Arizona republican., 1907-05-22
MIR. SPRECkELS SPEAKS
 COMMITTEE OF SEVEN
Tools of SChmitz, who Is in Turn the Tool
 of the United Railroads
The Instgator of the House Cleaning Now in Progress Say He Has Political Purposes te Carry Out.

San Francisco. May 21-Rudolph Spreckles. who occupies a prominent place in the prosecution for municipal corruption in this city has defined his position on the graft" investigation with the late committee of seven" When asked by the Associated Press whether the editorial statements pub lished locally to the effect that the committee of seven endeavoring by it's interference in municipal affairs to snatch the fruits of victory from Spreckles. represented his sentiments he replied: "I do not need anybody to blow my horn. nor do I thank any one for trying to do it. These editorial ut teTances. despite opinion to the con- trary. were made without my knowl- edge and consequently without my consent.
 As far as the committee of seven is concerned I have this to say: The committee is-Or was-composed of men of fine standing in the communi- ty. No one will impugn their motives, but 1t is perfectly apparent they even though without their knowledge were selected by corporate interests; and were appointed by Mayor Schmitz Now I and my assistants have our hands full in prosecuting the bribers and grafters. That is enough for any set of men to undertake. We are not concerned at present with the duties which the committee of seven felt it. self called upon to execute. We did not ask the committee to confer with US. But when the committee called upon Heney and me, told them frankly l did not see why they. repre- senting a body of men who made no effort to hold up my hands in the ini- tial or later stages of the bribery graft investigation. should at this time butt in with the demand that We permit the supervisors to resign.
 The resignation of the supervisors. sixteen self confessed bribe takers. would mean the appointment by SchmitZ of new board which would be of course in accord with any plans he might desire to carry out I need not suggest what such plans might be-
 Tt was the intention of the commit tee of seven as announced to us to se- cure the consent of the prosecution to the removal of the board of public works, the police commission and the board of supervisors, whether by resig- nation or otherwise. I made it very plain to the committee that it was our belief that the committee was created through the mayor by the United Railroads and MT Ferrin and that we could have no dealings with it.
 It is certainly true that the situa- tion existing in San Francisco de- mands relief through a change of municipal officers. But I myself am concerned only with carrying out the investigation and the prosecution of graft and bribery.
 The charge that I seek to controI the politics of the city. or administer municipal affairs is absolutely false. My sole endeavor and whole purpose is to clean out the corruption that has infested all forms of municipal life and thereafter to formulate and put into effect a system of municipal espionage and control which shall make at least improbable the resumption of those vices which We are now trying to stamp out.
 True We are keeping the board of supervisors. majority of them self confessed bribe takers in office. We are doing this not by way of politi- cal control but for the purpose of pre- venting the mayor from naming a new board which would carry out his or ders and nullify to a great extent our efforts for permanent reform.
 The charge by President Calhoun of the United Railroads that the district attorney has taken steps for the sci zure of the Geary street road in order to cripple the United Railroads in it's fight against the car mems union is very natural and ordinary charge. Cal