \u25a0, desire {to make ; such \'repara
tion, asis possible, and .'to this end I will be. ready
case in whichf I;may,beYcalled, ! ;ahdrwhen:^
no strings, with no ties, but with ! the sole ; purpose ."of 1 telling; the : truth^jl^ ani
• exposing no \ one and'j I ' an ; protecting no ', bne.^ ,I, I "shall tell all I^ Jcnow ichee'r-
{ fully and truthfully. ..I. do^not care what -person it ; hurtsY ;| Y. . -Y
4'lt would be folly \if-I - were \to maintain' that I were going \u25a0to .tell \ only
yJ&J&fi-HENSchmte m ?A e his campaign} for
Y V ' [ fii m and put up $ j 6,000. \My friends told me I .was a'fooKL
guess I was. My record in every particular; was clean .iip] tof thb time
the \u25a0 present supervisors pent [into} office'.^. I Worried ; iKcse^meh Hp be I
slMgtiyandHoid : thtmj w
; grafLWeiiiyou } kn°w the result.—- From Abe Ruefs -Confession. ; ,-
part- of the truth. "I- am under, obligations to no:tfne and am in;,a position,
where I. can .tell all."; > :.r : '; ' \u25a0''\u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0 v' , r V;; , \u25a0'•"'
."Are : there: not some whom you* will refuse to involve? ihe
mayor, for instance?" Rueffwas' asked.- ; v ' •: -\u25a0_ • -.\u25a0 .-" I
"As- 1 said,'? "replied • Ruef, v/Ifam \ not? protecting any ;:\u25a0 one. I ; ., Why, ? there-,
fore,- should -'I protect the^ mayor. : he' done; •for.\me?-v.What;has-he
done ; in \triy,- behalf i thafi J "should'imdkeTmyself ,aAperjurer ; to^protect;him.r-I
thought the mayor was my friend :\u25a0 'A> friend fdoes not desertjin ;time : of need.
Since' l have been : here\Mayof:Schrnitz;has;beenvt6';see me buttwice. v ; .; . ;
f "The .great; mistake: of f this = wholes thing j.began with; ther;mayor_s;trip.ito
} Europe. , The mayorihad been proclaimed' as > the; man of j,tlie vhour after -thej
disaster; of ;last 'Apriljv;"; He; was"suddenlyiseized: with ;the ;desire. qf^ making
a trip to Europe,: where h"e:expected\to:be' received as one; 'oijthe crowned
heads^!-Herthought:hisffame\had : spread "\u25a0'thro¥gh6ut'ttie;wbrld^anld\he;hbpcd
to be lionized abroad an*d incidentally ] gain I social , prestige, i The ;. whole thing
was a mistake. : I. begged him not to go!. 1 I pointed but to him that i the; city
was in ruins and.: the place.for the ; mayor; was ;*at .home. He persisted and
all my pleadings were, in'vain." X ; :- ' .' -, V •/- r . .; /
Ruef -'is'j)articularly : -bitter ; against' : Sclunitz.* It is , known that the, mayor [
has called upon Ruef TbutUwice;^ Once -he" made'.a -formal- Sunday? morning i
;call. The; second/ timeMie :'called ? after.; he'.hadjseen;; Ruef; leave ;the^house;l
Although Ruef ; has I sent flowers Ttojthe: Schmitz i; home -,and trinkets; to the
children, Schmitz has. shunned Ruef as one beneath him. i.. "; . : ; '
RESENTS SLIGHTS BY FORMER" ACCOMPLICE. ; - -'.J:'. : \u25a0''':
Ruefhas regarded as a direct slap "the : acti6ri;df the mayor'in appointing
his new committee. of \ fifty, in;- such a niannerVas to ignore Ruef/ absolutely;}
Ruef did not .desire I member ship on , the u T committee,; but he^ thought - that, the -t
mayor owed, it to; himj to v'placei thereon sa* member, of his legalf staff., .Every |
time j the occasion; has presented itself the mayor ' has endeavored/. to- belittle
Ruef and. Ruef has bitterly resented it. ; ' >;\u25a0 ; ; : • X/
, "When Schmitz first: ran-fbr maypr,-' "I made his -campaign |
for him^and.put up $1^,000. .;; My friends^ toldime-l f was a fool.- I guess -I; was. j
"My record in^ every particularVvvasr clean," : continued?' Ruef, "uptoithe
time the present board of 'supervisors 'went, into office. I warned' these," men*
to be straight: and^tbld them that I"; would : personally 'prosecute any one of
them that tried to grafts: Well, you know the Tesult." ; ' '
EAGER \SUPERVISORS CLAMOR FpRBObbLE ; *,
It appears; that the new; bokrd had not' been 'in office more' than, a few.
