Eugene F.
Schmitz |
Abraham
Ruef |
Eugene F. Schmitz was elected mayor of San
Francisco in November l90l. He was nominated by the Union Labor
Party, being a member of the musician's union, a violinist. He is
remembered best as being the mayor during the l906 Earthquake and
Fire.
Abraham Ruef was a young lawyer who found his
true calling in political organizing and manipulation. He helped
mastermind the election of Schmitz and put up most of the campaign
money.
It is widely documented that payments by
businesses in return for favorable support and votes was a common,
although illegal, practice. The mayor's ultimate downfall involved
payments from the "French restaurants."
French restaurants had a moderately priced public
dining room on the first floor which catered to families, private
dining rooms on the second floor with luxurious furnishings and
higher priced meals, and on floors above one found "private supper
bedrooms." It was generally understood that respectable women did
not go above the first floor.
Liquor licenses had to be renewed every three
months. As civic concern turned to the activities of the French
restaurants, the Police Commission started to delay or deny liquor
licenses. Abe Ruef became the lawyer for the newly formed "French
Restaurant Keeper's Association." He was initially retained for over
$10,000, half of which he gave to Mayor Schmitz. The members of the
Police Commission changed and liquor licenses once again
flowed.
Schmitz and Ruef were indicted and charged with
extortion and bribery. Ultimately they were both jailed and
convicted. The convictions of Schmitz were ultimately overturned by
a higher court and former Mayor Schmitz later ran for and was
elected to the Board of Supervisors.
Ruef served four years and seven months in San
Quentin. |