The San Francisco call., 1907-01-18
Shifty Legislator Emerges
From Behind Cloak to the
Aid Of Schnitz and Ruef
CHANGES FRONT ON
THE VENUE MEASURE
Members From Interior Are
Not Deceived and Will
Fight Nefarious Scheme
CALL HEADQUARTERS.
1907 EIGHTH STREET.

SACRAMENTO, Jan. IL
That Grove L. Johnson, chairman
of the Assembly committee on ju-
dietary, has changed his mind
about allowing his change of
venue bill, which he admits might
enable Schuitz and Ruef to re-
move their trials from Judge
Dunne's court, to sleep without
action or mourners in the
archives Of his committee does
not mean that the bill is TO be
passed without a fight.
Johnson assured The Call yes
terday that, while he thought the
enactment Of the bill, which he
introduced for an undisclosed
country lawyer, would not affect
the Schrnitz-Ruef cases or any
other jury trials, yet rather than
take any chances Of making possible
3 trick or the part OF the San Fran
cisco graft defenders he would per-
NIT the bill to lapse into innocuous
desuetude. The Assembly yman called
attention to the fact that his son is
one OF the prosecuting counsel. and
that be could, Of course. not be ex-
pected to father anything that might
embarrass his sons efforts in court
AT an executive session OF the judi
ciary committee today Johnson told the
same story without the sleeping accom-
paniment. The connection Of his son
with the graft prosecution was today
cited as the best evidence OF his faith
in the merits Of the measure. The atti-
tude OF the elder Johnson toward the
younger man has long been OF such
character that those who are familiar
with the formers methods are quite
willing to believe that he hailed the
opportunity 10 embarrass his sons posi-
tion with scarcely concealed delight
COUNTRY LAWYERS AROUSED
Twenty Of the twenty-one members
Of the judiciary committee were present
and several OF them took occasion to
record themselves as accounted for so
far as this particular johnson bin is
,.o.--o-oo1 rrbe oo.r,--r~ 1.r---ar.s .,-f1l
fight the measure for more than the
single reason that it might help Ruef
and Schnifz embarrass the progress Of
their prosecution. These lawyers do
not wish TO be compelled to travel one
hundred or more miles to find q court
simply because an opponent files an af-
hdavit OF prejudice. as he may under
the proposed measure, IN justice
court
But Il the Schmitz-Ruef cases were
not involved and members Of the Legis-
lature did not feel that regardless Of
the vehement protesations OF the i'm
mediate champions OF the measure.
there was a san Francisco graft finger
in the pie somewhere, the measure
would probably pass. Yesterday the
further consideration Of the bill in
committee was put over two days. A
poll Of the members of the committee
indicates that II may be defeated there.
but n IT is not the minority members
Of the committee viii fight it's passage
from the floor.
Assemblyman Cutten is one OF the
committeemen who is out for a row
n the fbili is taken out OF committee
over the protest Of himself and its op-
pcnents.
CARTOONS WORRY HIM
Johnson. by the way is not in favor
Of the enactment Of ali legislation so
far proposed. He has very decided
views on the questions OF Insurance
and cartoons. The repeal Of the car
toon law as proposed by Johnson is to
meet with the most determined oppo-
sition from the Sacramento statesman.
Personally, he prefers to kin the news
paper man who cartoons him unpleas-
r~-<sm-o1 - D.wo q noIw- q