"weeks before .the Vmore" eager. ; of thefn^began « to clamor ; for? money. 'They !
I approached Ruef 'with the argument, "You and Schmitzare getting a draw
down out bf this. You .will .have-to divide." V /; ; _ . ';".• ;" ;;-/". '
''This thing went on urit\l; I- found: myself conniving at wrong iloing,"
said - Ruef. * '*''." v - \u25a0 »\u25a0> >- ' \ * r~' '
Ruef found the, supervisors a hungry, lot, who clamored for money for j
every ordinance that^cameup.: ' v ":,... - ''"\u25a0':\u25a0". •'•' v \ . \u0084""••.. •'\u25a0 -':--\
: </ "L talked money matters," continued Ruef,- "with Gallagher only.: :I knew j
if it 1 came to a : trial jt would J>e : his -word 'against; mine,' but I ; figured; that; if j
'^^la^^^uid|Hthe?big^Vstick,'; would
paid him money- arid if Wilson .corroborated him'; 1 their, combined "word I
'be taken; against jrnine.~r They had more; than 70j indictments i^ajgainst: me; and|
stood a: good chance, even if theifacts were not there, ", of igetting me'cTn one !
out of the bunch". \;ln many ;. case's the ; evidence,'. .while tending :to prove -guiltj'
j might mean nothing. There , is. my' chauffeur, 'Latham. He is \u25a0 in the "employ
iof Burns. He testified before the' grand jury .the other May that I carried
a shirt box from TireyiFord's office ".to the bank; • ' '. > : l .
' "Now a shirt box doesn't mean anything,- but if they take'it in connection
with a lot of evidence : abbut; the '.-denomination:^of bills and. the^statements,
o£ the supervisors that they received money for the trolley franchise it; might ;
make out.acase against me. j Latham was here to see me this, morning. '.*"' He
v said, he didn't mean to do me any injury. I asked him if he had testified
about the shirt box; and: he ; said ' Yes.'. /" ;, ; * .. » ?
FEARED CALHOUN WOULD TELL ALL V > ;
"About this^ trolley/case it had begun to'- look as though" ; they would
frame. up what /would^jook'like.a 1 strong case';againstmeVl v Public sympatHy
is with the United RaHroads in this strike, Vnd there-seem^
general; feeling: in; favor ;of;Calhoun that it Jobked" as 'though ; helwefe:inia
position to go -before the grand "jury^and-'say.v 'Let ; us- clean -up theYtowh.' -I|
paid that money; to Ruef/' Then.^wthithe;
theywoiild have me.,: •--•Whether ; there"^vas'anything;wrong,in":the.dear,br;not,^
you • can; see j what, the/effect: would be: \n . court."/.) \u25a0;;^',;/ ;i .'f^;^'C;vil^ r .^
. "Will you" tell c all \u25a0 you ? know about ' payments \u25a0bf money jby \ Calhouri,'
Mullallyjand ; Ford ?? he 'was 1 asked. •; •"/ . v ' V <• . . \u0084 '
"I can": only_;"r'epeat- that I' will honestly every question asked
me. I am a friehd;.bf;TireV/For^^
to injure, but ; when I ' am called upon I will protect no one. Ti do ' not ; want
to be put down in " this thing : as a squealer. > ;\u25a0 I! have made ; no : wntterf confes
sion, nor'do I 'expect \u25a0 toj make one. '? I doYriot know whether . I shall go ".before
the grand jury. That is Y for. others to determine."" ' ' . ;; '
. _"; "Will you involve YHarriman'or>Herrin?" . " V.V.'. . ' ' '\u25a0'\u25a0''*'\u25a0 \u25a0;Y -"' '"-\u25a0\u25a0 '\u25a0.\u25a0'\u25a0'.
