United States or American Samoa ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He would have put his hand into the fire for this clever little man, whom he admired so immensely. Once they discussed the ousting of Langdon. "It would be quite legal," Ruef contended. "The Mayor and Board have power to remove a district attorney and select his successor." Henry Ach, advisor of the boss, looked dubious. "I'm not sure of that. Moreover, it's bad politics.
Now they're huddled like a pack of frightened sheep; everybody thinks they're guilty. Ruef's forsaken them. Ruef, with his big dream shattered, fleeing from the law...." He faced his uncle fiercely, questioning. "Is that God's work? And Bertha's body lying there, because of the sins of her forebears! Forgive me, Uncle Robert. I'm just thinking aloud."
One heard of him through the press dispatches, staying at the best hotels of European capitals, making speeches when he had a chance. He was like a boy on a holiday. But at home Ruef sensed the stirring of an outraged mass and trembled. He could no longer control his minions. And, worst of all, he could not manage Langdon. "Big Jim" Gallagher, now the acting mayor, was docile to a fault, however.
Some of the newspapers had changed by almost imperceptible degrees, were veering toward the cause of the defense. Then, like a thunderbolt, in January, 1908, came news that the Appellate Court had set aside the conviction of Ruef and Schmitz. Technical errors were assigned as the cause of this decision. The people gasped. But some of the newspapers defended the Appellate Judges' decree.
"If Ruef succeeds a third time," Frank said to his father, "he'll control the town. He'll elect a full Board of Supervisors ... that is freely prophesied if Union Labor wins. You ought to see his list of candidates waffle bakers, laundry wagon drivers horny-fisted sons of toil and parasites of politics. Heaven help us if they get in power!"
Tears were streaming down his face. He began to read in sobbing, broken accents. The crowd was so thick that Frank could not get close enough to hear Ruef's words. It seemed a confession or condonation. Scattered fragments reached Frank's ears. Then the judge's question, clearly heard, "What is your plea?" "Guilty!" Ruef returned.
"Of course Pat Calhoun would wish to outdo Abe Ruef," said Frank. "That's only to be expected. He's had close to 2500, I reckon." "Not quite," Aleta referred to the printed sheet. "Your paper says 2370 veniremen were called into court. That's what money can do. If he'd been some poor devil charged with stealing a bottle of milk from the doorstep, how long would it take to convict him?"
Big Jim Gallagher had dismissed Langdon from office with the corroboration of the Board of Supervisors, as a provision of the city ordinance permitted him to do. Ruef had been appointed district attorney. Langdon's forces were not disconcerted by the little boss's coup. Late that evening Frank advised his paper of a counterstroke.
Under the foremanship of B. P. Oliver it made a thorough investigation. Francis J. Heney was employed as special prosecutor and William J. Burns as detective. Heney and Burns formed an aggressive team. The Ring proved as vulnerable as it was rotten. Over three hundred indictments were returned, involving persons in every walk of life. Ruef was sentenced to fourteen years in the penitentiary.
Union Labor was now a force to deal with. And Ruef was Union Labor. One of Robert's clients desired to open a French restaurant, with the usual hotel appurtenances. He made application in the usual manner. But the license was denied. Robert was astonished for no reason was assigned and all requests for explanation were evaded. A week or so later, Robert met the restaurateur.
Word Of The Day