TTTE OMATLV SUNDAY BEE: MAY 26, 1907.
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RISE AND FALL OF ABE Rl'EF
Anuria Caraar of ths Etthronart Eei of
San franciica.
LIVELY WH1E THE LOOT LASTED
How He Derame Political Master ol
tha Cllr HI Methods of
Bnslaeaa I'atboa of the
Final "cene.
After months of ceaseless effort to evade
the ooils of testimony wrapped about him
by the district attorney and hie assistants.
UfAM Ruef. political Doss or Dan ri.TO
'plead guilty to the charge of extortion
Ativ.rcA an address described as
dramatlo and pathetic as the curtain was
rur.g down.
Tha rlaa and fall of Abe Ruef affords
ecaroely a redeeming feature. Like that
nf Jw Tork'a Tweed, greed forms its
warp and woof. Around him all the minor
grafters circled. Tainted money canw
easily and he waa free with It. but It grew
As hla power grew. Demands for larger
urns had corresponding growth until the
turns, extorted were based on what the
trafflo would bear and comprehended every
business over which the city government
had direct or Indirect control.
"Dwfor the fire." writes Frederick
Palmer In Collier's, "Fillmore street was
a plaoe occupied for the most part by
mail flats and corner groceries. A freak
of reconstruction has made It San Fran
Cisco's Tenderloin. Where Inconspicuous
respectability formerly rose early con
ptauous disrepute now rises late to the
rouge of the harlot and the eye-opener of
the dipsomaniac. Under the glare of the
electric lights of the saloons, you may not
tnlna the legend of "A. nuef. Law Offices'
hours from 6 p. m. till after midnight
In gilt letters on the windows of the sec
ond atory of a frame building. Prom these
offices. In the midst of the lawless currents
Of Ita tlfe, a city stricken, a city In the
crisis of Us career. Is ruled."
Ruef, the son of modest parents In the
French quarter of Ban Francisco, had the
I opportunity to see the other side of life
1 and to associate with those who exemplify
It. The fields of honesty and decent en
deavor were opened to him. He made a
brilliant record at the University of Call
fomla. But college training meant to him
only such an asset as physical training to
the plug-ugly. When he was admitted to
the bar he turned to brothels and French
restaurants for bis clients. His art of put
ting a fair face on vice Immediately won
him a large practice. His keen mind was
quick to see that profit In politics was not
In holding office, but In having delegates
to deliver. He was a small boss, but never
a very successful one, until the sudden op
portunity which made him what he is today
arose In the teamsters' strike of Mayor
Phelan'a last term.
Rise to Power.
In 1501 Ruef was beaten In his fight for
! control of the republican primaries. The
law offices" had everything to gain and
nothing to lose by a gamble. Phelan had
centered On Eugene E. Schmlta, who waa a
conductor of the Columbia theater orches
tra and the head of the San Francisco Mu
sical union. Showing no signs of strength
which would be embarrassing, this glad
hand man, generous, likable, commanding,
tall and taller on account of his expres
sive pompadour of black hair had the
making of a "star" under the hand of t
shrewd Impresario. A member of the union,
' calling dissociated him from the unions
Jm a way to win another class of votes.
He became the "front" i the law offices
A the '"mind- of the new party. Ruef hlm
f self brought to the combination a follow
f ing beside that of his own district; all the
j ' elements of rice which wanted a free hand.
FA For many years previous San Francisco
" had been well governed. It had net
and the republicans fused on Partridge
asalnot a common enemy.
BVhmlts had grown with four years of
office holdine Th circle of his fellow
ship of the 'yind hand" embraced a muni
cipality Irstood of a few friends. It was
personal aM unlqu. To graft he haa
brought the refinement cf education. He
hfid no ward lenders to placate. Around
machine; he had made a machine. He
had ca ward leaders to placate. Abound
him was no group of clever politicians
of an old Institution. He wns an autocrat
with weaklings as his adjutants.
Riot of Graft.
Sohml'i and Ruef now held the city of
Ban Francisco in the hollow of their Lands.
