The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-05-23
WHAT RUFF
ACTUALLY SAID


SAN FRANCISCO, May 16-Abraham
Ruef, in his plea of guilty in Judge
DUNES court yesterday, made the fol-
lowing statement:
,"If your honor please, with the per-
mission of the court, desire to make
statement. 1 do so after only short
consultation with my attorneys, to
whom l have only within the last half
hour disclosed my determination, and
against their express protest. I take
this occasion to thank them for their
services, fidelity and friendship. Not
withstanding the courts finding yes
terday that this trial might safely be
carried on without serious injury to
! my health, physical or mental, wish
to assure you that my personal con-
dition is such that I am at the present
! time absolutely unable to bear for two
or three months daily the strain of
an actual trial of this case, the con-
slant. continual, nightly preparation
! therefor, the necessary consultation
and conversation with my attorneys in
regard thereto, to say nothing of other
cares and responsibilities.
Moreover, the strain of these pro-
ceedings upon those whom hold near
est and dearest of all on earth has
been so grave and severe that as a re-
suit of these prosecutions their health
has all been undermined, they are
on the verge of immediate collapse and
their lives are indeed now actually in
the balance.
Il have occupied a somewhat pro-
minent position in this city of my birth
in which have lived all my life, where
are all my ties and interests, whence,
when the time shall come, 1 hope to
pass into the eternal sleep.,I have
borne an honored name. In my private
and in my professional life there has
been no stain. In my public affilia-
lions, until after the municipal cam
paign of 1905, and the election of the
present Board of Supervisors, the alb
horrent charges of the press to the
contrary Notwithstanding, no action of
mine ever gave just ground for adj
verse criticism or deserved censure; but
the assaults of the press and it's failure !
to credit honesty of purpose, desire |
to hold together a political organiza-
ion which had been built up with much |
effort, the means of otherwise holding |
hem, did after the election of this |
Board of Supervisors in a measure in |
luence me and the high ideals for which |
had heretofore striven.
During the past few weeks have |
hought deeply and often of this situa-
ion, it's causes and conditions To !
,ffer excuses now would be folly. To |
make an effort at some reparation for |
he public good is, however, more than |
possible; to assist in making more diff
icult, if not impossible, the system |
which dominates our public men and |
,orrupts our politics will be a welcome
ask.
81 have decided that whatever energy
II abilities 1 possess for the future
hall be devoted even in the humblest
apacity to restoring the ideals which
lave been lowered; 1 shall as soon as
opportunity be accorded, be re-enlisted
IN the side of good citizenship and in
egrity May it be allotted to me at
ONE time hereafter to have at least
ONE small part in re-establishment on
clear, sane basis a plane of high civic
morality just reciprocal relations be-
ween the constantly struggling con-
titutent element of our governmental
nd industrial life.
I'm the meantime / begin by earnest
ess of purpose, a purpose to make the
reatest sacrifice which can befall
uman being of my disposition to make,
D acknowledge whatever there may
ave been of wrong or mistake and so
ar as may be within my power to
lake it right
81 reached this final determination
lst night after careful reflection and
Where duty calls 1 in
end to f. llow, whittier hereafter the
ath of my life may lead and how
yer unpleasant and painful may be
ne result. I make this statement so .
nat the court and the whole world may
now at least the motives which have
uided me in the step I am about to
axe.
Continued on Page Five)