•"-/."r have never _ had any .-.dealings withi Mr. Harfiman," replied' Ruef, "and
as far as Mr. Herriri"isYconcerned v l' have J had financial .dealingswith' him,
but they were hot* oovaf v a natureto; warrant; an indictment, j ' V :
"There has been="a constant tendencytb.ascribe much more to me than; I
have done. To' begin \u25a0>vith;;.nwasineverY:a!fugitiyef from ; v justi_ce^The Jtrip
to Trocad&rp %vas taken when I -thought' I;rnight;be-,ord.ered into the 1 custody
of the sheriff . while a [s^Si^|^sbV/was^ppointe'd:to- secure a" jury. V We' had
no definite destination, ,but I wanted to^ rest.4Welreached Trocaderoarid-our
idea in remaining'^ was' [partly.-: to 'wait .until ; •'the'ilegislature <Had > acted? biitthe
.change of: venue bill. - W e " had Yexpected ; that .this J would "go
Naturally we were -surprised .when we learned ithatsCampbell; the- mayor's
attorney, was in Sacramento -lobbying against the'-bill. What his object was'
I :do not know. : , H e ; even > went ; to George • Keane, : who.had charge ' of the bill;
and tried to switch him to^the other side. V\ ' : V : * . /
DOUBLE CROSSED BY MAYpR^SCHMITZ - V -
"it had : been,agreed;betweenus that the mayor should be tried first We
thought -\u25a0\u25a0 that the" mayor's ;j)ositi6nV and " prestige 1 after; theY fire ". would ?bring
a^out a speedy- acquittal and that. .the pther charges against him and meiwould
then be" easily disposed of." We; figured that this would end the -whole . prose-;
cution.- •/\u25a0 ; -.'-..' i '^''' \ ': ' -"''-\u25a0 : >\u25a0 ""\u25a0\u25a0,\u25a0: ;-v; -v- :.\u25a0\u25a0''' Y--- ; ; Y. ..\u25a0Y/ "- : ' ' \u25a0'\u25a0 : '- : .•\u25a0 \u25a0.\u25a0.'-. V'
"What happened?. YThe»mayor andlhls attorneys forced me to -trial first/
.Their plan ; was; to f have Ymfe* stand? the ? brunCof fight \u25a0so that 'they Ycould
then^take advantage of the >videhce:brbu^h^^^ \u25a0 :_\u25a0 '•£:\u25a0 ;: : \u25a0 \u25a0
•_ V"I have been; greatly, surprised to; receive the i good -.wishes ;"bf so manyYpeb
ple today,"; Ruef continued. ; ''JoeYpwyerY of -the"; prosecution , came ; up ;to; me'
and said: 'Abe; I want to ; shake your^ hand. YrYou : are bnceYagainjthe v Abe,Ruef
I used to:kiiow- in college tdays.' ; pistrict -Attorney Langd9n was hereto'see
me and said, that he- could would'do forimeY V ?."-. - ' /V
\u25a0;\u25a0;. , "I I guess most of ? the} members 1 : of Utie \u25a0 prosecution r were ?as \ greatly ;-surr
prised this morning *as myjb^
gether; in coUrt;today;and^read^toHhem^ tHe' statement Jj had prepared; 'they
w-entup in the air; v ßut my mind was made up.' Y There^were. some words/ and
then I ; came . into' court. I u sually.; speak 'ex = tempore, jbut ': l : would " hot ' trust
myself on this; occasion: Vl ?had to stop several times,; and .1 experienced 1 a
strange .sensation every, time I looked- up; from myjpaper. ;:
CERF LOYAL TO HIS CHIEF^TOTHEIeND V V / S^
' i 'Myrtile : Cerf sat nextitome/iai^ had; told me
that if I weakened : he v would, never haye t an^W
I^was^reading; my. statement 'l^glancedio^rJat'Wmltb^seeihbwJhe would 1 take
