The San Francisco call., 1909-10-19
FICkfRT IS A big
STICK SAYS HENEY
Graft Prosecutor Asserts That
His Opponent Is Incapable
to Convict Any One

THE claim is made that the graft
prosecution is hurting business.
shall reply to this by showing to what
extent those opposed to this prosecu-
tion are hurting business.
These remarks prefaced speech de-
livered last night at Twin Peaks hall
by Francis j. Heney.
After reciting some of the history of
the graft prosecution and reading from
list classification of the leaders of
its opposition Heney took up the ques-
tions of gas and street railways.
Let's see how the United Railways
is hurting business Before the fire the
road operated $50 cars and the public
had better service than now. They
are now operating but AIS cars. which
is IT'S less per day. BY dispensing with
the services of two men this saves to
the company s1,75o per day, or s657,s75
per year. This was made possible by
the overhead trolley franchise, wherein
the company could run larger and
fewer cars. A friend of mine in Ger
many, seeking crowd gathered about
a picture and laughing, took a look
himself. The cause of the mirth was
picture of Market street car carrying
its usual load of passengers hanging to
all parts of it.
RECEIVE BETTER DIVIDENDS
'I have been assured by a number of
the largest business houses in this city
that they haev received better divi-
dends this year than before the fire.
But let us return to the railroads.
The company says 1t is too poor to
improve the service, yet it has taken
in more money this year than in its
history and has paid total of sS.00O,-
600 net, according to its published
statement, and all on an equipment
valued at s12.000,000.
1T is claimed basis of this prose-
cution was a desire TO get Calhoun in
Jail so that others could get control of
the United railways. This is a buga-
boo. The fact is that all the stock save
enough to maintain a directorate here
is owned in, New York, and Calhoun is
but an employe.
Now, what has the prosecution ac
complished? This is based on two
propositions-first, the tendency of the
public to forget the offenses Of the
criminals and, second, on the welel es-
tablished saw that the mills of justice
grind slowly. but grind exceeding fine.
THE principal reason that more con-
yictions have not been obtained is be-
cause of our faulty criminal laws. 1t
is hard to convict a rich man, but very
easy to get a poor one. Our criminal
laws are in bad way, but we have
made as much progress as elsewhere.
Take the case of Morse. the New
York ice man. His prosecution started
three years ago, and was just recently
sent before an appellate court. Take
the case of the Chicago banker, this has
occupied three or more years and has
just had an inning in the supreme
court. The laws are to blame, not the
prosecutors"
PEOPLE BECOME TIRED
Feney declared that whenever a pub
lie servant or others robbed the public
the people became incensed at first,
then lukewarm and finally dismissed
the matter with the remark that they
had not robbed them individually.
The big crooks rely upon the people
becoming tired" continued the speaker,
but l will say that there are some of
us who are finish fighters and will not
quit until unable to fight further.
Il started this fight back in 1905,
when / made the statement at Mechan-
les pavilion that IL the people elected
Ruef he would make them sorry. 1
agreed then to come back here and send
him to the penitentiary.
IF the people of San Francisco repu
date the prosecution of its high GRIM
ipals at this time it will declare to the
world that 1t lacks the moral fiber to
restore civic righteousness.
Now. Fickert is not worthy of abuse
at my hands. All have to say is that
he is a big stick, incapable of convict
ing any one. Calhoun put him up and
is paying for his campaign, as a glance
at the name at the head of the cam
paign committee will show. If Fickert
is being slcuthed on a motorcycle it is
one of Calhoun's men watching that he
delivers the speeches he is commanded
to-"
He was preceded by ]. NJ. Hanley.
who appealed to the people to stand
back of Honey and his campaign.
At Kendrick hall, in Valencia street
another large audience awaited the
speaker and was entertained by District
Attorney Langdon while waiting for
Heney. The reception there was as en-
thusiastic as that given Heney at Twin
Peaks hall, and within 10 minutes after
the first speech he was plunged into
the second. which was a general review
of franchise grabbing and plundering
of the public.