New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-17
BOSS RUFF.

BOSS RUFF.
We cannot tell whether Boss Ruef is a hero
IN San Francisco to-day or not We do not
know enough about the San Francisco tempera-
ment to estimate the effect of his extraordi-
nary plea of guilty, but the man who Las GER
tainly demonstrated that at least he once
knew the San Francisco mind and heart clearly
expected that his little speech to the court and
his subsequent statement would change him
from an outcast TO a hero. Last night" he
says Il reached the conclusion that there
might still be an opportunity to make some
effort TO restore myself in the public favor and
be power for good" Isn't it extraordinary?
A Self-cOnfeSsed corruptiOnist desires to be a
power for good, Ito help overthrow the system
which has made possible the terrible corrup-
'ton of public officials" Ruef knows some
thing about his San Francisco, for he had
hardly got through his speech when the District
Attorney SHOOK him by the hand warmly" and
said: You did a manly thing 1 want to tell
you now that anything the prosecution can
properly do for you will be done willingly
gladly"
Boss Ruef has keen eye on what the prose
cution can do for him. So has Mayor Schmitz
Immunity for a confession not being in pros
pect the boss has boldly thrown himself on
the mercy Of the court and of public opinion.
1AS Lds uIe sense OF the UTamatlC, IllS MI.
Ruef. Not a hint is allowed to escape of his
intent TO make sensational plea First one
Of his counsel arises and mysteriousy with
draws from the case. Then another. and an
other. Then the boss steps forward with his
remarkable speech. The people love such
dramatic scenes. There has been nothing like
1t since that tremendous business when his
own case being before the grand jury, he had
the District Attorney removed and himself
made District Attorney
The plea is as artful as it is dramatic For
himself he cares nothing sublime remuneration!
He wishes 10 serve with the other reformers
now in the popular ascendant and be "a power
for good" He wishes TO stop the system of
corruption which he unwittngly started and
which got beyond his control. He cares moth
ing for jail; five years, fourteen years, -four
teen hundred years. 1t IS all one to him If he
can accomplish these worthy purposes and
spare his aged parents the agony of suspense
and the strain of trial. That touch of filfal
affection was a pretty thing. Moreover, he
pleads guilty III case where the prosecution
would surely fail. Not only was the plea art
fully calculated to touch the popular magma
ton. but it we'll timed. The prosecution
wanted TO reach the corporation officers who
did the bribing. 1t could not do so without the
testimony of SchmtZ Ruef. Schmitz might
have anticipated him. If Ruef tells n story
which will convict the bribers the prosecu-
ton will look him with favor. Just how
Kindly the prosecution will treat him in con
sideraton OF the really great service his tes-
tmony may be to the state will probably de
pend upon his own skill in restoring himself in
the public favor
Boss Ruefs description OF himself as the
victim of a system" presumably has large
measure OF truth in it. The probability IS that
when he started his machine he had no idea
Of corruption on such a gigantic scale as sub
sequently developed. His statement that in
order to hold together the political machine
built up with great difficulty. Il did lower the
high political ideals that l had hitherto up
held" sounds laughable as an apology for the
worst system of political highway robbery this
country has ever seen; but it is probably true
that he was pressed by his followers nsa-
table appetite for graft. Il found, in short"
he says. that TO hold this machine together
l had TO permit and cOnnive at corruption" He
was followed by a band of labor union buns
who would eat the paint off a house" To lead
them he had to satisfy their appetite. His
manner Of showing now unavoidable corruption
is when man is at the head of such a hungry
band Of grafters is interesting:
The press of San Francisco had taught the
public to believe that every officehoder was
q crook that the whole city government was
rotten from skin to core; that no privilege could
be obtained unless It was paid for.
The corporation officers believed it and when
they wanted a franchise they proceeded at once
to bribery and he was the inevitable go
between:
Suppose that the United Railways came to me,
lawyer and political leader and asked me TO
accept fee TO manage the matter for them.
Suppose 1 refused Suppose then these super
visors got wind that there was money to be
had and 1 found out that they meant TO get
1t. Would I still refuse TO handle the matter
fnT uInd
would I accept the fee and connive at corrup-
ton?
This psychology of graft is impressive, and
we believe it is all true, except that we do
not suppose it ever irked Boss Ruef bit in
the days of his success to be and to be re
puted to be the head OF a band who would
"eat the paint off house"