it and; thoughtv;'l:suppose-I^ill;nbw.;lose -the only: fr^^
sat;down; the first thing rr v realized;wa j
appreciated 'itampre* tha'n)any/.kindnessjthat has T ever -beehidbhe \u25a0 me.i: V- l C-h
"While I-readl-looked at theTjudgea moment 'and: noticed hehad' turned
his .face .to one;^ side. I? looked over at^thernewspaper-mcn^an'd^l-s'aw
; tears in the; eyes of;someof.-them and handkcYchiefsTaf the eyes of others r
; store forYme^butiif^matters^so*: shape
themselves -Francisco.^ -I l^riterid:to:do!wha£l
can to.helpithings along in.' the city, sbas;t6 bVablet^walkTalbngtheWeets
and hold, up my,, liead.^ ";.-::\u25a0/ \u25a0•";; 'V ; ; : ; \u25a0.:;:., \u25a0 "^
Cpunseifptißuef [Are
Astounded by His Move
B oodler's Resolve to Admit -Guilt
Comes as a Blow to His
'Y v Y--;
\u25a0-•••\u25a0\u0084 ' '\u25a0 \u25a0 .-,-v .: ; "'\u25a0-.\u25a0• '.-- \u25a0 "•'- •\u25a0'\u25a0'\u25a0' .-\u25a0...\u25a0 y,
.Ruefs announcement to £ his i- attor
neys >that"tie had decided . to give up the
fight Y; was !-" attended. : by *,even ; ; .more
dramatic : '»cJrcumstarices ;;' than*
.which? marked ..his.v confession^ in f open
courts „• .' At vhlis;", 'request,^ 'Charles ; :M^
Sliortridge, ! Henry}Ach, i^Charles H. Fair£
all ; iand Frank ; J. Murphy., retired ; with
him ; from "theY courtroom. The/attor
neys, ever, looking \ ; for ;. the ' uhforsfeen,'
waited anxiously 'while their., client
composed -himself {sufficiently*; to j speak!
It appeared that he \u25a0 was - exerting", tre
mendous will-power, to .'control 'Tthe
physical ; convulsions of emotion,: arid in
view;, of the crisis ; at : hand; and. 'his
weakenedYcondition^he "\ succeeded fe
.piarkablyiwenYV;":',:Y -->.'" -;.V:",-''.Y:"r^
'•\u25a0\u25a0J Slowly, and itremulously 4 the story was
told » to^the : astounded jlawyers-^-hj lawyers-^-ho w,¥as
he \lay»in^hls |bed';at^th"e[; mayor's j for
mer • horned hl8 f h ad • reached'*.the",'deter
mination Jtb * m"ake',"a^clean Lbreast ; of f all
"his; "siris^t.'He:it6ld.jOf/the7m6nthßTof
mental torture^whlch"*- had * resulted Jin
making .j h'imTa'jphysical^wreck; r/-hel" ex"-
plained"(how^lthe Yof. the '\u25a0 long
trial .fwasiikllHngihls^agreds motherland
turning "his'bhee ihappy t family^lntd i wbe^
begone; phantoms'ofhumanibelhgs'.Yl He
d eclared % ttia tfbe t f el tjuriabl c*" to \ resist
c v temp ta tiq nig to £ end Ji t gal 1% wl tli Ia 1
simple^ confession |of|hiafguilt,|and8 he
couldj.notfrbear|thevpfospect'fof/ weeks"
of^legaHftghting.i^withfdefeatf staring
hlnijlnl the | face'yatf every,) turn'.' 1 - :i -V' \u25a0 . " : - -
fgThelgrbup^of ; lawyers; ; , made '* futile
protests \u25a0" as;- the story of": Ruef ,pro--'
gressied.'^ Hef waved \ theseTasidel feebly;
but^cqntlnued i! hisli descriptl6n"**of § the
! tdrtur^Bfofj,bodyXand|B6u_l'.to^hlchlh¥
had | been | sub jected \ In fai manner .\which'
;indlcatedfto|tho3eLwho|knew|hlmi,best
that J nbthlngrt could*, swerve ? hlm.^H'After
courßejf Ruef |comihenc^ed §ta% thank^ his"
attorneyß|for^what^theyjhadXdone^for
Wni/|anjafth'en|Mim«^theJcollapße;;YHe'
CONTINUED iONj PAGbTi^COLIJMnI l !
