Note 13 — Chapter I · The Union Labor Party Movement.

Heney’s statement was prophetic. The published account of his speech (see Chronicle, November 6, 1905) was as follows:

“If I had control of the District Attorney’s office, I would indict Abe Ruef for felony and send him to the penitentiary, where he belongs, for I have personal knowledge that he is corrupt.

“If you elect these people, the graft of this city will become so great that the citizens of San Francisco will ask me to come back and prosecute him. When the time comes I will do as the people request as a matter of civic duty.”

Heney’s charge brought caustic reply from Ruef. In an open letter to Heney, published November 7, 1905, Ruef said:

“Francis J. Heney:—In the published reports of your speech at Mechanics Pavilion last Saturday night you are represented as saying: ‘I say to you, moreover, that I personally know that Abraham Ruef is corrupt, and I say to you that whenever he wants me to prove it in court I will do so.’

“I am not a candidate for office, but as a man I do not propose to leave your false statement undenied.

“In the past I have paid little attention to anything said by hostile papers concerning myself, feeling that the public fully understood the despicable motives underlying the utterances of their proprietors. In your case a different situation presents itself. You have recently acquired considerable repute as a prosecuting attorney for the United States Government. Your statements, if unchallenged, may be given some credence by those not familiar with the true condition of affairs.

“In making the statement that you personally know that I am corrupt you lied. You cannot personally know that which does not exist.

“In making the statement at a time and place which allowed no opportunity for a legal showing before the date of the election which you seek to influence, you showed the same courage which put a bullet into the body of Dr. J. C. Handy of Tucson, Ariz., in 1891, for whose killing you were indicted for murder, and upon trial were acquitted because you were the only witness to the deed.

“You say whenever I want you to prove it in court you will do so.

“I want you to try to prove it, and at once. I demand that you begin at once. I know you cannot prove what does not exist. Why you should wait upon my desire, why you should depend upon my wish to proceed with the performance of what must be to every good citizen a public duty, I do not know.

“But as you declare that you will proceed only with my consent, I give you here and now full consent and authority to proceed, and I go further and ask that you do so.

“I regret that your recent identification with the Citizens’ Alliance and with the corporations anxious to encompass the defeat of a candidate in a political campaign should have made you so far forget the regard for truth, justice and decency which should characterize men in our profession, as to have induced you to take the chance of ruining for life the reputation and standing of one who is not rightfully amenable to your charge, and who has not otherwise heretofore given you the slightest private or personal provocation for your savage and mendacious attack.

“A. RUEF.

“San Francisco, November 6th.”