Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-11-20
HENEI AND THE
wOLFlSH GRAFTEHS

cisco, admitted asst winter that hc
carri d a ps,ol IA the couri ~oom as
precaut on against attacks upon
MS person. skunks OF the subsi !ized
press took up the point and made
Of IL an issue OF dicu!e They
called Heney q gun fighter" They
attempted to lead tn pu1nc % ;he
belief that Heney was forced TO re-
sort to firearms TO make effective
las campaign against the munic pal
thieves.
But Heney's friends and sympa-
thzers knew at that time. as tney
haye since. that the graft"rs and
Their ruffian colleagues would not
stop at blood-le;.-ng to cheat JUS
tice out Of its claims upon Ruef
AM Schm IL and Pat Ca noun and
the oth'r big business scoundrels
whose patr otsm is atrophied, and
who know no principle higher than
self-ga n at any cost
No one will doub: today that
Heney was ju stlfled in carry ng arms
or selr-defense. The murderous
assault upon h III by the ex-convict.
Haas. was the natural outcome OF
he vicious Treatment; that has been
accorded Heney ever since he al
empted to- sweep the srafters out
II the Pacific metropol S. The bull
let that sped from the hand of Haas
was a bullet that caught it's force
rom the business pirates who have
used all OF the influence al their
command to defeat Hen y and the
graft prosecution.
1t is amazing fact that in an
American city such events can occur
as have marked the graft hearings
from the opening day. With two
excepl ons, the newspapers OF San
Francisco have used all their power
to discredit Heney and to MAKE It
appear that Heney's motives were
low and that the prosecution was
being pushed by Rudolph Spreckles.
whose object was to obtain public
franchises. No blacker and no more
Infamous lie has ever been spread in
publ C print. The truth of the mat
ter is that polite business gentlemen
OF San Francisco are deeply involv-
I'd in the wicked graft net, and they
vel know that IL Heney succeeds
furnishing Abe Ruef he will ulti-
mately get some OF the more polite
8rafters. And these men OF big bus
ness have consistently erected
every possible barrier between the
dethroned boss and the pententiary
OF San Quentin
The police OF San Francisco have
given Heney practically no protec-
ton. Daily the courtroom was
packed with men Of evil vlsage,
and the prosecutor has been tine
and aga n Kissed and jostled by
.hese thugs.
Heney has done some OF the most
righteous work in the cause of
commercial-political life in this
country. He has done 1t at a per-
sonal sacrifice. He has g. en- his
me and talent freely to accom-
plish lofty ideal. HIS mar. e should
be craven deeply in the gra. eful
memory OF every honest American.
He has done a despised work with
willing heart and an able hand
He has torn away the sheltering
curtains OF the SPIDERS web of evil
business
If San Francisco VII not protect
the person Oh this patrio: who is
striving to redeem her honor. the
State OF California should do SO,
and IL California fails, the Presi-
dent should send Federal troops in
to San Francisco and guarantee to
protect the life Of Franc s J. Heney
Cincinnati Post.
When Prosecutor Heney began
his crusade against vice in h gh
places he virtually took hie life in
his hand, as every man does who
undertakes to wok any lef orm
where big scoundrels are involved.
IL requires a courage Of high order
to do what Heney is doing. 1t is
not Ruef and Schmitz Who are dan
gerous. but the men of eminent re-
speciality CD behind them. the
wealthy beneficiaries or enc public
service corporations exploited with
the aid and consent of these rogues.
Schmitz Is supported by the big fl
nancial Interests Of San Francisco
who are perm tied 20 exploit the
dty at will, and IL Is these gentle
men who are giving Heney trouble.
IL is not necessary to go 10 San
Francisco to see men assaulted or
knocked in business and every 9th
er way" who dare 20 oper their
mouths in opposition to graft and
corruption. The same th NJ can be-
found nearer home. and m OF the
most eminent respcctabiEty will be-
ound among the knockers.
NOTICE TO TAX PAYERS.
will be at the following places
hn ~