The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-07-12

tortion, was Monday sentenced to
five years in the penitentiary. When
the sentence was pronounced there
was a remarkable outburst of APP
plause from the hundreds of persons
who crowded Judge DUNES court
room.
Mayor Schmidt was found guilty
of extortion in the French restau-
rant case on June 10, the jury rem
dering a verdict after being out but
a short time The verdict was APP
plauded by most of those in the
courtroom, which was overcrowded
at the time.
When they came in and reported
their verdict Schmidt sat unmoved,
with his left hand to his chin. He
apparently did not understand the
foreman, and, turning to one of his
counsel, asked:
What is it?'
Guilty" said the lawyer, and the
Mayors hand dropped to the table,
but he showed no other signs OF
emotion.
Schmidt is the first to be convicted
in the anti-graft campaign inaugural
ed several months ago. 1t was on
the testimony of his former ''boss"
and confidential adviser, ABE"
Ruef, that the jury decided that the
Mayor shared in the blackmail col
lected from the French restaurant
keepers.
Ruef confessed after he was in
dicted on similar charges, pleaded
guilty, and, owing to tactical mis-
take of Schmidt's lawyers, appeared
as a witness against his former tool.
If Schmidt had not gone on the
stand to deny that he had shared
in Reuf's retaining fee" of $4,000 in
January, 1905, from the French res
taurant rroprietors, Reuf could not
have been called, as he was to refute
the Mayors testimony.
Mayor Schmitz's Career.
Eugene E. Schmitz's start in life
was humble. He began work as a
drummer boy in the old Standard
Theatre in San Fancisco. He won
his way up the ladded to the leader
ship of the orchestra in the Cali
fornia Theatre. He was still an or
chestra leader when elected Mayor
the first time. He was fiddler, too,
although not particularly good one
Schmitz's father was German, as
the name implies. His mother was
from County Glare, in Ireland. The
son was born in California.
In the fall of 1901 Schmitz sprane
into political limelight as candi-
date for Mayor of. San Francisco
He was "Abe" Ruef's candidate.
Few San Franciscans had ever heard
of him and few paid much attention
when it was announced that he was
a candidate for Mayoralty honors.
But San Francisco awoke one morn
ing to find Eugene E. Schmitz, the
orchestra leader, Mayor of the city.
Ruef Built Up Machine.
The name Of Ruef is so closely
associated with that of Schmitz that
few Californians ever mention one
without the other. No sooner was
Schmitz in the Mayors chair when
Ruef began to build up Schmitz
machine 1t was not long before
every one knew that while Schmitz,
the fiddler, was Mayor, abe" Ruef,
the lawyer, was making all the mu'
sic about City Hall. One of Ruef's
first moves was to organize the
Schmitz Club, and all office-holders
became members. They had to.
''Abe" Ruef was appointed attorney
for the Club, with an annual salary
of $4,000.
Mayor Schmitz was always in his
office, handsome, dignified, and in
personal appearance an ideal Mayor
But the word was not slow in being
passed around, "If you want to pull
anything through, see Ruef."
Went Well For Two Years.
But all went we'll for two years
SchmitZ then ran again for the job
of Mayor. He was reelected in spite
of protest from some of the bet
ter element. Soon there came
charges Of police graft in Chinese
gambling dens. The Board of Elec-
ton Commissioners was said to be
corrupt. The Fire Commissioners
were attacked. But the Schmitz
machine stood firm. There were in.
vestigations, and official whitewash
was literally used. The Tenderloir
was wide open.
The finger of public condemnation
pointed firmly now at Sehmitz.
Police Commissioner who became
overZealous was removed from of
flee. He charged Ruef and Schmiti
with getting "rakeoffs" on liquor Ii
censes.
Then came the earthquake
Through the efforts of the Mayor anC
others order was restored. The
charges of graft were renewed.
Burns Began Investigation.
William ]. Burns of the United
States Secret Service began an in
vestigation. The indictment of Rue
and Schmitz followed. Schmitz hur
ried back from Europe. He was re
leased on bail.
Oklahoma Fued.
McCloud. Okla. Especially Stand