The Washington herald., 1909-03-21
CAREER OF SCHMITZ
Spectacular Life Of Former
Mayor of Coast City.
MILLIONS OF GRAFT SHARED
abe Ruef, che Leader in the Plum
derIng of San FranciscO-Rise of
the Orchestra Leader and Fiddler
to a Power in POlitics-Aided by
william n. Hearst and Others.

Eugene F. Schmitz. the former mayor
Of San Francisco, was real hero IN the
fearful period following the earthquake
and confagration OF April IS. 1906. Men
who had execrated Schmitz for the vile
lrottenness into which the government Of
the city had been allowed 20 sink under
his corrupt rule were tempted TO forgive
him because OF his unseihsh. tireless,
efficient, and wonderful labors IN the days
following the dreadful catastrophe. More
10 him than to any one else was given
the credit, even by his enemies, OF in
fusing into the people OF the prostrated
city the determination 10 build out OF
the ruins a finer and greater San Fran
cisco than the one destroyed.
In that period Of stress Schmitz dis
played qualities OF mind and heart which
converted enemies into friends. For q
time II looked as II schmitz had reformed
genuinely and for all time. He seemingly
cut loose from the vicious ring OF asso-
ciates which had made the old San Fran
cisco a stencil in the nostrils Of the re-
spectacle residents. In that period OF
hope the best men Of San Francisco,
who had long avoided Schmitz, became
his associates and advisers. He was tend
cred a banquet as a mark OF the new es-
TEEN in which he was held.
The "SIunfcipaI Crib Reappearu.
But the reform OF Schnlitz proved
transitory. Out Of the ruins Of the city
emerged the Municipal Crib" Before the
earthquake the Municipal Crib" was one
Of the ulcers Of the vice-infested city
II was the most notorious den and the
most profitable Of its kind in the town
II yielded revenue estimated AT $500 a
day. IL was practically a corporation
the stockholders being the men who con-
trolled the government Of san Francisco.
SchmitZ was said 20 be a considerable
stockholder. being represented in the
Wretched undertaking by his brother.
It was the temperance Of the ''Muni-
clpal Crib" and the general suspicion that
Schmltz was one OF the chief benenciaries
Of the vile institution that caused his new
friends 20 run from him with horror and
institute a campaign 10 purge the city
Of its mayor and all his associates in the
wild orgy OF marketing wee and crime
Schmitz Is a handsome nan. big IN
height and breadth. with fine features. a
convincing and charming manner and
well equipped with the kind Of personal
magnetism which counts for much in a
politician.
Leader I'm Orchestra.
IN 1901 Schmitz was a So week or
chestra leader IN the Columbia Theater
The orchestra under him was a trivial af-
fair. and 20 swell the volume OF sound
the leader played a violin. He was not
an artist with the violin by any means:
simply a second or third rate fddler
His only bid for fame az that time was a
petty prominence he enjoyed ia labor
union affairs. He was the chief figure in
the Musical Union in San Francisco. and
in that capacity was brought into contact
with other labor leaders.
In the fall OF 1901 local political condi-
tlons were In a muddle. There had been
clashes between employers and various
unions which brought the labor issue
into the forefront. An employers as
sociatiOn was formed. with the avowed
purpose OF crushing the unions. Strikes
OF all kinds followed. and so bitter were
some OF the struggles tha several men
were killed.
A union labor party was formed 10
take an active part IN the coming mu-
nicipal struggle. This was Schmitz's 2
chance. As the leader OF the Musicians
Union he was put forward as the mayor
atty candidate OF the new party.
Schmltz was vigorously supported by
William r. Hearst's paper. the Exam
iner He was opposed by all the other
newspapers II was more than suspected
that he was also supported by a consider
able faction or the Republican machine
What was known as the North Beach
section Of San Francisco was politically
dominated by Abe Ruef. a man Of great
intellectual ability and lawyer OF skill.
Ruef had been the right bower OF Martin
Kelly. the Republican boss OF Frisco.
He was also Kelly's lawyer in all kinds OF
queer transactions. Ruef knew all the
ms and outs or politics and had great
brain power besides. He was graduated
from the University Of California when
he was but ejghteen-and though he was
the youngest graduate ever turned out
by that institute. he was the honor man
Of MS class. Ruef is natural linguist.
speaking. reading, ana writing six Ian
guages.
Ruef Brains of Movement.
With the help OF Ruef. the Hearst ma
chine. and the peculiar conditions in the
labor world prevailing 81 that time the
orchestra leader was swept into the
mayors chair. Though a crude orator
Schmitz had developed into a foreefuI
and effective speaker on the stump. He
was then but thirty-fYe years old. He
had lived all his life IN San Francisco.
having been born there OF German par
ents. His father had gone to the Pacific
Coast with the gold hunters, but was not
one OF the lucky ones He had raised a
large family OF boys. and with difficulty
had given each one a fairly good COM
mon school education. IL had been the
ambition OF Gene Schmitz. as his friends
call him, TO be a physician. For time
he studied medicine. Then his health
broke down. and when he was physically
able TO go on with his studies. the finances
OF hts family compelled him 10 become
a bread-winner. He had some natural
musical ability and drIfted into adding
to earn a living
When Schmitz first took hold OF the
mayoralty OF San Francisco his rule
was characterized by sanity and sagac-
ity. It seemed TO be his single aim 10
give the city an honest administration
and the best in his power.
That did not last long. The deft hand
Of Abe Ruef began TO appear, not alarm
ingly at first, but here and there at in
tervals. Ruef set about to establish a
Schmitz machine. and he did Il with
characteristic ability and also 10 his
own enrichment. Every oficeholder in
the city, from the mightiest 10 the hum
bic. Joined the Schmitz Club The sole
duties OF the members were 10 pay dues
and boost Schmitz The Office Of counsel
to the SchmltZ Club was created, with a
salary of S2SOOO a year Abe Ruef was
given the place.
Whether the mayor got any share OF
the $4,000 has never been disclosed,
though Il is said that he and Ruef d.
vided all such revenues. The total which
the two men collected in the six years Is
e,rl - ro-.o ,-oooi,a6 the s4rfrav 5r,,s g.