Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-24


tCopyrtght b5Pnrdy, BostonJ
from San Francisco; Major John B. JEFF
frey, Californian residing in New York.
and Col. Kowalsky. The mayor and Mrs.
schmitz were escorted to a waiting auto
mobile at the end of the pier and the rest
of the party followed in another.
The five indictments charge Mayor
SchmitZ and Boss Abe Ruef jointly with
having extorted three sums of s1,175 and
two sums of $1,000 from three French res
taurants in San Francisco. The testimony
on which the indictments were found
showed that the money was paid to Ruef
divided with the mayor, and under threats
of taking away the license unless the money
was paid.
THE whole affair is a move on the part
of my political enemies" said the mayor
Il cannot Of course tell exactly what has
happened or what moves have been made
In San Francisco in my absence, but 1t
certainly seems strange that the moment
l went on vacation, which l certainly
had earned, and turned my back on San
Francisco they should trump up these
charges against me. They are SO unjust
that they cannot but rebound against the
people who brought them -
What gives you reason to believe that
politics is behind these charges?" Mayor
Schmitz was asked.
Will Face the Music.
"Oh, I've good reasons for saying So" he
replied. THE district attorney, Gang-
dom, who must have asked the grand Jury
to indict me, was a candidate for governor
on the Independence League ticket. AS a
matter of course. he encountered the OBJ
position of the friends of my administra-
ton in his candidacy, and naturally he took
the nrst opportunity to retaliate when
had my back turned. There is absolutely
no question that politics is behind this
whole affair. Here is the situation 1 have
been an Independent candidate for mayor
inc in, orfio <l,1
labor element of San Francisco The first
time ran l was looked upon as joke
This time, despite the fact that great
amounts of money, as well as grand Jury
reports, were used against me, and despite
the fact that the republicans and indie
pendence Leaguers combined against me, I
was reelected by 22,00Q majority Then
at the time of the northumberland I am
not saying this egotistically-I did my duty
In manner that was commended by all
good citizens regardless of party. Old hos
tilities were about to be forgotten. My
political enemies took alarm, and now by
these trumped-up charges they are seeking
to discredit the prestige I won then"
At this point Mayor Schmitz was re-
minded that the investigation which cul-
minated In the indictments was begun as
early as February, far in advance of the
earthquake, and that the United States
secret service had assisted in making it.
secret service and the entire police force
are moving in this matter. My position is
this. I am going back to face these
charges, and will face them without fear,
for my conscience is clear. I've cut down
my vacation five weeks because reports
reached me in Europe Of the unsettled con-
dttions in San Francisco. I have not the
slightest doubt that in the end Justice will
be DONE"
Mayor Schmitz was asked to name the
man he suspected of being behind the pros
| ecution, and he merely shook his head.
Japanese School Issue.
do you think William r. Hearst could
have had anything to do with this effort to
discredit your" he was asked.
II refuse to answer that question. can
| tell you that the district attorney who was
instrumental in having the Indictments re-
| turned, as Il already have said was the In.
dependence League candidate for governor -
Mayor Schmitz was asked regarding the
| situation as affecting the attendance of jap
| anese in the public schools of San Fran
| cisco.
It's more Of a tempest in a teapot than
anything else, he replied. THE trouble
/ is that many of the grown-up japanese
WHO are hAterate or seeking rudimentary
knowledge of English are attending the pri-
| mary grades. 1t is not conductive to good
morals to have young men of from eighteen
to twenty in the same class rooms with 1T
tie boys and girls OF from six to eight We
| we are going to do It. I think the best soiu-
| ton will be to establish an age limit for
each respective grade. am glad to hear
that Secretary Metcaff has taken hold of
the matter. ! know. him. He Ii goo,4 man
and understands the conditions thoroughiy,"