AMERICAN "GRAFT."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 319, 9 January 1909, Page 6

AMERICAN "GRAFT."

DRAMATIC J NCIDEXXS.

American papers recently to li:iinl givi scmie details of the dramatic iiicideni; recorded ill connection with tlic triui of the "grafters' 1 in Sun Francisco Ruef, who has been found guilty on numerous charges of bribery ami cor ruption, and who is a lawyer of ne mean note, was the boss of the "grafters.'' Mainly through his instrumentality Eugene K. Sclunitz, a violin jilayei in an orchestra, was elected Mayor of San Francisco, and together they exacted tribute from business men and carried on a system of bribery and corruption without parallel, even in America, So gross ajid glaring were their acts of tyranny ami fraud that a number of San Francisco's leading citizens,amongst them tire millionaire, Rudolph Sprccklos, set themselves the task of ridding the city of such tvrannical frauds. President Roosevold'l placed himself on the side of the reformers, ami the ablest detective in the t'nitcd States service (William Hums) and one of the foremost lawyers in the country (Francis lleney) were engaged to probe into the corruption. A gno.l deal of hostility towards the reformer., iva. displayed by a section of the San Francisco press and public, who did not care about graft being probed so lung as tliev were prospering. They did-i'l mii'.i'if they did have a wicked city because* they imagined it meant more business. In the midst_w!' the hubbub came the earthquake :Vnd the .fire. When ineni had ro'.overed from the. awful days wbifu'followc.d. when there seemed a chance that the prosecution might cease, Ruef and Schmitz welded graft into the foundations of the new city. The earthquake, wiped out everything, and there were valuable franchises to be had. Prominent men sought to obtain them with a golden key. They crossed the palm of Ruef, who in turn crossed other palms. The orgy of graft was | worse than that which had gone before.] Heuey, the intrepid lawyer, sought to surge the source of the graft. He went ifter the bribers as well as the bribed. Rut first he had liuef anesled and Schmit-c deposed. Then he endeavoured to bag,the franchise-seeking individuals who bad held open the "sack 1 ' of monev. rnnmdiutcly San Francisco deserted lleney. It really didn't mind if Ruef ulud. Schmitz went to gaol, but it, was determined to shield the "higher-ups." The prosecution did progress so far as to get the two in gaol, hut not in convict's slripes. The Appeal Court releaved them on a 'technicality, }s„| Honey had all his work to do over again'. Every conceivable sort of battery was now turned against Hie prosecution. Judges were intimidated, jurors badgered or bribed, armed scoundrels imported from the East to hnunl the courts and follow the prosecutors, threatening letters were sent to all engaged in the work of bringing the scoundrels to justice, ami a plot was unearthed to kill the men who were sn vigbrousiv working for a clean citv. Then came the most dastardly of all acts—the attempt to assassinate llejiev in open court. Rut all these things could not stay the prosedition. It was more determined t'haa ever. The attempt oil the life of llenev won over to his side many men who were lukewarm before, and Ihe result was that Ruef was found, guilty. Further, in order to remove any misunderstanding which mux- have arisen in consequence of tl Ileged- false-hoods and misrepresentations published from time to time. .Mayor Taylor agreed to the reipicst of the. •■Citizens' League of Justice," and appointed a commission to make full enquiry into the facts of the "graft " cases from (lie beginning of the investigation up to the present time. The seven gentlemen who have been selected as members of the Commission ; are : Dr. llcnrv (lilison. Dean of Cooper Medical College; Mr Alexander Coldstein, president of Hie Phoenix Seeding i and IPacking Co. : liev. Father 1). 0. , Crowlev, head of the Youths' Directory; , Rev. W. K. Cnfhrie. pastor of First Presbyterian Church : William J. French, editor of the Labour Clarion ; YV. Uenniaii. attorney ; W. Kent, i-api- I talist. Me- : rs Denmaii and French will .', act as chairman ami secretary rcspec- ~ lively. and the Commission is to proceed : immediately lo prepare a- statement , which will be a source of trustworthy .' information for all persons (hat. may really wish lo know Ihe truth about the ] prosecution of Messrs Kclimidt. liuef. and others as-ociatod with them as sin- ' ervisors in the administration of San Francisco's public affairs.