"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
"Resolved, That it is the sense of this Union that the president
and secretary of the Building Trades Council are not fit persons
to be at the head of the Union movement in San Francisco, and
that the delegates representing this Union in the Council are
hereby instructed to use every honorable means to carry out the
spirit of this resolution; and further, be it
"Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be furnished by the
corresponding secretary to each and every Union affiliated with
the Council, so that they will consider this an invitation from
this Union to assist in ridding the central body of officers whom
we believe have done all in their power to bring unionism into
disrepute."
Similar resolutions were adopted by Journeymen Plumbers, Gas and
Steam Fitters' Local, No. 442.
[101] See Ruef's statement as published in the San Francisco
Chronicle, October 26, 1906.
[102] Mr. Langdon, on arriving in San Francisco, issued the
following statement:
"No person in California believes that my alleged suspension
is due to neglect or inefficiency. No dissent is necessary
before the people. It is plain that my removal is deemed
necessary by Ruef and Gallagher to prevent an honest,
searching investigation of conditions that prevail in
municipal affairs in San Francisco. Their plan will come to
naught, however.
"As District Attorney I shall pursue this investigation to the
end. I deny the legal right of the Mayor or the Board of
Supervisors to suspend or dismiss me. The provision of the
Charter purporting to give that authority is clearly
unconstitutional. The citizens must determine whether or not
they will countenance this high-handed proceeding in a
community which is supposed to be governed by the law, and not
by the will of a boss and his puppet."
CHAPTER VII.
OLIVER GRAND JURY IMPANELED.
The hard fight of the morning of October 26th to prevent Ruef taking
possession of the District Attorney's office had been carried on
practically without the general public being aware of the proceedings.
Langdon had been suspended early in the evening of the previous day. The
temporary order restraining Ruef from interfering with the District
Attorney had been signed at 5 o'clock in the morning. The general public
found by the morning papers that Ruef had attempted to seize the office,
but of the steps taken to stay his hand the papers had nothing. The
question on every man's lip was: Will Judge Graham recognize Ruef or
Langdon as District Attorney at the impaneling of the Grand Jury?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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