The Detroit times., 1909-04-06
BOLD THEFT PUTS
I FRISCO TO SHAME
Citizens Are Indifferent At An
nouncement That Important Papers
in Graft Prosecution Are Stolen.
BY n. D. WHEELER.

SAN FRANCISCO, April GA few
days ago, through the confession OF
an employe Of VIM. j. Burns, the de-
tective, who. for more than two years,
has been engaged in the work OF
stamping out corruption in this city,
that he had been bnbed 10 betray his
trust, 1t was discovered that the secret
papers. containing evidence and in
formation, gathered In an endeavor TO
force rich criminals TO pay the penalty
OF their crime, had been stolen.
Those papers were OF vital import
ance TO every man, woman and child
In San Francisco. They had cost the
taxpayers. including public spirited
citizens who have given largely TO the
support OF the prosecution of grafters.
large sums of money. They were the
weapons OF a struggle tor great
principle. They were TO aid in DEM
cnstrating to the nation that a crime
Is q crime, and that IN paying the
under the law.
You should have thought that in
view OF all this. the American citizens
OF this great American city, when
those papers were stolen. would have
been filed with CONSERVATION and in
dignation.
They were not
When the loss of the papers was
announced, Patrick Calhoun, million
aire street railway president was on
trial. charged with having used a few
OF his dollars TO buy the souls Of
municipal servants OF the people, that
by the purchase OF those souls he
might have franchises worth millions.
Bribery. That was the charge. And
that other rich men might learn that
bribery Is crime and that the briber,
no matter how rich or how powerful,
can be punished, Francis J. Heney, a
fighter. with a little group of fearless
men like himself, was standing alone.
struggling valiantly against Calhoun,
his friends, his millions and all that
his millions could buy. from clever
lawyers, versed in the loopholes OF
the law, down to dynamiters, thugs
and common burglars.
Citizens are Indifferent.
When the loss of those papers was
known, you would have thought that
the American citizens of this great
American city would have placed
themselves solidly behind Heney, that
they would have demanded the pun
ishment OF the guilty person or per-
sons, that they would have declared
that the prosecutions must go on un-
til every rich lawDreaker had gone
to trial and his guilt or innocence
established beyond doubt.
They did not.
Why?
IL you could be given an opportun-
ity to speak to each one OF the voting
citizens of San Francisco, and should
ask each one mis- sentiments toward
the prosecution OF grafters, it is a
conservative estimate that eight out OF
ten would say one of two things
Either:
"Oh, Calhoun and his gang are
guilty, all right, but Calhoun will new
er 60 to the pen. What's the use of
wasting money? Heneys up against
IT, I'm sick of the graft prosecution.
So is everybody else. It's hurting
business. 1t ought TO be stopped"
Or
pat paid the money all right. He
couldn't get what he had TO have any
other way. Ii was business, that's all.
He's no worse, and maybe a lot bet
ter, than Heney. They can't convict
Calhoun. The city's sick and tired
OF Heney and his prosecutions"
you would see at once, could you
talk to these men, that not one of
them looks upon the fight against the
rich criminals as his personal affair