The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-04-17
A FULL, EXPOSE.
OF FRISCO GRAFT
Will Be Published Soon by
! {. Abe Ruef, j..
/ Convicted 3P';5aL@ITIt A BOSS
Who. From Behind Prison
s,wsB Bars. Will, Tell Story. ..,v :
OF Downfall.
II III Aii4itt44++l :
HE MENTIONS A FEW THINGS

tDit NF. 45-- ..NfS..
San, Francisco, April 12.-Abra-
liam Rhef, (eonS1cted poIitldal boss
of San Francisco, now serving a SEN
tence Of !. IA years in San Quentin
Penitentiary, began in a San Fran
cisco newspaper to-day a series of
articles which he declares will, con-
stitute "a tfull expose" of the men
Naccused with him in the great
prosecution, but not convicted.
Ruef goes back 81 years when he
first gained recognition from in
fiuential men. The first period is
abridged by a single sentence.
"A few years later found me as
ISOLATED with the tools and messen-
gers of the railroads"
The beginning of his association
with a leading railroad official is
told succinctly:
He began to court me. could
get passes and favors from him.
For the first time l dined in his
house" .s
The publication of the articles
was Drecipitated by an editorial m
a San Francisco newspaper on April
=, which characterized Ruef as a
human hyena' and condemned the
agitation of his release. ..,,.
Directors of public utilities cor
poratiUns and railroad public Off
Gals and politicians are named by
Ruef in his prologue and de-
clares that he VIII show how mon
ey was promised and paid.
~ believe much good can come
from a straightforward statement
of my experiences Ruef says. 81
viii give Enthusiastically all i'm
portant facts and events, including
those leading UP to and embracing
the San Francisco graft prosecu-
ton -.....- -
Here Ruef mentions the granting
of franchise TO a street railroad
company and declares he will show
how money was paid for the privi-
lege. .o5-.57 .ss
81 81 shall give a fun account of the
famous Santa Cruz convention
which. nominated. Gov. Gillette" h.
continues, and all my conferences
in. relation thereto" .l.y.s e..
Ruef. begins. his narrative with a
confession of repentance. He says
in part: .
with others Il co-operated in
selling out the city Of San Francis
co and so am IN prison cell. , 1t
has taken these stone walls, six by
ten, where the only light or air is
that which comes from a narrow
wicket, to bring me to a full reali-
cation OF this betrayal -i,- d.
II started life buoyont1y. When
I left the university / had, the US
ual high ideals of that period. How
and why my life flew so wide of its
goal | now am determined to trace
and write In detail, in the hope that
1t may prove of public benefit and
may make amends for what society
has lost by my! work.
- 81 shall write without extenua-
ton Of myself or those who CO roper
ated with me. However harshly |
NAV write, it will be without malice
or i'll will, and with no desire to
make others suffer as / have .suf-
fered."t .src -. 5Ht
Ruef tells of him becoming dis
gusted with politics and with hav-
ing decided to devote himself ex-
clusively to law. He refers to the
railroad 'efixers."
For 10 years | was associated
with these men," he continues. 81.
wrote their platforms. made
their nominating speeches. L quit
from time to time and Joined the
Independent reform, movements on
~ to. learn thai, they-were-- CONTROL |
ed by the same big interests. l l.
drifted FIFTH the lmachffPsiI p, |