The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-07
Former Political Boss,
Now Convict, Will
Tell Graft Story.
PROMISES MANY
REV Ell ATIONS
Stung to Rcprisal When Called
Human Hyena" and "Surly
Rogue" He Will Give His
tory OF San Francisco Scan
dals and Tell Who Partici-
pated in Looting City.
Especial to Tho Times-pispa,ch.l

Especial to Tho Times-Dispatch.I
San Francisco. April s.--Stung to
rcprisal by n recent editorial in "a
San francisco morning paper. In
which he was described rs human
hycna" and "surly. cunning. cynical
rogue" whose parole from San QUEEN
: tin prison would lose for the city the
respect of reputable men tho world
over, Abe Rucf, once ll-powerfuI
political boss OF San Francisco, to-
day, in the san francisco Bulletin,
publishes a partial statement Of his
connection with the graft which made
his name notorious.
1T had been intended BY Rucf."
the Bulletin says in a forcword. to
tell tho whole story OF how public
officials are corrupted and the public
itself exploited because private in
tercsts are permitted to own the pco-
pies necessities. to make millions
overnight by capitalzing privileges
that have been secured from the peo-
pies representatives through brib-
cry
Feared tho Results.
This plan" the paper says. was
abandoned because many indictments
still hanging over Rucf might make
the former boss suffer bitterly for
giving offense to tho powerful enc
mics his story would expose"
The Bulletin directly mentions tho
name of Patrick Calhoun, OF the
United Railroads; William F. IIerrin.
OF the Southern Pacific, and Frank
Drum, of the San Francisco Gas Com
pany, as men who cndcaYored to pre-
vent the inside story OF Rucfs life
becoming public. fIerrin, it says, sent
n personal message to Mrs. Henrietta
Sittcnfcld, Ructs sister. TO urge Ruct
/ to refuse to testify against former
/ Mayor Eugene L. Schniitz at his re-
cent trial here, and declares that
I Drum, through Carrot McEnerncy.
! Rucf himself
! What Rucr Will tell when tho In
| dictments against him arc dismissed
as has already been advised By Dis
trict Attorney Fickert-is set forth
in signed statement, which says III
part:
Il believe much good can como
! from Il straightforward statement Of
my experiences. have determined to
make such a statement. 1t will en-
brace all tho leading events in my
political life. 1t will show tho roscatc
colorcd ideal OF tho dawn turning into
the sombrc darkness of the night.
feel that the narration will have
! much educational value and will. in
some degree, conducc to the benefit
Of society. of the city. OF the State, or
perhaps of tho nation.
Will Not Spare Himself.
In the. preparation Of this docu-
ncnt, which l shall begin at once,
ana which Will necessarily be of some
length. shall not undertake. to spare
| myself or TO cNtcnuatc in the small
est degree any act of mine, but [
shall give circumstantially all inn
portant facts and events, including
those leading up to and embracing
the San Francisco graft prosecution
| Whatever civic corruption existed in
| san Francisco. or was within my
knowledge. shall frankly avow and
declare. Without reservation. shall
played by others. Without malice or
bitterness. without personal feeling
or III will, shall cndcavor TO show
tho political system which made poll
tics what they have been and the i'm
| huences which controlled and cor
rup,cd.
u shall give my knowledge and
views Of the conduct OF the ideas, tho
methods and tho actions OF the mon
who managed and schemcd political
, results and governmental control, and
who manipulated for special privilege.
l shall show how the public service
corporations. large and small, through
their political and financial control
dominated tho government and cor
ruptcd politics. / shall show the re-
| lation between big business and big
and little politics. and how Mr.. Her
rim and others, through their corpo-
ration and allied influences. secured
| general control and special privilege
| Stories Of Graft.
| Il shall give a. fnll statement of the
attempt 10 grant the Parksido Com
lpany street railway franchise over
! Twentieth Avenue. and how money
| was promised and paid therefor. l
! shall show in full the negotiations for
the liking OF gas rates and the con-
versations and interviews I had In
that connection, and how the deal
was contaminated. shall show how
| money was corruptly used by both
the Pacific States and the Home Tele-
| phone Companies in the matter OF
telephone franchises shall also give
fully all facts connected with the
overhead trolley permit of the United
| Railroads. which was deal con-
summated before the fire and not af-
ter the fire emergency hold-up. as
has been maintained on tho part Of
the United Railroads.
! II shall give n full account of the
| famous Santa Cruz convention, which
| nominated Governor elliott and all
to. ! shall give circumstant;ally an
account of all my meetings and con
fcrences with Calhoun. Ford. Mullaly,
| Umbsen, Drum. Iialsey, Detweiler
Herrin and others In the matter re-
fcrrcd to. The preparation OF this
document will take some time, but I
have fully determined to write it and
to tell the whole truth. In doing this
III hope not only to give tho public
an insight behind tho scenes which
will be of benefit to them. but also
in some measure to compensate for
CONTINUED On Second Pagc.)