San Francisco during the Ruef-Schmitz regime was no more under the heel of the "System" than when other "bosses" dominated; no more so than to-day; no more so than other communities have been and are. The political "boss" is merely the visible sign of the "System's" existence. However powerful he may appear, he is, after all, but agent for the "System." The "boss" develops power, does the "System's" work until he is repudiated by the people, when another "boss," usually in the name of "reform," takes his place. But the second "boss" serves the same "System." Ruef entered San Francisco politics as a "reformer." He supplanted other "bosses." But Ruef in his turn served the "System" they had served. San Francisco, when Ruef had reached his point of greatest possible power, rose against him. The "System" was not immediately concerned. Ruef had lived his day; the hour for another "boss" to succeed him had come. But San Francisco proposed to get at those back of the "boss"; to get at the "System." And then San Francisco found the "System" more powerful than herself; more powerful than the State of California. And San Francisco was beaten down, humiliated, made to understand that within her borders the laws could not be enforced against those to whom the "System" granted immunity from punishment. To secure evidence against bribe-givers, the State granted immunity to bribe-takers who confessed their crimes and joined with the State to bring larger criminals to justice. And the "System's" agents cried outrage that bribe-takers should go free of punishment. But the "System" granted immunity from punishment to those who had bribed. And the apologists for the "System" will tolerate no criticism of this sort of immunity. Other communities have risen against the "System's" agents, the "bosses," and the "bosses" have given place to other agents. But few communities, if any, have attacked the "System" as did San Francisco. Had they done so, unquestionably they would have found themselves as ineffective against corruption as San Francisco has been shown to be. The "System" is confined to no particular State or locality; it permeates our entire public life. Judge Lindsey in Colorado calls it "The Beast." In California we call it "The Southern Pacific Machine," for in California the Southern Pacific Company was its chief beneficiary. Other communities call it the "Organization." The bull does not discover his rope until he strains at it; the community knows little or nothing of the overpowering "System" until it resists. San Francisco resisted and discovered.