The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1907-05-24
I SKETCH OF ABE RUFF
IDENTS in THE CAREER OF SAN FRANCISCUS
NOTORIOUS GRATING BOSS

An exchange gives the following facts life story of
Akeaam Ruef the of boodes the DAYS of
Boss Tweed:
Ben French Jewish ancestry San Francisco Abraham
Kwas reared in the city he has lived disgrace His parents
ou well do gave him every educational advantage
Wtn their At the public school and high school the
dnguished himself by his qucness of mind He also earned
himself this early age by traits of unusual greed
sPey nickname which chung him all through his college
Young the University of California Berkeley
an aee when boys high school He bright in his
studies made other mark student life When he grad
ua in 1884 he had scarcely friend After this he studied at
the Hastings College of Law taking his degree bachelor of laws
LAW TO POLITICS..
Entering upon practice of 1885, Ruef first hung
his snge Oakland the bay from San Francisco His
success practitioner the bar practically nil If he had
any have induced them compromise their
fo Oakland lawyer of those days recall seeing Rue
plead before jury.
Though Ruef did qualify brilliant lawyer he lost
time in proving himself politician AS he old enough
familiar figure in ward politics and at primaries
got be known among the politicians of San Francisco
bay as "Curly Ruef"
Now and then at county conventions allowed put
some cut and speecfy little the hustings
He general attention until 1895 when he had become
influential enough procure the appointment OF attorney Tor the
public administrator
In those days Ruef kept little dingy office the top floor
Of tumbedown building Montgomery street. where the
Kohl building stands His only office assistants were his sis
acting senographer and typewriter and his father who was
Office boy all work While Ruef held public office these
assistants were paid the public funds The wits of San
ened them the famous law firm OF Solomon and
SaIlie Brass in Dickens "Od Curiosity Shop"
During Rues attorney for the public administrator
there were umo crooked deals but public charges were
brought against until long aerwad when Dick Chreten from
his prison Qunen laid the crime of perjury for which
Re had been convicted at Ruefs door.
In those days professed be sanch Republican He
se position the county central committee and in the state
upaen for governor part in what then called the
IF the
HIS FIRST WORK
As politician Ruef prang his first sensation before the un
a election of San Francisco when he organized epuD
lean Primary League Incorporation papers for
Just as if were business enterprise in fact was Among
Rref leoa clients then who had had interest IN
small gas engine manufacturing concern Tins mans ale was
Eugene E. Schmz He something OF ward ponucidn
union labor circles having the presidency of the Musicians
union in San Francisco incidentally he fiddler playing every
pt in one of the theatre orchesas Ruef made Sclz one
of his directors the political corporation AS director oc
cod depended always attend meetings TO vote as nc was
told and to take any other order from Nue "iu e
selling the other side
Wb the time came for the primaries put Schmz for
ward as his nominee for district leadership He was beaten
k his organization together until l9ol whe ne o
pasbed Schnz forward "h man. Again they were oed'e
Ruefs second defeat his political opponents "lth ue
Republican party declared him down and out lie would nave
bee had he PLAYED the game of politics according to the re
He was whipped dog and by all the rules OF the game ~
have skunk away hiding But Rue has ever Ieuseu "
hanpered by any rules OF falr-play ne Payeu ~ -
expected by his opponents by organizing P -
own against his party
This was in the DAYS when the capitalists of San Francisco were
arayed together in determined effort to down the aoor unions
The unions retaiated with monster strike In the mas. OF e
srike put Scmitz forward as the champion u W
Ruef belonged to none the unions and was not IN sympathy
th then, Scbmtz too recognized by ne UNIONS
U leader NOR was his union musicians politically ln1ueta
sui in the midst of the excitement the strike aypody w
ould work for the union gladly welcomed and 50 uei
nd scb soon found themselves the forefront OF the hgh
Schmz thanks to his engaging personal appearance ana a
SS - ,1;no pot the nomination for mayor on the