The San Francisco call., 1908-07-04


SAN JOSE, Cal, July Charles w.
Dawson, Mayor of the City of San
Jose-My Dear Sir: 1 wish to write
you q letter in reference to Charles
Alva, who is now occupied in the street
department as a deputy in one of the
wards, and he is serving the citys in
terests well and faithfully. 1 have
been acquainted with Mr.. Alva, his
wife and family for a number Of years.
They are loyal and consistent followers
OF any organization with which they
are allied, and I would like to see Mr..
Alva retained in his present position in
the street department of the city of
San Jose for the following reasons:
You are familiar with the fact that
he was arrested for purchasing votes
in this city in 1905, as you were the
acting judge at the time and the Judge
who fixed his bond You are also fa-
miliar with the fact that he admitted
the same to be true, which fact was
true. The purchasing of votes is an
offense that you and 1 fully realize is
one of the crimes which is universally
committed in politics and which today
threatens TO overthrow our present
form OF government. 1t is crime
against the laws Of our state.
On the face of this statement and
with this admission both by Mr.. Alva
and myself, you might wonder why
would advocate in the face of the pre-
tended virtues of the politicians of the
present time the retention of a con-
fessed criminal under our laws for a
position in the public service. l do so
because I try TO be honest and I try
to be fair, regardless of public senti-
ment. and you have been sufficiently
Nar ~
try to understand that the contribution
of corruption funds to the various par
ties for the purpose of corruptly in
fuencing the elections has been ac-
knowledged by the politicians of the
great parties, both nationally and To-
cally, to be one Of the dominating in
f1uences which has prevailed to carry
elections.
You perhaps know that it was the
boast of politicians that it required
seven millions Of dollars to elect Mr.
Mckinley president of these United
States and that four and a half mill
lions were spent for Mr.. Bryan, but il
was the last two and a half millions
raised by Mr.. Platt of New York and
his associates that saved the repub-
lican cause and at the same time main
tanned Mr.. Platt's political prestige, not
only among the leading politicians of
the country but guaranteed him his re-
election as United States senator from
the state of New York
SOUTHERN PACIFIC CORRUPTION
So prevalent has this corruption be-
come that the Southern Pacific rail-
road company openly hires a corrup-
ZIONIST to debauch politics in state,
county and city affairs, so that the Off
cials of the different localities can
serve the interests of the Southern Pa
= Trh hea Ia
You know that this corrupt influence
reaches every department, in the
judicial, executive and legislative
branches of our government, and also
includes and embraces the public press.
You can see by the graft prosecution
in San Francisco where the accused
openly admit OF their varied corrup-
tions, where their old allies, known as
the higher ups, headed by William F.
Herrin, the paid corruptionist of the
Southern Pacific railroad company,
have reached out and gradually encom-
passed the influences that promise fair
now to throttle the prosecution, and
you Will gradually see the public turn
ing against the prosecution. Influenced
by various arguments inspired by in
direct, hidden contact with this cor.
rupting agency; and I take it that you
are wise enough to appreciate what /
say TO be true, and / believe you are
sufficiently intelligent to have a thor
ough understanding of the situation
yourself 1t is now rumored that Mr.
Spreckels has been caved down the
bank, but this 1 do not believe.
RUFF OUTRANKs HERRIN
Notwithstanding the criminal com
plications in which Mr.. Ruef. is now
involved. as gentleman and scholar
and a good hearted fellow he outranks
William F. Herrin and his immediate
confederates. Why should Mr.. Herrin,
the unexposed, and his associates be
held in higher public esteem than Mr.
Ruef, the exposed. and his associates
when Mr.. Ruef and his associates were
originally debauehed by Mr. Herrin
himself? What republican in the state
of California, who was a candidate for
public office, did not bow with defer
ence to Mr.. Ruef as he passed through
the halls and corridors of the hotels
at Santa Cruz at the last republican
state convention? Mr.. Ruef is no worse
today than he was then, as every re-
publican there understood the situa-
ton.
But notwithstanding the guilt of
these ring leaders and the horrible
showing it presents when put upon
paper, this whole people is a party to
the corruption because every individ-
ual in the state knows it to be true.
If he doesn't know it is true he is
fool; if he does know it is true and
quietly submits he is a party TO the
corruption himself; so let the people
be honest with themselves and bear
their portion of the burden openly.
President Roosevelt has demonstrated
the unpopularity of being honest and
removing the lid from i'll smelling
business and political pots at the risk
of his own reputation, but nevertheless
he has started in motion the spirit
of a square deal and publicity in all
public affairs, which If continued will
bring ultimate relief to this country
from these conditions.
FROM HEAD TO HANGERS ON
When the entire political machinery
of San Jose was corrupt from its
head, William f. Herrin. down to the
hangers. on of the lowest class. and IL