The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-11
BY III. ID. Wheeler.

| by Ii. ID. WheeIers
| SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. Ii
| Charles M. Fickert, distric at
torney-elect of San Francisco, who
has lent himself as shield to a
desperate gang of lawbreakers,
an honest man woefully fooled, or
an exceedingly clever and tricky
politician who is himself prepar-
ing to fool the richest, the most
powerful and probably the most
corrupt ring in the history of Cali
fornia politics.
There are no other possibilities.
talked with Fickert for about a
lhalf-hour, soon after the results
were known of the election which
returned him victorious over F. j.
Heney, the graft prosecutor, who,
latter a three years battle against
corruption, had come out as an in
dependent candidate to save the
office of district attorney from
falling into the hands of indict-
ed corporation millionaires. The
statement above is based on that
talk, viewed in the light of events
and conditions previous to the
election.
If he was sincere during that
half-hour, what Fickert said
would indicate that he is an hon
est man-fooled, or a clever man,
preparing to fool. The evidence
argues strongly against his sin
certify.
There was a well-defined issue
before the voters at the election
1t was simple:
Graft prosecutions or not?
That was it. 1t was a principle,
not an issue of personalities. He
ney and Fickert were simply the
bodily representation of the posi-
tive and negative aspects of the
principle, something material for
the voters to hang their ballots
on.
1t may be that Fickert didn't
understand that. Anything is pos
sible. Whether he did or not,
1
his campaign consisted of a con-
tinuous raising of false issues,
determinations, mudslinging-any-
thing to confuse issues and beat
Honey.
The forces of good government
were behind Heney. Those who
stood with MIN in the fight repre-
sented the best citizenship of San
Francisco.
Public service corporation Off
cials, hcarged with crime, rich
bride givers, corrupt political
machine, dive keepers, creatures
of the half world, and all the 9TH
er elements that go into the maxi
ing of scientific politics" were
behind Fickert. They could be
behind him but for one purpose
to break Heney and stop the
prosecutions.
Il Maybe Fickert didn't under
island that, either. If he didn't,
then he may be put down as an
honest man, fooled. For the evil
dence, of the truth of it, is COM
plete. 1t was on every hand dur
ing the campaign and at the polls.
After l had waded through an
outer office filled with men, reek-
ing with smoke and the unmis-
taxable atmosphere of ward poll
tics, found Fickert. He is a big
l oh
muscular Che was once a foot ball
hero at Stanford university. He
has mild blue eyes and features
that convey neither an impression
lof strength nor of weakness.
That we might establish a def
mite basis for whatever he might
say as to what he intended to do
with his office, l asked him for
his view on what he had already
done.
"To what do you attribute your
election " l asked him.
The new prosecutor hesitated.
Il don't know that I quite I'M
derstand your question"
do you consider you were
elected on the issue of "prosecu-
ton or no prosecution" or on the
issue of what you have termed
'one-man control of public Of
Ifice'?"
This was in reference to Flick
ert's campaign argument that it
was unbearable that Rudolph
Spreckels, the San Francisco
banker, should back the prosecu-
lions financially.
!, We'll, both perhaps" said Mr..
Fickert.
That answer was surprising. 1t
was an indirect admission that he
lid realize the real issue. ,
II mean by that, he added has
tily, that the people are tired OF
having one man control a public
office designed for control by
themselves. They don't want
prosecutions conducted that way"
You believe that San Fran
cisco is not tired of. the prosecu-
lions, as such, and that a major
ity of the people, the people
who elected you, want them to go
on?"
Yes; San Francisco wants to
see crime stopped and criminals
punished"
Then the present prosecutions
will be continued after you take
Officer"
We were getting down to cases
now.
"Yes," said Fickert, "if 1 can
find sufficient evidence"
you cannot state your posi-
ton definitely, now?"
81 haven't examined the evil
dence."
Have you heard enough of it
in court, or read enough of 1t in
|