The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-18
BUCKLEY

The Ventura Democrat expresses the
opinion that Buckleys return to power
cannot be long delayed. 1t Is also of the
belief that there is more official scandal
and corruption at present in San Fran
cisco than when the "Blind White
Devil as Buckley was designated by the
Chinese whom he bled ruled the
rcost.'
AS regards the return of the ex-boss to
political supremacy in the bailiwick by
the bay. our contemporar may be ac-
curate in its prophesy, though every true
blue Democra will sincerely hope that
events are destined to negative most en-
phatically it's projections. But its con-
tention that the Buckley era was less
corrupt and scandalous than the present
can rest on nothing other than ignora n &c
or forgstfGlness of the real condition of
public affairs and political lii, In the
city of wind, fog and mysterious m urders,
during the regime of the man who dealt
in the prerogatives, profits and emolu-
ments of public office as one would ia
articles or commerce.
1t is adm tilted that San Francisco is a
boss-ridden city. and all bosses are bad.
but some are wor ie than others. and
Buckley is the worst.
Every body reasonably familiar with
the course Of California politics, will adj
NIT, if they speak in fairness, that cor
ruption in public office was never so
gross, bribing, bullying and cheating at
the polls never so fragrant, the intim Ia
tion OF executive, legislative and judicial
officials neve: 50 shameful, one man
power never so arrogant at any time, be-
fore or since, as they were during the
reign of the pretended Democrat who quit
his job of herding tae subservlent Re-
puplicans of Vallejo something over
twenty years ago and installed himself as
the proprietor of the San Francisco De-
mocracy.
No despot, INSCRIPTIONS and selfish, ever
governed more tyrannically or to better
personal purpose, than did this one-time
monarch of the metropolis of the Pacific
coast. For more than decade almost
every office OF power or profit was the
practical perquisite of this leader OF
thugs. blackn. ailers, heelers. tinhorn
gam blers, ballot box suffers and low
grade ward strikers. Whether the occu-
pant be Republican or Democrat his
incumbency was at the will or by the
consent OF the vislonless, but not vision
AIRY boss. The latter and his prototype
in the Republican organization, "BilP'
Higgins, operated hand in hand, and
months before the voters OF San Francisco
went to the polls under the delusion that
thsy selected the men to fill the various
Offices that happened to b, the subjects
Of election, the firm of Buckley & Hig-
gins, in which the former held by far
the major share. had determined upon the
men who should be elected and ths divis-
ion OF the patronage and the swas.
The communicating touch of the Bush
street god blighted every field of political
activity and public usefulness. Without
his approval or against his wishes poll
tical aspiration in San francisco was
impossible OF realization. On every off ce
of consequence a price had been set, a
price that had to be paid-to Buckley.
His avarioious fingers raked off percen t.
ages from almost every salary paid in city
ana county offices, and projected their
dishonest points into we'll nigh every
contract let for the construction of public
work or the supplying of public institu.
tions. At his com mand prosecuting Off
GERS faltered and halted in their duties,
Judges proved false to their oaths and
legislators were recreanr to their trusts.
It was while BuckleyIsm was ram pam
that the straw pail bond business in San
francisco reached the Dimensions of &
nourishing industry; that tough old
(school) boards as the local papers O.
/. t.as day designated them. bartered posi-