"He (Ruef) asked me if I would get together a syndicate for the purpose of bidding on these bonds; that he would guarantee that if I did get up such a syndicate, our bid would be a successful bid; that we would not be obliged to bid above par, and that he would guarantee that we would be the successful bidders. My reply to Mr. Ruef was that I could not understand how anybody could make such an agreement or promise, and how did he propose to make such a statement--to carry out what he had stated. He said: 'Why, that is a simple matter. You know my connection with the Labor Unions and the Labor Union party. Just at the time that the bids are about to come in, I will arrange to tie up this town; we will have the biggest strike that the community has ever known, and I would like to see any of your bankers or your capitalistic friends bid on the bonds under those circumstances, excepting yourself, those that are in the know'--words to that effect, was his expression. I said to Mr. Ruef: 'Do you mean to say, Mr. Ruef, that for the purpose of making money you would bring about a strike which might entail even bloodshed, for the mere sake of making money?' And Mr. Ruef flushed up and said: 'Oh, no; I was only joking.' And he soon withdrew from my office." It is interesting to compare Spreckels' attitude toward Ruef with that of I. W. Hellman, as shown by Hellman's testimony at the trial of Tirey L. Ford. See footnote 7, page 15. [78] Heney, in his address on the work of the Graft Prosecution, October, 1908, paid Langdon the following high tribute: "Mr. Langdon, as soon as we laid the matter before him and convinced him it was in good faith and not to serve private interests, said: 'Yes, I will appoint Mr. Heney assistant in my office and give him full sway to make a thorough investigation, on one condition, and that is that I am kept personally in touch with everything going on at all times. I am District Attorney and I propose to be District Attorney and to act upon my own judgment.' And there never has been a time that Mr. Langdon didn't have absolute sway over all matters, and did not wholly consent to what was done, and he has had the final say in everything, and I wish to say that there is more credit due to him than to any of us. He had a greater personal sacrifice to make.