Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-20
UNIONS TIRE Of
POLITICAL CAME
REVULSI0N FOLLOWS DISCL0-
SURES IN SAN FRANCISCO
Honest Labor and Business Men Come
to Decision as Result of Black
maiing-MunicipaI Own
ershp Craze Ends
specinl to INC Herald.

Special to The Herald.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 19-The in
structions of the Minneapolis conven-
ton of the American Federation of
Labor to union labor everywhere to go
into politics has met with small appre-
citation in union labor circles in San
Francisco, where the members of the
union who are honest are actually sick
over the disclosures of graft in con-
nection with the successful attempt of
the san Francisco unions to get into
the political game.
The San Francisco unions got into
politics about six years ago, and from
the stories now coming out before the
grand jury investigation, a system of
graft and blackmail was organized at
the very beginning of the regime, and
so open has that graft system become
that the honest portion of the unions
as well as every business man in the
city. has rebelled. And now those from
who the blackmail was taken are de-
claring that these demands have be-
come so heavy that they must call a
halt or go out of business.
End of Labor Union Politics
There will be no more union labor in
politics in San Francisco. Business
men and honest labor have, within a
themselves. Mayor Schmitz. Tuef and
their crowd have effectually killed the
idea of running the city government
as an adjunct of the graft element of
unionism.
For many years San Francisco was
known as the strongest "Gnion" town in
the country, and when, listening to the
arguments of the Socialist element of
union labor the unions determined to
10Y tn1 to-, !
that NOW Socialism will have a chance
TO show what it can do for a city.
There will be no graft, and every man
will get his rights"
The working men of San Francisco
were given their chance For six years
they have had the city government en-
tirely in their own hands, and as a re-
suit the worst charges ever made
against any city government in the
United States are now being made
against that of San Francisco.
Tired of Graft
Mayor Schmitz and his colleagues
We're preparing to sumbit to a vote the
question Of the city taking over the
entire street car system of San Fran
cisco, and one month ago this scheme
might have carried, despite the former
experiences of the town along the lines
of municipal ownership.
But the disclosures of graft in so
many departments of the city govern
ment have changed public sentiment to
such an extent that the voters of San
Francisco would not vote to have the
city take over any public utility what
ever now, and were they not afraid OF
giving the administration another
chance at graft. they would go in for
selling that portion of the street car
system which already belongs to the
city. And this sentiment is not alone
directed against the present city ad-
ministration. but by showing how
easily set of officials can be corrupted
the present situation has turned the
most ardent partisans of municipal
ownership against that idea.
One Experience Enough
San Francisco already owns one
street car line and the poor MANAGE
ment of its affairs has helped turn pub
lie sentiment against permitting the
politicians TO secure any further chance
Ia