They owned every rivet and screw of the
political machlnn. The board of supervisors
met In secret session every Bunday night
and Ruef, with his dental smile and curly
head, was present each time to direct tha
members how to vote when they appeared
In public. Frnnchlscs worth millions were
sold for a song or given away, although
they only went in reality to the highest
hldder In the hidden market of bribery-
Then came the earthquake and with It a
temporary respite, during which Schmits
scratched gravel" as he never had done
before. Before the ashes which lay over the
stricken city had fairly cooled a newer
and wider field of graft had been opened
and exploltted like a commercial enter
prise. More franchises than ever were
sold, every saloon that reopened did so
at a price end every contractor who wished
to put up a new building was obliged to
see Ruef" or some friend of an lntlmato
friend of Ruef. The vultures were busily
picking the city's bones.
Of course, there was opposition all this
while. But It was of a feeble and half
hearted sort, as the people except tho
grafting horde were too much occupied
with their losses of homes and fortunes
through the disaster to care a great deal
about politic. Yet the last election had
adminitered the unpalatable lesson that an
appeal to the public conscience through
the ballot 'waa In vain. Those who had
the true Interest of the city at heart soon
began to cast about for some means of
mastering the evil.
Enter Heney and Barns,
It waa not even lightly dlsgutshed that
it was with President Roosevelt's approval
Francis J. Heney and William J. Burns
were chosen to act as investigators and
prosecutors of the municipal adminis
tration. Their Inquiry was begun as far
back as a year ago last February and was
pursued quietly, though thoroughly, as the
results show. In a round-about way In
formation of their purpose reached Boss
Ruef, but he believed himself so secufely
Intrenched and protected by the Incrimi
nation of his tools and dupes that he could
afford to Ignore the investigation.
The man who has acted as principal
sponsor for Heney and Burns la Rudolph
Sprockets, a son of old Claus Spreckels,
the sugar magnate.
The announcement of the Intention of
Heney and Burns to go to the root of the
grafting waa somewhat premature through
the shrewd guessing of a newspaper man,
but as soon as the cat was out of the bag
It was thought best make the whole
thing public and every newspaper In the
city waa simultaneously Informed of the
plan. A big se.nsatlyi followed,
CANTEEN ON THE WARSHIPS
f ailorj' Etore That Fit ths Bnmttat Out
of Commission.
WHAT THE FUSSY LIT LE DUMP H0L8S
The gangsters soon became uneay, but
tried to laugh off their nervous fears. Ruef
assumed the bravado he has since sus
tained. The "boodlers" did not feel wholly
insecure, because djd they not have all the
offices and more than half of the ma
chinery of justice, while the opposition had
nothing tangible?
The existing grand jury was a body
which divided its time between endorsing
Ruef and passing resolutions against street
soda water stands. However, Heney and
Burns boldly pushed the entering wedge
into the only office on which the grasp of
the corruptlonuus lay lightly.
Presiding Judge Graham waa called upon
to dismiss the grand Jury and Issue a
venire for a body that would not be con
sidered In the light of an unpleasant Joke.
He did so and the laugh of the grafters
single dollar of Indebtedness and IT' rax faded to a wan and perfunctory smile,
rates were the lowest of any great .V. erl- j Then Ruef planned a coup. Schmits was
can city. By a provision of the consollda- j in Europe, flinging money about with a
tlon act it could spend In a year no more lavish hand In au attempt to enjoy hlm
than that year's Inome. McNabb was a i self. "Abe" summoned the city super
good boss. He loved power and not money, visors and acting Mayor Gallagher In se-
Hls most ardent opponents Dnng no cnarge cret session, with blanched faces they
of corruption against him. When he had j heard hlra command them to suspend
beaten Buckley, his predecessor, he made Langdon and appoint hlni (Ruef) as dis
good In practice by showing himself above trict attorney. They knew they had not
Buckley's methods. If there was graft . the legal power to do this, but they sat
from Chinatown and the underworld it
never went Into high places. A cosmopoli
tan community wanted a liberal administra
tion of the laws. Ban Francisco was open;
but vice wos not promoted.
"See My Friend Rncf!"