Asserts That He Is Innocent
Notwithstanding His Plea
Ruef Gives : Out a Very ,R^err^Kable
: i % Statement to Associated Press
. After the dramatic scene in the' courtroom Ruef • gave out the •following
statement to the Associated PressV, ' \u25a0 -'
•-:"; :. "I ; changed my ; plea to guilty 'in; court today," yes ; but I , pledge you my
solemn ;,word that I am as 'innocent as are you. I have* been guilty of
conniving at the corruption of municipal officials by corporations, but in
these French restaurant cases I : am not guilty. -Since my action of this
morningl can have no motive in misleading you on this point. I shall not
mislead you. : Never,, never -in the -wide, world could I .have been convicted
on^this charge!. t No one knew this as well as myself.;. Then why. you ask,
did Yl-'^plead; /guilty? "I "pleaded^^ guilty 'to save nhe -lives 'of those who are
nearest "; and dearest; to me on earth. 'I am; not overstating the truth when
I tell you that, if' my father, my mother "and my "sister 'had been compelled
to .endure the strain of my trial, lasting at least two months, and possibly
longer ,St,would! have cost their lives." V '
-Ruef'sveyes were filled with^ tears when he said this: He turned and
for a full"; moment gazed L- out* of i the i window unseeingly. • When he had
mastered \u25a0' himself .-he '.turned; and with ; - wet, eyes but a steady .voice went on:
;' "You don't 1 know what they have suffered in these last few months,
and : I would not tell you- if I could. Why, ''night • after: night— every night — ;
my .father and 'my sister have come, up here into this , room .and sat for. an
hour, saying; nothing,' seeing nothing. ' I could not stand; it any longer."
Again the: tears and the choking: and the long look out of the : window.
"Last \u25a0 night-; I .gathered 'my : family about' me in this prison house of mine
and prepared 'them for the act I;had' determined upon. That would mean
one day'of sorrow. To go on would have meant months of agony and— death."
COULD NOT SEE HIS LOVED ONES SUFFER ->
: -X"I don't .knoW what my- sentence) will : : Jbe. ' For myself I , do not greatly
..care. ? I say to'^du.nbw, and you can judge if I boast, that no man. possesses
physical Vnerye'.; more -than I do. : I could face a 'crowd, of 5,000 men, of
lO.CKX) men*!^every^bne witha" rope in hish'andand'clamoring for my .life. I
/could^face^th^m|calinly. : and meet my end without flinching.; But the "suf;
f ering 'of , ! thoseil;-love' l could endure no longer.'. I say I do not know, what
my; sentence .will 'be.'" If it be five : years across the bay I can meet that when
it -comes]?' :Ivbej;eve". that. with -my personality; and; leaving out of; ; consid
erations '«. the -'feelings of those who' love me and have,;stood by me, I could
spend' five years <• at San Quentin almost as .^comfortable as in a hotel at
Napa springs. But ... if ;, the, .'step,: I took ; this mof nirfg had meant 5 . years or
14 : years'; or 1400 "years, the "'fear/ of that would not have deterred me. .
"I -have made no e confession] ' I know much. \u25a0 Some things I shall -tell;
some things B I shall' not tell: \yherever an. innocent man has been forced
.into .'corruption: against 1 his ".-will, that man I shall protect. Wherever a, man,
•be he; high" or" low, has entered into corruption willingly, with his eyes open,
that- man^l'. shall .expose.. . . . \u25a0 \u25a0*;..'
'^^ "II will not say at 'the -/present mpment that \u25a0 Mayor.- Schtnitz is guilty
[of -that have. been '(brought . against him, or; that he is . innocent.
I" will' say., this:* I* wanted* to 'break a way^ from", Schmitz ?bef ore his re-election
a/year.ago^lastiNovember.Vi'lttold [ him:^ 'I am ; sick. of the > whole. thing and I
.wantlto" get out. -I ican't stand for all these labor union bums you have
gathered around you and will -appoint. .They- would eat the" paint-off a house.'
