Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-04-02

THE law and order people Of San
Francisco are making a desperate
struggle to rid the city Of official graft
ers. For a long time San Francisco
has been under the domination OF a
number Of labor leaders with Abra-
ham Reuf as the power behind the
throne. Mayor Schmitz, one Of Reufs
cronies, is generally considered to be
a mere figurehead except to the extent
that he has been grating on his own
responsibility and independently Of
Reuf The situation has been appre-
ciated by the public at large for a
long time; but people who desired to
take action have been reluctant to
move for the reason that they realized
that the corruption permeated the gov
ernmezt machinery in all its depart
ments. Many Of the administrative
and judicial offices are filled with
tools Of Reuf and Schmitz. 1t was
clear that the average man was help
less to secure the enforcement Of the
law and for a long time none dared to
try. But as in all such cases the graft
ers carried the matter too far. At
ter committing various outrages, they
sold a telephone franchise for a big
price under circumstances that
aroused the most powerful influences in
the city. The circumstance seemed to
indicate that unless the property own
ers should take up a fight for their
rights, they would eventually be
stripped Of everything. Rudolph
Spreckles, the sugar magnate, took the
lead and called upon the citizens for
help, personally guaranteeing q fund
Of 100000 or as much more as might
be necessary for the prosecution Of the
bribe takers. Citizens came forward
with their subscriptions and soon
Spreckles had the more honest senti-
ment Of the city aroused. Warrants
were sworn out for Reuf and Schmitz;
but they gave bond and laughed. Be-
lieving that they had complete control
OF the legal machinery of the city,
both state and municipal, they had lit
tie to fear But things grew farmer and
Reuf ran away. Eventually he was
caught, month ago and brought back
The whole situation is now under in
vestigation in the court Of Judge
Dunno. 1t is known that Reuf's
friends and hirelings include large
number Of desperate men, and it Is
understood to be their intention to try
to rescue him. AS a matter Of fact
there have been several demonstra-
tions in court looking to that end; but
in addition to the regular court con-
stables and deputies, Spreckles and
the citizens committee have employed
a number Of brave and determined men
who are acting as guards and the dis
patches Of the past few days quote
Spreckles as saying that Reuf has
been advised that the guards provided
by the citizens have been instructed
that in the event Of serious attempt
to rescue Reuf, Reuf must be killed
first, and attention turned to his
would-be rescuers afterward. Spreck-
les insists that the investigation Is to
be pushed to the bitter end and the
higher up the offenders the more Wig
orous is to be the prosecution. San
Francisco is more completely under the
control Of the grating element than
any other city in America and upon
the outcome Of this cleaning up fight
on the part Of the citizens seems to
depend the question as to whether or
not property rights Of private individ-
uals are to be completely restored.