Ban Francisco soon learned who was Its
tight and did as directed. Ruef at once
filed a qualifying bond and dispatched a
messenger to Heney removing him from
his deputyshlp.
This amazing effrontery on the part of
the "curly boss" almost paralyzed the
citizens. Next morning the entire town
real ruler. The sense of the situation was was in en uproar. At last the people were
expressed by the remark of the good na- i aroused, for they saw a man accused of
tured Schmits: "Why, my friend Ruef Is a j felonies and on the verge of trial so power
lawyer. He knows about those things; you , ful that he could usurp the functions of
better see him." Two years later, at the
election of lwa. the mayor still held his
trade unionists. Ruef s cohorts of vice were
enthusiastically loyal. For he had made
good to them. The town was wider open
than ever before the gold fever days. Still
the old parties were rank with overconfl
dence. They thought Sehmttz's day was
run. The republicans nominatea n'-nry j.
Crocker and the democrats Franklin Lane,
Justice and by a trick turn the machinery
of the law against his prosecutors.
Stirring; Scenes.
Stirring scenes greeted the Impanelment
of the new grand Jury. Langdon secured a
temporary injunction against Ruef and pro
ceeded with the selection of the nineteen
men. Ruef was enough of a lawyer to re
alize that the restraining order would be
made permanent, as It subsequently was.
the present Interstate commerce commis- : - carriea out nls part and appeared In
sloner. Bchmltx was re-elected. ' court as "de Jure" district attorney to make
As before he had only a minority of the i strenuous objection to all the Jurymen who
otes polled. The two old parties now ad- j wero net known to be friendly to him.
mltted that they had committed a political j When the first meeting for the selection
blunder. They had allowed a fraction to ; of Jurors was held Ruef attempted to pack
win ajralnst a house divided. A majority
of the people must still ytand for morality
and public decencv. observed the good citi
zen. Did they? With the election of 19"5
the question was fairly put. The democrats
I at
V'T"
Caady a Leading Comnrodlty Even aa
Adaalral Eats Peaaat Brittle
Blaejarkrts Kee4 Garters
Kowadays.
Among the many things added to ships
of the navy In recent years for the com
fort cf the men there Is ptobably nothing
that has contributed more to the content
ment of the crew than the ship's etore, or
canteen, as It la generally called.
The paymaster's department of the ship
carries all the necessaries, denominated
"clothing and small stores," and embracing
all clothing necessary for a regulation out.
fit, as well as cloth, flannel and cotton
drill for making complete suits, with sew
lng silk and cotton, needles, soap, tobacco.
shoe brushes, blacking and marry other
articles Indispensable to Jack's welfare;
but the canteen adds to these little com
forts, which up to the time of Its advent
could be obtained only from tho bumboat,
and at exorbitant prices.
It would bo difficult to say Just what led
up to the Institution of the canteen, but
there can be no doubt that the bumboat
people themselves were largely responsible
for It, for its appearance marljl the dis
appearance of the bumboat and Incidentally
marked a reduction in the price of com
modities and made Jack more thrifty, for
he was always In debt to the bumboat
because It was so easy to obtain credit,
which cannot be had at the canteen.
Something of an Orphan.
Though not officially recognized by the
Navy department, and so being something
of an orphan, the canteen has come to
stay. The funds for Its establishment are
not supplied by the government and at
times the starting of one Is beset with diffi
culties, the men frequently being unable or
unwilling to subscribe the amount neces
sary to do It.
In such cases dealers are not unwilling
to stock It, knowing full well that the
ship's regulations for its management are
such that the Investment Is as safe as any
other that they could make and that re
payment la certain. The business, which Is
a strictly cash one. Is under the direct
control of the paymaster, with monthly
supervision of the stock and accounts by
a board of officers appointed by the cap
tain. Each man Is permitted to draw from his
account a certain amount each month for
expenditure at the canteen, which amount
Is Issued in the form of small pasteboard
tickets, so surrounded with numbers and
signatures as to make It well nigh Impos
sible for the men to dispose of them ex
cept at the store.
