The San Francisco call., 1906-10-16
RUFF IS PLAYING
DOUBLE GAME.
Refugees Ordered TO Vacate
Squares, While He En-
courages Them to Stay
WORK STYLED COARSE

Mr.. Ruef has promised US" said
Mrs. ]. w Scott. a Lafayette Square
refugee. yesterday. that we shall not
be moved from the park. He has told
me that he can keep US here and will.
Don't you be afraid says he TO me,
fayette Square as the ST Francis has TO
be in Union Square. Pay no attention
70 the Park Commissioner says he.
their notices TO get out are just child s
play"
And" continued Mrs. Scott, Acting
Mayor Gallagher said the game thing.
Tear the notices down. said the Mayor,
and I just tore them down. I did it
when the man who put the notices up
was daring me TO do it Mr.. Ruef isn't
going TO see US hurt I'm going down
10 his office to see him this afternoon.
by appointment
Mrs. J. ". Scott is one of the leaders
among the refugees at Lafayette Square.
She certainly tore down the notices
the camp commander at that square
testifes 10 that-and she did it with
evident assurance that she had moth
ing to fear in the way Of prosecution.
Whether she did it under direction of
Ruef and Gallagher depends on the
word of Mrs. Scott
There is something peculiar about
the action of the city authorities In
changing their views on the housing
of the people in the parks" said man
high up in relief work Y esterday.
First they granted the permission.
then they withdrew it. The uncertainty
which this has brought about among
the refugees is outrageous. Notices
have been posted in the parks ordering
the people TO leave by November 8.
The result is that the people don't know
what TO do. They have refused 10 pay
rent for the cottages and there is a
feeling of unrest and uncertainty that
is depIorable. And ii is all politics
In the parks are several thousand
voters You viii see them brought to
the point of ejectment just before the
day OF election-they are ordered to
leave the parks by November 5; cleo
tion day is November S. But there
will be no ejectment- At the last mo-
ment Ruef will come to their protec-
ton Behind all this agitation about
getting the people out of the parks is
Ruef- He has created condition that
he may pose at election time as the
refugees friend. 1t is about as heart
less piece of work as ever heard of
The building of cottages has been
stopped, with the result that the rains
VIII be upon us before the people can
be moved from their tents This means
sickness and death for many of them"
Ruef has written to the Park Com
missioners." said another relief work
er. requesting them 20 permit the ref
ugees 10 remain in the squares. But
Ruef would not be writing grand-stand
letters If he wanted the matter settled
quickly. II the Park COMMISSIONS ers
persisted in having the refugees moved
the acting Mayor could remove the
Park Commissioners. In fact, last Sat
urday night. before leaving the mass
meeting at Union Square. Gallagher is
said TO have boosted of such power"
That RUef is playing a double game
seems 10 be the opinion of all who
have been watching the harassfng of
the refugees during the last few days
since the city administration ordered
them from the squares Mrs. Scott is
open in her boast that Ruef has prom
ised 10 stand behind her and the other
refugees. while others are pointing to
the very significant fact that the city
administration would not have entered
such strenuous opposition to the refu-
gees remaining in the park IL Ruef
disapproved the course