"The System," As Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft ProsecutionHichborn, Franklin
History
"The System," As Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft Prosecution
Hichborn, Franklin
Political corruption -- California -- San Francisco; San Francisco (Calif.) -- Politics and government
"San Francisco has had about enough industrial warfare. The
city wants peace, lasting peace. No sane man wants a fight to a
finish between labor and capital, or if he does he is San
Francisco's enemy. The adjustment of the iron-workers' strike
is a hopeful sign. It points the way to an end of all
bitterness and contention. It augurs an early return to the
harmonious relations of those who earn and those who pay wages,
relations which are essential to the progress and prosperity of
any community. It is the best news of this stormy, stressful
month."
[240] The following, issued on May 17, is a fair sample of the
statements which Mr. Calhoun gave out during the period of
confusion in San Francisco, in the spring and summer of 1907:
"To the American People--The newspapers of this city published
yesterday afternoon and this morning contain sensational
statements purporting to give the testimony of Mr. Abraham
Ruef before the Grand Jury yesterday afternoon. It is alleged
that he confessed that the United Railroads, through some of
its officials, bribed the Supervisors to grant the permit for
the overhead trolley over certain of its roads. I do not know
if Mr. Ruef made any such statements. If he did, they are
untrue. I repeat with renewed emphasis my former declaration
that no official of this company ever bribed any one,
authorized Mr. Ruef or any one else to bribe anybody, knew of
any bribery, or approved of any bribery.
"I charge the Prosecution with having prostituted the great
office of the District Attorney to further the plans of private
malice in the interest of a man who organized the Municipal
Street Railways of San Francisco on the 17th day of April,
1906, the day before the earthquake and fire with a capital
stock of $14,000,000, of which $4,500,000 were subscribed for
as follows: Claus Spreckels subscribed $1,900,000, James D.
Phelan subscribed $1,000,000, George Whittell subscribed
$500,000, Rudolph Spreckels subscribed $1,000,000, Charles S.
Wheeler subscribed $100,000. Ten per cent of the amount
subscribed, or $450,000, was paid in cash, as shown by the
affidavit of the treasurer of the company, James K. Moffitt,
duly filed in the County Clerk's office.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account