The San Francisco call., 1896-05-06

of the State Central Committee met when
he and Mahoney organized their Con-
gressiona. committee.
Instead of answering this plain and
civilly asked question, Mr.. Ruef, in the
conceit of his confidence, born of youth
and lack of ordinary discretion, replied:
1.-THE gentleman appears to be enamored
of the name of Mahoney."
In an instant with flush of insulted
dignity in his face Mr.. Preston arose, and
not even deigning to glance on the indis-
Greet would-be wit, addressed the chair as
follows, slowly but in tones of suppressed
indignation:
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Committee: l never say anything un-
pleasant. 1t was not 1 that mentioned
the name of Mr.. Senator Mahoney; it
was not / that mentioned the name of
Mr.. Ruef; it was not I that men,
toned the name of Mr.. Martin, and /
do not think that should be subjected to
insult when asking a aqnestIon as member
of this committee for the purpose of OBJ
tanning information, as I have been just
now, without apparent cause or proyoca-
tion. l ask that L may be protected from
any such contemplate action, as 1 have
right to do, in the future. I ask to be pro-
tected from such insults in this committee
as they would not have the manhood to
offer me on the floor outside of this ROOM"
All this was delivered in clear, slow
tones and scornful sentence after sentence
flowed forth. The already sallow complex
ion of the young champion of the Kelly
Mahoney- Rainey outfit turned paler till it
assumed the ashen hue of death.
The scathing rebuke was further empha-
sized by the acclaim that its conclusion
drew from the Senate chamber.
Mr.. Ruef was admonished by the chair
man not again to digress into an argument
when asked plain question. Then in a
vain effort to cover up the inexcusable
breach of parliamentary etiquette he had
INDUCED in he asked that Mr.. Preston be
not allowed to sit on the committee.
His action was declared out of order,
but as a mere matter of form it was al
lowed to go on record. He was again
asked by Mr.. Preston how many were
present at the Baldwin Hotel meeting,
and confessed that the minutes of the
meeting did not state this very important
fact.
at midnight Mr.. Ruef took fresh grip
and read another affidavit, wherein afiant,
NJ. J. Dunn, deposes' that Gripman Fred
Melsing had authorized him to sign Mel
sings name to Melsing's proxy and give it
to Jack Shaen, and that Melsing, who was
then gripman on the railroad, had been
rewarded by Mr.. Spreckels with position
at $3.50 per month.
Melsing, who was present, rose in his
seat and exclaimed: 81 deny emphat-
ically every word of that statement made
by Dunn as false. There is not a word of
truth in it."
Where are you working now" asked
Ruef
~ am not working at ALL"
"What have you been doing since?'
Nothing" replied Melsing.
"Have you received any money from
anybody2"
''None whatever" replied Mr.. Melsing.
The laugh which followed stung Ruef to
the quick and turning around to those be-
hind him he exclaimed. "Martin lost his
life by selling out to this State Committee.
He was shot down in the City Hail."
Ruef was interrupted by storm OF
Kisses and groans, and he endeavored tc
get out OF the bad hole in which he had
put himself by saying:
81 don't mean to say that any of those
gentlemen here had anything to do with
it.''
"Then, sir" said s. M. Shortridge. ''you
should not say what you did. You should
not reflect upon any member of this con.
vention in your lying statement. 1t is
highly improper
Here Jack O'Connor, who was standing
in the lobby, shouted, "Who defeated
Estee?"
"You," replied Ruef.
"No," retorted O'Connor, ut was Ma
honey who defeated him.
Chairman Gibson called the gentlemen
to order and Ruef proceeded to read sew
eral affidavits charging that Martin had