The San Francisco call., 1906-10-26
Supervisors Hear
of Suspension
of Langdon.

From 2:30 till $50 o'clock yesterday
afternoon the Board of Supervisors
waited in the barn-like Mowry Hall at
Laguna and Grove streets for the act
ing Mayor They were waiting, they
did not know to what purpose. At
first 1t was not guessed that Ruef in
his desperation was about to over
throw the District Attorney whom he
had less than a year ago helped into
office.
The Supervisors merely waited, for
they had the word of George Keane.
clerk of the board and former law stu
dent in Ruef's Office, that the acting
Mayor wanted them to wait for him
that he had something for them-in
short. that Abe Ruef, as 1t later ap-
peared, wanted the opportunity to act
as District Attorney himself and in
vestigate" the graft charges
Keane held the whip at this meeting
of waiting. He curbed the impatience
of the members of the board who want
ed to leave the hall and he coaxed and
pleaded with them, for there had to be
quorum when the Mayor came or the
day would be lost.
AS usual, the board met at 2:30. The
members came In with their usual petty
hardness, took their seats and fumbled
over their papers with as great an air
of Importance as they show on ordinary
meeting days. The acting Mayor was
not there, but that did not worry the
Supervisors They expected at any mo-
ment to hear the toot of his automobile
GALLAGHER STILL ABSENT.
o'clock. The acting Mayor had
not yet come There was bit of rest
iveness about the board. There was a
whiff of mystery-or "doings" in the
air. George Keane went to the tele-
phone in the private room. "Emer-
gency sos" he called The Supervisors
near the door knew that he was In
communication with the acting Mayor
He might even be talking to the ap-
proachable, affable Ruef himself Keane
came back to the board and told the
members to tarry awhile. the Mayor
was certainly coming; he wanted them
to stay.
$780, No Mayor The board is ner-
vous. Something big must be brew
ing. Supervisor Sanderson PAGES the
hall listening for the toot of the auto
mobile. Keane, with his most suave
manner and softest voice, caresses the
impatient Supervisors. Some of them
had the audacity to suggest that they
convene without waiting for the acting
Mayor. Keane discouraged this idea.
That would never do. Gallagher-or
was it Ruef?-had requested them to
stay until Gallagher came.
400. The toot Of the automobile has
not yet sounded Sanderson still PAGES
the hall The unity of the Supervisors
is disintegrated. Some of the men,
bers of the board in search of recrea-
ton stroll over toward the Morgue.
Keane has a watch on the door to see
that none escape. The quorum must
be held together at any cost
4:30. Sanderson still PAGES the cor
ridor. There are more visitors at the
Coroner's Office.
KEANE is WORRIED.
4:45. Two lines of care pucker the
brow of George Keane Sanderson
still PAGES the hall. Keane watches
him closely.
sos Keane is in conversation with
few moments" says the clerk.
SIS. Keane has made a canvass of
other Supervisors. He will come in
appears in the telephone room. The
Board of Supervisors. gentlemen-in-
waiting at the court, smoke their ci-
gars.
5:45 Now the Supervisors know that
great coup is at hand. The name
of Langdon filters through the tobacco
smoke. They still listen for the toot
of the automobile they had purchased
for the acting Mayor weeks ago in in
tuitive anticipation of the time when
he would need it to come to them
quickly.
6:25. Sanderson hears the toot of
the automobile Keane has won, the