The stock of the canteen Is as varied as
that of a country store and Its character
as good as can bo found In similar goods
anywhere; for although the canteen wns
established primarily for the men, the of
ficers also are liberal patrons of It.
It erhbraces a little of everything, but
the principal commodities are cigarettes,
smoking tobacco and pipes, candy and
spell It with a big C chewing gum, sta
tionery, rlaylng cards, while It may sur-
prise many people to know that safety
pins and garters form no Inconsiderable
portion of the stock.
Garters and Cigarettes.
How It would shock an old man-o'-wars-
man to suggest the wearing of garters!
But he knew only the historic "purser's
sock," which needed no support. His mod
ern successor seldom wears the socks pro
vided by the paymaster, and until re
cently got his half hose from the canteen,
where he also found the necessary garters
for keeping them up; but until one gets
accustomed to It the sight of Jack In gar
tors Is ludicrous in the extreme to old naval
men.
There are some who regard this as an
other Indication of the advance of modern
Ideas, while the old bluejacket shakes his
head and wonders what fcbe navy Is coming
to. Just as he does when he sees the
youngsters smoking cigarettes Instead of
taking a man's smoke of good old navy
plug. Be that as It may, garters seem to
have taken as firm a hold as cigarettes.
and the canteen, as purveyor to every-
body, merely meets the public demand.
There Is one thing that is not carried In
stock, and that is matches, for the care
exercised to guard against fire Is no more
relaxed In tho great steel battleships with
Its powerful steam fire pumps than it was
In the days of the old wooden frigate with
hand pumps. The result Is that the young
sters who smoke cigarettes can do so only
when the smoking lamp is lighted, and ex
cept on rainy days this is only after meals.
In this way there Is a check on the cigar
ette smoking, which otherwise would make
It a greater nuisance than it Is on shore.
Of all things carried it la safe to say
that there is nothing quite so dear to
Jack's heart ns candy, for If truth be told
he has n very sweet tooth In fact, he Is
I an Inveterate candy eater as long as the
supply In the canteen holds out. Until the
I coming of the canteen he had few op
portunities for Indulging this taste, and
even with the canteen his Indulgence must
necessarily be somewhat limited, owing to
the fact that the capacity ef the store Is
always small and the stowage space al
lotted limited.
Tandy hy the Ton.
Nevertheless It Is not unusual for a
large battleship when preparing for a
winter cruise in the West Indies to lay In
as much as two tons of candy. More would
be carried If there were space for It, and
this apparently large quantity Is usually
exhausted long before the ship starts to re
turn to the United States.
The candy ranges from the popular pea-
The race is cot always the swift.
Tho fast colors are those that won't
run.
We are showing some Blue
Serges that we recently purchased
from an Eastern manufacturer.
They are wool dyed. The yarn is
made from pure wool and Is
soaked for 8 hours in Indigo.
Each shred of each thread of this
Blue Serge is absolutely and un
fadably blue.
Two piece suits made from this
Blue Serge shown-in our doubled
store f
Open Evenings.
MmCAKTHY-TTILSON
TAILORING CO.
TtiOM Doug. lbuS. JM-XK 8. ltth St
Hear S. W. Cor. lh and Farnau st.
Open lveninga
the courtroom, which Is In a Hebrew tem
pie, with loyal members of "the push" who
would lend him their "moral support."
Deputy sheriffs, for the appointment of
most of whom he was responsible, threw
out those coming to the courtroom who
were not recognized as subservient to Ruef.
Meanwhile a vet. angry crowd of citizens.
Including merchants, lawyers and the most
representative men of Sin Francisco, had
gathered for two blocks around the Sherlth nut brittle to the fancy brands of French
Israel. When Ruef appeared he was hooted ' candy put up In attractive boxes, with all
and hissed despite the bodyguard which 1 the trimmings that go to make up a box
had been supplied him from the police , for his hrr girl, for Jack Is a connoisseur
force. The crowd had waited for over two ' In things sweet. What class of men eat it?
hours and was worked up to a pitch bord- j Every class nr.d of all ages, from the
ering on rrenzy. When he tried to pass admiral to the youngest landsman. It
i.irougn on tne way to his automobile he i Is related of an admiral who recently com
was struck at and even spat upen bv the
less restrained among the mob. When
Heney and Langdon emerged they were vo- I
marded the North Atlantic fleet that this
dignified officer was one of the best patrons
or tne canteen for candy and that It was
Erect Form 743
For
Summer Wear
IS an excellent
model for well
developed figures. It
subdues abdominal
p r o m 1 n e nee and
rounds the figure
into graceful lines.
