The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-05-24
SENSATIONAL
ACCUSATION BY
PROSECUTORS
Charge That Standard Oil
Has Joined in Fight to
Save Calhoun
CONSPIRACY ALLEGED
Three San Francisco Banks
Said to Be Involved
in the Plot
WOULD RULE CITY
Claim That Car Strike Was
Forced as First Move
in the Game
WOULD RULE CITY

Sensational statements were made
by the prosecutors of the graft
charges last night, declaring their
conviction that no less powerful in
terest than the Standard Oil was CO.
operating with Patrick Calhoun in his
effort to thwart justice.
According to the allegations of the
leaders of the prosecution, Calhoun
is receiving substantial aid from the
high financial interests allied with the
Southern Pacific railroad and William
F. Herrin has called the power of the
Standard oil monopoly to his succor
tits pointed out that two banks in
this city are controlled by the Stand-
ard Oil people--the Wells Fargo bank
and the Bank OF caiifornia-and that
these two institutions. in concert with
the Crocker national, were used by
Herrin in the selection of the late
committee of seven. 1t is alleged that
the Crocker blink was brought into the
plot after the revelations in the Park
side franchise scandal had rendered its
officials hostile to the prosecution.
In substantiation of the charge that
the Standard Oil has been called to the
rescue of Calhoun and Herrin. it is
pointed out that Moritz Rosenthal, the
attorney of the Standard Oil. has come
to San Francisco for the confessed pur-
pose of acting as chief counsel for Cali
houn.
Fearing that the prosecution was
about to have the mayor committed to
custody and new mayor appointed.
it is declared by the prosecutors. Her
rim saw the necessity of prompt ac-
ton to save the political situation
from falling into the complete con-
troll of the men who were threatening g
him with criminal tribunal He is
said to have reasoned that if the new
mayor gave the city straight gov
ernment the voters of the city would
elect an administration in the fail
which would be hostile to him. and 1t
is charged that he then determined to
seize the government through COM
mittee of law and order whose mem
bers would be of such reputable stand
ing that no suspicion of foul play
would arise.
The prosecution declares that Herrin
was in conference with E. j. De Pue
for two hours at the Pacific Union club
prior to the selection of the committee
these two hours the pair were under
the eye of detective, 1t Is stated
that at the same time Calhoun was in
conference with Anderson, who was to
be one of the seven.
1t is declared that previously the
mayor, who is alleged to be acting
with Herrin and Calhoun in the plot
had been approached and assured that
if he called together the committee of
fifty enough of its members would re-
spond to give the movement a SEM
blance of regularity and that the ar
rangements had been made for the SUBJ
sequent selection of the smaller COM
mittee, on which was to fall the task
of Selling the city government, to the
embarrassment of the graft prosecu-
ton.
According to the view of the prose
cution, four of the seven selected were
ignorant of the work which had been
cut out for them. but some of their
number were chosen for the reason
that they might be controlled by the
aforementioned banks
Rudolph spreckels declared yester-
day:
1T was the purpose OF this commit
tee to induce me to act with it in the
appointment of a chief of police to
succeed Dinan who would order his
men to club the union men in street
car riots. Then. It was to be given
out that Spreckels' chief of police had
been guilty of brutality against work
ingmen. All this was to be done
with the intent of turning the election
in the fall and electing mayor and
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