New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-19
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
Opinion in San Francisco of the Ruef
"COnfession."
[By Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

San Francisco. May 1S.-The confession in open
court by Abraham Ruef the head and front Of
San Francisco graft, was dramatic and sensa-
tional, but when calmly analysed It is seen TO be
only cunning device of the chief criminal to
escape with light penalty. provided he fur
nishes the prosecution with the positive legal
proof needed to convict Mayor Schmitz and other
bride takers and bride givers. Those who knew
Ruef best never believed he would weaken The
case of extortion from French restaurants on
which he TO be tried first was not very
strong, and Ruef might have escaped but evil
dence against him in score of other cases was
convincing. In the quiet of his private jail life
Ruef had ample time for reflection He saw all
OF his oidtime friends fall away from him. He
saw them not even make pretence of calling
upon hiffl lie realized that his political prestige
was gone His health had begun TO fail and he
was constantly wrought upon by his relatives TO
confess and end the strain of public trial. A
stronger man would have wthstood all this
strain and have fought the fight 10 the bitter
end, but Ruef displayed in this emergency
yellow streak and in his confession attributed
10 regard for his parents and his sister what
was really cowardly fear for his own fate. He
naa persisted in going TO trial on all the charges
against him. He would probably have been
sentenced 10 state prison for the remainder OF
ms natural life. Now. by giving testimony which
VIII convict Mayor Schmtz and others he will
escape with merely nominal term In prison.
Whatever may be the result. the breaking
down of Ruef is a great moral victory gained
largely through the efforts OF Francis J. Heney
VINO, two years ago. in great political mass
meeting at Mechanics Pavilion. declared that he
had evidence which would convict Ruef and
who predicted that If Mayor Schmtz were
elected third time corruption would become so
rampant that San Francisco would send for
MN ana beg him to prosecute the men who had
brought shame upon the city. Ii is seldom that a
prophecy made in the heat OF a political cam
patgn has been so thoroughly fulfilled
The streetcar strike still continues, but Gov
ernor Glettes threat to call out the state troops
s,,,l
sured running of cars on the main lines during
the day Thus far no attempt has been made TO
run cars at night. darkness would give strik-
ers the opportunity to wreck cars easv Tha
United Railroads has proved that IL has many
competent men who are able to operate cars. and
the number or cars in is being Increased
every day, but fear OF violence deters many iron,
patronizing the cars, and the heavy fines i'm
posed by most of the labor unions prevent work.
lngnen from making use of this cheap transpor-
tation: The strike leaders declare that the
United Railroads will he forced to WELD as the
company cannot endure the withdrawal ~ nipetv
thousand patrons not to mention a large numher
OF others who sympathize with them or who fear
loss of trade should they he Identified as hostile
10 the union. President Calhoun declares how
ever. that he will never again recognize the car
mems union nor will he ever employ any mo,
who has been active in fomenting this s,riLa
the police are still required to protect the cars
IN many neisn09rhooas but this protection is
still thrown by hoodlums and strikers
Mr.. Ehrhorn. Deputy State Commissioners =,
Horticulture, has found some minute Australian
parasites that fatal to the black scale I'm tho
orange groves of the interior of California The
ordinary parasite which killed this black orange
scale in South Africa was found very effective
along the coast of California, but In the interior
valleys IL proved useless This smaller parasite
bids fair TO prevent the destruction OF many
fine orange groves.
Several permits for large buildings were filed
this week. among them one to the Pabst Brew
ing Company for six story hotel the north
east corner of Ellis and Powell streets 10 cos,
5000 600. and one TO the Society of California
Pioneers for a S3oOO0O six story hotel, at Fourth
street and Pioneer Place
For twenty-five years president OF the chill
dren's hospital in this city. Mra Willard q