In : .answer,\the ; mayor 'begged me to stay with him and put up the argument
that;. those fellows must be allowed their share or we could- never hold, the
.machine together. ."-There* was all too much truth in that.
STAYED WITH. "SCHMITZ/ AND THE MACHINE
/"I stayed with; Schmitz and I stayed -with the machine that I at great
labor \u25a0 and pains had \u25a0builjt up . and assembled: I found'- then that I had
taken .'a" step away from the high and clean ideals with which, I. earnestly
assure you, -I originally entered, the political field- I found, in short, 'that
to hold this machine: together I had to permit and connive at corruption;
'lii: the" state; of affairs existing it: was Hecessary. But I myself never asked
a dollar \ of any ; man, never took "-. a ? dishonest , dollar from the public. The
things I' did were- things that hurt no one/; .'-
"Before r.the" 'boodle', board [of supervisors; was elected I warned them
against "crookedness "in, office. Immediately after their election I got them
together .'and I said^ 'to them: \u25a0 'Now, .you ' \u25a0' ' — : ~> if any one
of Jyou takes a* dollar, I'll prosecute.him myself.', And I meant it. :I ;was
in earnest^ But I. found I [couldn't carry out niy" threat and keep the machine
frbnvgoing to.pieces. Schniitz was right about that.
. "And so "much .of -this corruption r was needless. Needless,, I< mean, from
the > givers' vend off the deal. Take, for instance 'the "trolley franchise."
Everybody, wanted ' the ; . street railways electrified. There would have been
no opposition : if : the application had \been' merely and customarily. laid before
the -board. : It .would; have beenj granted. But, the press of . San Francisco
had taught to- bel.ieve: that every office, holder was a crook; that
the^ whole city /government' was "rotten from! skin ito core; .that j no privilege
could be obtained tinles sit were paid for. '. Is it strange that these systematic
attacks,? though frequently./ grounded; oh nothing" more tangible '. or truthful
than w personal 'suspicion ,; in private quarters; should have" led the > corpora
tions astray : as. to- the real situation?/ The officers* of corporations. are not
bad/men. ; ;;They do .not' belong ' .to i;the criminal .class. They no more, desire
' to commit ' the crime of bribery ; than the "newspapers '. and ; the public desire
that 4 it r ;should- be} permitted.'" 'But franchises ;are necessary to the- conduct
off their arid, when .they, are taught to believe "'; that such , privileges
c:vn; not : ;be obtained 'vvvithout the "exercise;; of dishonest influences; they fre
quently, do commit the crime: of bribery- rather than forego the thing' they
heed..; - A ' r \u25a0 - ~\ , ; '
' ; "Andjso. it jgf es.'\Suppose that" the United 'Railroads sent word that there
was $2,000 '0r' 53,000 apiece for the; superyisors if k the supervisors -would call at
fiei^Unitedlßailroads' .offices.-. And suppose that these supervisors trooped up
thereone by one and took the.dirtymo'iiey. Such an arrangement wonld mean
almost • instant exposure and : scandal and absolute defeat 'of the end^sougbit.
-But! suppose^tha't n ; th'e'- United Railroads . came to : mie, a lawyer and a. political
leader/^ and :^ asked;; nic to* accept ; ,afee^ to .-"manage,; the "matter .for .them.
Suppose :I ; refused. • Suppose,^ then; these • supervisors f got . .windy that; there
jWas f money; to ta meant to get it. Would I
still . refuse ' to 'handle^ the • matter • for 4 them' and see ' my machine smashed.
or .would - 1 : accept ith c • fee and : conn iye at the corruption ?
!IA^ t 'NOT SAID THAT , CALHOUNIS, GUILTY •
<<; -rJ'V, have - not ? - ( said ; to you ; that Patrick ' Calhoun 4 Vr : .Thornwell Mullally
or , the officials^ofXthe- two "telephone" 'companies \u25a0 or. anybody has. committed
;"theJcfimeV;chW ut 'l
jrepeatV^Sometqff, th^many^upon; whom >has^fallen 'the- soot of ; this news
fpaperJconflagrjatoh'^weVe"innocentooffevil; intent,>but V became involved '= by
;^ and | thj;se l^njshan
! ;di^fgrace| byi any
i f smokeiwiths^cir^ey^e"sfop^'\knq
jiisUbltheseHfshall^sp^
j theTprosecution" \ |(who interrupted Ruef*for a few minutes
j'!whiie|hejw^]makingi^isTs^ateme^^^ I were
l.tolgoibef ore|theTgrahd? juryj^h^Taf terhobnV and -'tell f all.' r ? l V told ; him- I: cer
!jtainly|waslnbt:^tl;;'don't i givefa|damh l foj .s the|grand* jury^V i?Why s should I ?
