Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-21

The remarkable trial OF Patrick Calhoun,
president OF the United Street Railways OF
San Francisco, which extended over five
months and a week, illustrates the des-
perate character Of the fight put up by
those accused Of participating in the loot
ing OF the city. AS president OF the most
powerful f%ranchised corporation in the city,
Calhoun must have been familiar with the
character Of the officials he had to deal
with, and his indictment grew out OF the
confession Of officials who were bribed to
grant concessions to the corporations. I'm
mediately following the earthquake and
fire, the United Street Railways company
was granted the invaluable privilege Of
substituting electric trolley power for the
more expensive cable power. All the cor
were tsrred and provided the tar
from which Ruef, Schmitz and their tools
grew rich.
Another phase OF the fierce battle OF
decency against dishonesty, and the des-
perate means employed to stifle publicity,
is related in c magazine by Mrs.
Older, wife OF the editor of the
San Francisco Bulletin, a force in the
battle for reform. Mrs. Older tells how her
husband was assaulted by ruffians, his
employees attacked, himself kidnapped, and
an attempt made to dynamite their home.
In part she says:
AN election was approaching. Ruef and
hoped to capture the city for the
third time. Now Ruef saw big goals; Il
should be Governor Schmitz; T. should be
United States senator Ruef. That editor,
Of his crimes, disturbed the boss
dream. Ruef determined that the Bulletin
should not be sold or distributed; It should
not exist, To this end he organized a band
of thugs who called themselves newsboys.
They pretended to no grievance, and their
sole purpose was to destroy the Bulletin.
Carriers were assaulted; Iney afterward
voted for Schmitz. Merchants were struck
with stones and bricks for buying the
paper; they afterward voted for Schmltz.
Windows were broken in the Bulletin Of
flee. Horses were unhitched from the de-
livery wagon Men were MANNED for life;
the police looked the other way. Mr.. Older
was followed to the very door Of the
Palace hotel by a bowling mob, which
threw sticks and stones at him. The deputy
sheriffs. who were called in, ooked the
other way. Schmitz addressed the thugs
in a hall. No one could sell or deliver
the Bulletin; It was useless to print 1t.
Some old women at length ventured to
hold the paper up in the streets. They,
alone, were able to dispose of a few
copies, but even purchasers were assaulted.
When the Bulletin organized a body of
men OF its own, there was daily fighting
In the streets; but only in this way, after
q loss of many thousands OF dollars, was
the paper allowed to continue in circula-
ton.
ALREADY the murderers had purchased
and hidden dynamite in the cottage near
ours rented by them. They had entered
our place as was shown, to find the lay
of the rooms. For thirty days they had lain
in wait for US. At that time, fortunately.
Mr.. Older had been systematically warned
by one, for whom he had done a favor.
u won't say a thing, except don't dine
at the beach; don't dine at the beach. I
can't tell you what 1 know, but keep away
from there
"Th man who save the saving word
knew well the underground life of the city,
and he spoke with authority.
" Tell those people you know that I shall
dine at the beach as usual" was the edi-
tors answer.
w did, but Mr.. Older profIted sufficI-
AAh lhh0 WIFI us an
officer of the law. While we ate, the police
man in the automobile kept watch. His
presence alone kept the Greeks from dyna-
hitting our dining room"
In Van Ness avenue the editor obsarved
an automobile filled with evii-lookInK man
The motor car drew up to him; one OF it's
occupants stepped out. The stranger said
he had a warrant for Mr.. Older's arrest ON
the charge Of criminal libel in Los Angeles.
Calhoun's attorney had trumped up a
charge; an obliginE judge issued the war
rant in secret.
II demand ball. said MI. Older.
All right" replied the stranger; TN
take you to Judge Cook
Mr.. Older was seated between two men
one OF whom held a pistol against his side.
When Mr.. Older realized that the machine
was approaching the park, he knew he was
not going to the judges residences; he was
being carried away by force in defiance of
the law. The automobile was going at the
rate of forty miles an hour when he started
to rise.
IF you make any effort to escape I'll
have to shoot you,' the man with the pistol
warned.
When the editor heard these words, and
felt the mouth OF the weapon against his
side, he knew he had been brought away by
his captors in the hope that he would make
an cutlery. Mr.. Older could obtain no in
formation as to his destination. The motor
car followed roundabout roads unfamiliar
to the editor, who sat for sixty minutes.
with the pistol thrust against his ribs, and
smoked"
With the aid of an Injunction the editor
-
aboard a passenger train and carried as
far as Santa Barbara.