Made of white
batinte. Trimmed
across top with lace
and ribbon. Hose
supporters at front
and hips.
Blzea 19 to 30.
Price, $1.33 -
Nalorm 401
For
Sammer Wear
WILL fit any slen
der or average
figure. Long above
the waist which It
defines very distinc
tly, showing a per
fectly straight line
down the front of
of the figure. Made
of white batlxte.
Trimmed with lace
and ribbon. Hose
supporters front and
Sides.
Sizes 18 to 30
Price, $1.03
Kuiorm 1SS
For
Summer Wear
FOR well devel
oped figures, is
a reverse gore model
The gore lines run
backwards, a con
struction which re
strains undue devel
opment below the
back. Medium high
bust, long hips and "
extra long back.
Made of an excellent
quality of white batinte,
trimmed with lace and rib
bon. Hose suppor
ters front and sides.
Sizes .19 to 30.
Price, $2.00
uj yi a
The W. B. Reduso Corset
IS a boon for Urge women the ideal garment for orer
devcloped figures requiring tpecial restraint. It not only
restrain the tendency to over-fieshineu, but it mould
the over-developed proportion into those pleasing, graceful
outlines, hitherto thought to be attainable only by (lighter
figure. The particular feature of this model u the apron
over the abdomen and hips, boned in such a manner a to
give the wearer absolute freedom of movement.
Reduso Style 750 for tall uxll-dtvtloptd
figurei. Made of a durable couul in white or drab. Hose
supporters front and side. Sizes 22 to 36. Price, $3.
Reduso Style 7(0 for tborl wll-deelopej
figure. Made of white and drab couul. Hose supporters
front and sides. Sizes 24 to 36. Price, 93.
OAT SALE EVERYWHERE
WQNGARTEN BROS.. MTre.
377-9 Broadway
New York
mmmrr--
Errct Farm 711
For
Summer
Wear
IS a corset for
average fig
ures. Has me
dium bust and
long hip. Made
of white ba
tiste. Hose
supporters on
front and sides
r r 1 m m e 4
across top with
lace and rib
bon. Blies 18 to 30.
Price, $1.09
1
Knform 432-
for Summer Vf eir
r3 anl excellent
Lnodel for averag
figures. Construct
ed sectl o n a 1 1 y.
making the gar
ment fit at all
points, accentua
ting the slender
noes of the waist
line. Bust moder
ately high, hips
rather long. Made
of white batlfite.
Trimmed with ince
and ribbon. Hose
supporters front
and sides. 1
Sizes 18 to 30.
3
Kuform 407
For
Summer
Wear
3 a splendliS
corset for me
dlum figures,
pleasingly free
from any bulky
effect common
to previous
tuodcls of this
type. Medium
hTgh" bust and deep hip.
idlng in an unboned ap
ron extension. Made 01
white batiste. Hose sup
supporters front and
sides. Trimmed, with lace
and ribbon.
Sizes 19 to SO.
Frice. $1.50
(IwWsVtsf
TO
REMOVE
WRHsiaES
AND
LOOK YOUNGER.
THE WORLD OYER.
DR. PRATT'S
Immediate Method Is Conceded to be
Superior to All Others.
To vertlfy this truth, ask anyone,
excepting some losing Incompetent
imitator.
Dr. Pratt's method is an absolute
certainty. It excels!
clferously cheered. The town appeared to not unusual to see him slip a piece of pea-
tUVE YOU
Sagirina; Cheeks or
Face, "t.op" liar3.