1 1 Butltherelislthis; about i it rjJWhen^lt have shaped • my^cqursej and* made up my
i^hidlinlevl^lp^ti^l^as^to^ho w-^l^sh^ll!act,vthen^ril bevwillingltoigo
;theyjmay|^appbihtjan'd(tell x themr^ .;* : '; .
."One^ordifinal^ never pulled
a* nianldown.^s l j ijeverjasked faTf ay^
KdoHar^f rbm'J.thefc public. -^ - Tl have |beenl; guilty, ~^arid il-Tcdnfess : it\'with .'oriore
!|elijotiorilthanfyp_uicanlse*el?bfjcjonm iri^so
{,farfas^|am|'guilty,V;l must^suffer^and^l^amTready to' accept fhe^penaltv',
1 1 wKatever^ it! may|be^ B utjof ; |Vnahy/t hi ngs| t h'ej press-hass s '- has so : bi tt e r ly , and so'
iTelehJ^esslyi^^rgVdragajnstnie,'; I am "as ias are Jyou.'i. This, is^true
r6fll^ny|otKers7[be'side. myself,^
\unl&Hv&itiojtfJ--iY£^ "^-'.\ :\u25a0 \u25a0 ;; '; r ;'' - : ": r:\--i-
X 7) had been agreed between us that the mayor should be tried first.
-* We thought the mayors > position . and prestige . would bring about a
speedy acquittal. ' W'^ figured that this would end the prosecution. What
%\u25a0\u25a0' happened? 'The mayor M first. Their
the brunt of the fight so that they could then
\ take advantage of /Ac evidence brought ouL-^-From Ruefs confession.
Calhoun Tjeafs Matter
as Rather Trivial
Says Ruef* Cannot Involve Any
"Official of the United
V :. , Railroads
"I expected this." -was Patrick Cal-_
noun's first comment when h« was told
that Ruef had pleaded guilty to the
charge of extortion la the French
I restaurant cases and had offered to con
fess his part in the trolley deaL Cal
houn maintained^ hls composure and
affected to consider the matter as
trivial. With a laugh, he said:
"This does not worry me. I am used
to it. The papers have been indicting
me. twice a week."
' When urged to make a more explicit
statement of his position. Calhoun said
after a moment's thought:
"You may say thls-^-I know nothing
of what Mr. Ruef may say or may not
say.- but this much I do know, that no
truthful confession which Mr. Ruef can
make will contradict my. former state
ments or reflect upon any official of
the. United Railroads." ,
"While Calhoun claims that he antici
pated : Ruefs confession. It Is known
that the defense In the trolley, case had
rather feared a confessiqn from Schmitz
and that Ruefs breakdown was not re
garded as an Immediate danger before
yesterday morning.
'^Thornwell Mullally was extremely
reticent on the" subject of Ruefs con
fession, but like CalhoVi, he affectqd
to look upon the matter in the light
of a Joke.
"The, more he tells the better I will
like It." said Mullally with a smile, "and
then there will be some apologies la
order." .*'!,•'
RAILROAD RAISES WAGES
Denver and Rio_ Grande Company
Helps All Employes
t DENVER. May 15.— "Wages of paa
aengrer conductors ."on \u25a0 the Denver, and
Rio Grande railroad will be " Increased
$10 a month, those of passenger flre
raen and brakemen $6.50 a month and
a general Increase of 6 per cent will
be given all men In the freight .service
and overtime paid for on a pro rata
basis. These, in bnu, are the terms
of the settlement agreed upon between
General ; Manager A. . C. Rtdgeway of
the railroad and the representative of
the' employes. . Both sides made con
cessions.
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