The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28
HAVE BOSS RUFF ON THE RUN.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL or CALI
FORNTA JOINS GRAFT HUNT.


" san francisco CUuFt WAhce Weuh h'ss'T'c'
Attorney. ssrney WIN Eseessne Q Deputy
AttOrney.GeOeral. n tine mvcstiga-
uen WIN Then GO on Iuhampered.
BAN Francisco, Oct. 27.-EvOry one in
San Francisco to-day was talking oil. the ex-
citing md dramatic scenes Of yesterday
when Boss Ruef tried 70 grab the position
Of District Attorney and Of the boss humil-
alton when a great crowd in the street
booted him ~ he drove away In his auto,
surrounded by an armed body guard.
Despite his shady record the well
known fact that he was the centre OF the
best organized system Of graft since the old
blind BOSE Buckley, lost his power, Ruef
has been personally popular.
he IL a keen Judge Of men and has been
very liberal to political workers who have
influence.
In this way he has kept a im hold on the
party machine, and whenever he has at
tended meetings he has been heartily
cheered. He also. cultivated the friendship
Of many prominent merchants by granting
them ~favors, and this method Of gaining
friends he has pursued sssiduously since the
fire.
1t was this popularity which induced him
W nv Phay VI 0CROnAhk AohSNOh ohN
declaring himself his successor as District
Attorney. Ruef was vain enough 70 believe
he could carry out his blur, n bulldoze
the court and the people into accepting him
as District Attorney.
He packed the oour room with his heelers,
but he didn't count on the revulsion Of pub
lie sentiment. The great crowd was dis
tinctly hostile and quickly showed Ruet
aL-k ahAw. .uo-. -. I@-.. a. ..rwa-aNh1 UtNl.
him. He was plainly scared when he came
out OF court, and the hooting he received
was a great shock to his pride and vanity.
There are few new developments ida as
all the chief actors are reticent.
The most important is the plain declara-
ton Of Accomplishment Webb OF Cali
fornia, that he will use tho power OF his
Office to help prosecute the grafters. Webb
interviewed at the empanelling OF the Grand
Jury yesterday, and because he o tected TO
both Heney and Ruef discussing the case
because they were interested parties, many
believed he was acting In h OF the
boss. To-day Webb made a statement
OF his position. in which he said:
The Court, thus far, has given no init
nation Of which Of the two claimants to
the Office it will recognize and the position
OF my office il this: Leaving out OF con-
siderstion the legality or lille gality OF the
action Of the acting Mayor and supervisors
in attempting TO remove District Attorney
] l&u IUt ldCL ~ tndJ DlrlIlCJ htOOIHC
LanGdon ia in possession and occupancy
Of the office, and as such his acts are valid
/ and binding.
IF, then, Langdon and his assistant,
Henri, are by the court recognized and
permitted 20 conduct the proceedings before
the Grand Jury there will remain nothing
further for me to do. The investigation
will be carried forward and q full n com
plete investigation had OF every charge
presented for the consideration OF the jury.
-On the other hand, il having been stated by
Heney that his Office intended to present the
charge of felony against Ruef IL IN court
should recognize Ruef as District Attorney
il is apparent to all that he should not be per.
mitted TO conduct the investigation OF
charges against himself, and in such event
it is the duty of this Office to take charge
of such Investigations. and to h end that
such charges he probed to the bottom
and that every item of evidence supporting
such charges be fully and fairly presented
TO the Grand jury, l ' will tender to Heney an
appointment as Deputy Attorney General
of this State, to enable him to present TO
the Grand Jury all of the evidence in his
possession. II will thus be seen that the
course that will be pursued by me depends
upon whether Langdon or kuef Is by the
court recognized as District Attorney