The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-24

ms farce was quickly lOuOWeu py hhO
discovery of graver irregularities. Pouce
graft in Chinatown gambling dens was found
To be fourishing, but the Police Commis-
sioncrs whitewashed the Chief OF Police.
The Board Of Election Commissioners was
found TO be thoroughly rotten and to be
winking at irregular work at the primaries.
A scandal arose in the Fire Department be-
cause OF the peddling Of questions for an
examination for fremen by one OF the Fire
Commissions r..
Through all the storm Of investigation
and ~denunciation Schmitz rode securely.
While many were free 10 say that the Schmitz
administration had become rotten. there
was no proof Of Schmitz himself being cor
ruptible until after he wa elected again
last November.
Though the Republicans and Democrats
had combined 20 form a fusion party n
had put forth their most strenuous efforts
TO beat Sohmitz the Schmitz machine served
to overwhelm the f~usionists. The fiddler
Mayor won by a big majority.
UP GOES THE RED LAC
THE city is under the red flag; every
thing is up for auction was the cry that
was raised when Schmitz and his boss again
found themselves nailed down tight in Office.
The figure seemed to find justification in
facts.
Over all the Tenderloin there sprang up
protected cafes, where the closing hour
was never needed and where the side en-
trance for ladies' was nailed up as super
fuous. A wild open town was the order.
Wide open meant that the police could
not hear the songs and shouts of women
that made Turk and Eddy streets a bedlam
in the small hours Of the morning; that they
could not see the lights streaming through
high over innocent faced French restaurants
on the ground floor.
The red nag hung over every ten cent
theatre that wanted to get a permit from
the Board of Public Works for ~remodelling
and that hired Ruef as its attorney to secure
the coveted right. Prizefight managers
who wanted to pull OF exhibitions con-
trary TO the law worked under the red
flag. 1t was the symbol OF the red Gag
that foated over the municipal crib" on
jackson street before the fire and defied
the securing OF an Injunction from the
co Urts.
Then il was that Sohmitz began to be
smirched. One of his Police COMMISSIONS s
whom he removed from Office oil a trumped
up charge because OF his too vigorous
campaign against vice squealed against
his master and charged him with being
the recipient or squeezes from fallen women.
Another Police Commissioners had a falling
out with Schmitz and Ruef. was kicked out
OF the board. and then in his turn accused
the Mayor OF getting a rakeof on the grant
ing Of liquor licenses.
The fire came when San Francisco was
80 az - VI < WY AOu "a kCb
everything in Frisco you find in Paris and
get II cheaper" was the comment of one
sporting character which was used as the
subject OF a sermon by one of the preachers
and which inspired a new editorial attack
on the part Of one of the papers. The town
had run mad with license
By the merchants and influential men
OF the community Mayor Schmitz was
execrated. Thu strikes that had come under
his regime had hurt their pockets. The
fragrant grating that had held sway with
unparalleled impudence disguised them.
quet was given by the Chamber OF Com
merce in honor OF a distinguished visitor
TO which the Mayor was not invited,
MAN WHEN DISASTER CAME.
Then came April IS. In the first hours
after the earthquake. when the red tide
of fame had commenced to eat into the
vitals OF the city. the Mayor sent out auto
mobiles to all parts of the city bearing
messages to the most prominent citizens.
will you serve on an emergency committee
for the preservation Of law and order?" the
messages read. The basement OF the par
tally ruined Hall Of Justice was named as
the meeting place for this committee.
II was in the az ection OF the men to COM
pose this emergency board that Mayor
Schmitz first showed that the imminence Of
anarchy az a result of the appalling disaster
had Jared him out OF his rut into the meas
ure Of a man. He asked more Of his politi-
cal enemies than OF his close friends to
serve. Men Of influence who had been the
chief protestants against the reign OF graft
that had fourished under his terms of Office
largely dominated the emergency commit
tee of fifty.
Before the committee met the Mayor had
ordered a proclamation to be printed on a
hand press away up town beyond the reach
OF the flames. which stated in heavy type
that any person found looting or caught in
the commission of other crimes would be
shot straightway.
In the three days Of the fire and through
the dreary days Of threatening starvation
Mayor Schmitz acted the man. He was the
backbone OF the committee OF fifty. He was
chief in the dire ction OF succor, the prime
mover in the restoration OF the machinery
Of police regulation, leader in the councils
for the rehabilitation OF the smoking ruins.
worked in harmony. Ex-Mayor James d.
Phelsn. who had been one Of Schmitz's
bitterest political enemies, was made his
right hand man and financial director,
All through those days Of the utopia,
when every one worked for somebody else
and all for the common good, Schmitz's
name was in every mouth. Men would
stop each other in the streets to marvel at
the change which had come over the Mayor.
He had at last made good"
The Mayors real triumph came a few
months after the fire when ut a banquet
OF congratulation given by the business
men OF the city in a temporary structure
in Union SQUARE he made a speech which
seemed TO be a declaration Of independence
from the thraldom OF Ruef and the gang
History begins for us with April rs, said
Schmitz.
But after the spirit OF utopia had passed
all too quickly and San Francisco dropped
back into the hard and selfish rules Of cut
throat existence Schmitz found that he
could not put the history Of the days be-
fore April is behind him. The strong men
Of the weary days after the fire watched
him slip back into the grip OF the curly
boss even as they themselves slipped
pack 20 the normal Of good business"
The papers which had so joyfully pro-
claimed Schmitz's emancipation from RueR
began to hammer harder than ever at
the graftsmiths, Abe and Gene.
Eugene Schmitz, the fiddler Mayor who
was Jared out OF bed by opportunity on
the morning OF April IL and who for a time
found himself a man at the forefront OF epic
events, had not the strength to saddle op-
p~ortunity firmly. In six short months
he has 81 ipped from his pedestal to the bar
OF justice.
OLDEST QUAkER ELDER DEAD.
Her Name Was Elizabeth HaydOck and n
Was 0S Years Did