DEMORALISATION OF A GREAT CITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13855, 19 March 1907, Page 5

DEMORALISATION OF A GREAT CITY.

RAN FRANCISCO BRIBERY CASES.

SCIIMITZ AND RUEF COMMITTED : FOR TRIAL.

Preas Association-By I'elojraph—Copyriglifc, NEW YORK, March 17. ScKmilz and Riief liave been committed for trial in connection with the San Francisco municipal bribery cases, cabled on January 23.

Under the title of "The' Demoralisation of a. Great, City," the special correspondent of (ho London Times, writing from San Francisco on January 4. slates:— "Never in the whole history of municipal government in this country have such depths of infamy liecn reached as in San Francisco in (ho last fivo years. It was in tho municipal campaign of 1901 that flic sinister figure of Abraham Ruef first ap•peared prominently upon tho scene. This extraordinary man is a. French Jew, Iwrn in San Francisco, and educated in tho public schools and at tho University of California. He is about 40 years old, and looks 60. 'Jinny persons in Sap Francisco are under Iho impression that he inherited a good deal of money, and that ho took up polities as a hobby, but. this is not. the ea3o. His father, who is slill alive, gave him an excellent education, hut. afterwards Rucf had lo inako his own way in the world, and he becamo a. lawyer, Ho soon obtained n largo practice, mainly among the lowest and'most depraved French ai:d Italian elements in San Francisco, and at the time ho began to ho a political power lie was supposed to bo worth about 200,000 dollars. Rucf is a little, thin imm who dresses in extremely shabby black clothes, and who, from his scanty, curly grey hair to his elastic-side hoots, is insignificance personified. His features, of the ordinary Jewish type, arb without any expressive characteristic. '"Before 1901 Ruef's connection with politics hod teen in a minor capacity. lie never held any office, but was a 'district loss' of some importance, being able to deliver a certain number of. votes at every election. Ho was known principally as a trouble-maker at conventions—a man who was always trying to gain somo advantage, but who so far had failed. Ruef was a Republican, .and early in 1901 he concoived the idea" of forming u ' primary league,' in order to increase, the, power of the votcra in the selection of candidates— and, incidentally of courso, his own power. The project, met with some success, but at the Hepublican Municipal Convention to nominate a candidate for tho mayoralty, the other politicians ignored 'Rucf and his league. Ruef, in a rage, left tho convention hall. "In the meanwhilo tho Labour Unionists had nominated Eugene E. Sehmitz .for Mayor, and Rucf announced his intention of supporting him and of turning over to him the votes that would qlherwise have pone to the Republican candidate. Neither Ruef nor tho labour union ieaders had much confidence, (hat Sehmitz would win, but ho was elected Mayor by a Email majority. "Sehmitz, when ho ran for Mayor, was president of tho Musicians' Union and leader of the orchestra in Iho Columbia Theatre at a salary of 40 dollars a week, having descended to that position after being engaged in various business enterprises, most of which had failed. 110 and Ruef had known caoh other for many years, and Rucf had acted as Sehmitz's attorney. Schmilz i 6 hard lo describe— for the reason that, thero is so little lo describe. 110 is, a tall, handsome, genial man, who alwavs made friends easily and who allracted tho Labour Unionists by bis pleasing- address and glibness of speech. Ho is about tho same age as Rucf, and is n native of this city. Ilio son of a Gorman father and an Irish mother. If ho possesses any will or ability of his own he has displayed neither sinco ho becamo Mayor. The very first thing Sehmitz did after taking office was lo wrilo a loiter io Ruef—tho celcbralod 'Letter of Marque.' This letter was sent lo all iho newspapers from Ruef's office. It began 'My dear Ruef.' and staled that throughout, his term of office Sehmitz would bo guided by Ruef's advice and judgment. It, was prao ; fically an invitation to a|l persons who desired favours from tho administration to 'see' Ruef. It made Rucf iho 'boss' of San Francisco. "By 1903 it was known that the administration had become an organisation which was 'grafting' in many departments; by 1905 it was certain that Ruef, Sehmitz, and the rest of. the gang were an utter disgrace to llio city; yet a number .of prominent and wealthy citizens supported the labour union ticket, and assisted the Mayor by their money and influence. The reason was obvious. In recent years San Francisco has been onjoying a prosperity unparalleled in its prosperous history. . Tho cry among thoso who wore making money was 'Let well enough alone.' Merchants and manufacturers feared labour troubles shouh) the unions bo defeated. The alliance between the 'grafters' and persons who lived by breaking the law extended even to pickpockcis and 'confidence men.' They were protected so thoroughly that tlicy were regularly organised. There were Flings of these criminals, each under a 'captain,' who marched them every day to their particular field of operations and supplied them with cash, if any were needed to start the game, and with the paraphernalia of their trade. Naturally the amount of protection money demanded from these criminals was in accordance with tho value of tho concession granted to them. For example, one man who ran a small 'game' at Iho back of bis' cigar shop paid 100 dollars a week. It, is the amazing thoroughness of the system of 'graft which makes the Ran Francisco gang preeminent. It would seem ns though absolutely nothing which could bo made a squrce of revenue was overlooked. From the seller of peanuts lo the railway corporation, from the newsboy to Hie merchant who wanted to use the sidewalk for storing c-ojc evervono who desired a favour of the administration; evervono who could bo at lacked, fairly or unfairly, under one or other of the multifarious Stale laws or niupieiml ordinances; everyone who could. bo made to fuller through municipal redtape or official delays was mado lo pay. And it must he remembered that the foregoing deals nnl" with what is known as 'small graft.' Tl. will probably take Iho grand jury months to investigate the ' big grafting.' in' which the proved its?lf quite a s adept qs in extorting' comparatively small sums from individuals. It! is openly asserted in the newspapers that Rucf and his satellites engaged in''deals' which put millions of dollars into tho 'prafters" pockets. It is, at anyratc, certain that, enormously valuable concessions have been granted with little or no payment |p the city by the corporations which benefit, from them. The ' big graft' also includes sums said to have been obtained from tho falsification of the municipal accounts. Mr Douglas Young, an expert accountant cmnloycd by the grand jury, says he has discovered evidence of extensive frauds—frauds so great Hint, it. has so far twon impossible to tell whero they hewn and where they ended. " Furthermore, what_ is said in the foreiroing refers to conditions a.s Ihev existed before Hie earthquake and fire. Since the disaster of lust Anril I hero has been a perfect earnival of 'graft.' Where the thieves bad one opportunity lo rob l\\a public before the destruction of the eilv, Ihev hrd a dozen opportunities afterwards, and before the debris had cooled (hey bad I">-«iii to lake advantage of (l|c situation. An ordinance was passed' permitting the erection of temporary wooden buildings if the Board of Public Works approved the plans. As a result of this, it is asserted, practically every roneorn that has put up a Icninprary- building has had (o nay for the privilege, It has boon proved that the 'graftevs' have demanded, in return fer pormissinn to ereol iemnoraw theatres, 53 per cent, of the profits made by (Jio 1 Ilea Ires. . "As for iho 'big graft.' 750,000 dollars is the snip which, according to current reperl.s, was paid to the irans; for the concession which permitted the street railways lo replace lh<»r underground ralyle systems wi||i overhead (roily wires. In some directions the ciniinal proceedings against the Vmflcr.;' have resulted in stopping their activities. The 'Municipal Crib.' for instance, has been closed, and small black"i"'l has lo some extent'cca«cd. Bui the ndhmo geucrale which lhrea|,>ns the administration has not frightened it into ceasing its larger operations. Apparently the idea i?. lo make as much money j>a possible while there is a chance to do it."