Thick Lips. Proop
Inir Mouth Ornrrs,
Imperfect Nose, any
kind IJaKSY Chin,
Flahby .Ne.k. fallen
TiiMglns Eyebrows,
Hollow Check or
Eves, Imperfect
Fil ial CY.nioir,
f-K'kly, Hallow Skin,
Unrefined Complex-
HAVE YOU
Ion, Udly Frowns
Lines, Mouih-fo
Nnse Linen. Flabby,
Wrinkly Eyelid.
i row 1 l-ect,
1 Wrinkle. Pock Pit
itinga, Soar,
I Pimple. Hlrth
I marks. Wart.
I Veins. Molts. Super
illi i.s Hair, Rod
I Nose. Blotches, Skin
1 or Scalp Disorders
have changed In a day.
I nut brittle Into his mouth when ensaped
fTk . . I . ...
u,.uPnl proreeoms emeraclns , j important evolutions.
mo nunrssiiras dt nmoiers, ine testimony
of business men held up. of corporations
buying- special prlviiegea, and a Ion; trail
of minor graft, are familiar to readers of
the dispatches. Ivekpment to follow are
likely to, surpass In public Interest what '
ha occurred. All point to the overthrow :
of srraft and the regeneration of San Fran
cisco. !
A Yetrraa Father.
T. P. Shoekey. Coffeyvllle. Kan, la a
Grand Army cf the Republic veteran. 71
years old. and the proud father of four
teen children, the eldest being a son of
64 and the youngest a boy of 4. The old
gentleman himself la one of a family cf
There Is another side of the canteen that
should not be lost sight of. one that pre
snt a meritorious feature, and that Is the
wholesome effect it has on discipline; for
as a general rule the amount that a man
may spend at the canteen 1 regulated In
accordance with his conduct record, a
firt class man being allowed much mors
than one of the f earth c!a. Fur that
reason, If for no other, special effort la
generally made to keep on tha first cla
In order that the privileges of the canteen
may not be curtailed.
Ist failure to mention the fact should
create a false impression on account of
tha ue of the word canteen. It 1 proper
All the above desfiguring condi
tion positively removed, Immedi
ately and permanently.
Ir. Pratt's art. as scientifically
applied by Mm, Is the secret em
ployed and enjoyed by many of the
world's most fair "older matrons"
who know and appreciate the value
and advantage of ke ping appear
arce young and attractive.
If you have an imperfection, or
improvement you would like to con
sliler, write or call for Book 41.
Free.
DR. PSATT-
FACIAL-INSTITUTES
Hours B la 8 Daily
EXCLUSIVELY FACE AN'D FEATURE
EXPERTS.
Chicago. 214 State Street.
New York. 1122 Broadway.
Boston, 1C0 Tremont Street.
Pittsburg, 404 Sixth Avenue.
Milwaukee, 121 Wisconsin.
Thoroughly Reliable,
Absolutely Responsible,
twenty-nix. H ha been married four ' to 'iy thst co 1r'u!l!- ?ept perhaps tooth
time. His oldest daughter by his second
I wife waa one of the smallest children who
j ever grew to maturity. At birth she
I weighed one pourd and six ounces. 8h
, la now a fuly developed woman and
weighs 1SS pounds.
Make your wants known through The Bee
Want Ad oolumua
wash, are dispensed In the ship's store.
Treating Roads with OH.
80 successful did Kansas City's expert
anonts with crude oil prove lat year that
several Missouri counties will SDrtnkle the
macadam roads tula season. Roads which
-re treated with oil four time during
1S. did not need sprinkling with witer tha
entire season, showing that the oil treat"
tiutiii 1 j cuuuinlciu ox. a.
Mend and mak? you' own 1UK.VESS.
fee odd line and straps. No Utcl,ing or
riveting. Great money savers. Send for
catalogue and price today.
TUK liOYAL HrCKLE COMPANY,
1115 Farnam 6t.. OMAHA.
AGENTS WANTED
PATENTS that PROTECT
r 3 tu 10 4Ti ft... 1 1,, nciyr , . u. t
I t I I UCE Oi.h.rfto. Q (1. tt. 1st .
-
Vzm e-S
l t
