knew business men were held up; he argued
that they couldn’t like to be held up and, therefore would undoubtedly be glad to help expose
and destroy the whole blackmail system. He
invited the business men of San Francisco to
turn state’s witnesses and help him “get” the
politicians. But no business man accepted his
hospitality. They all “stood pat”; some of
them went on being “held up” by the politicians
who — did accept Mr. Spreckels’s invitation,. For
he sent it to them also.
And when they turned state’s witnesses, there was clamour downtown. A strike was impending, the car-men’s strike, and Spreckels himself has suffered from labour’s tyranny. “Everybody” wanted the unions smashed and Patrick Calhoun promised to smash them. No matter. A whole lot of leading business men, the very leaders of the city, were indicted for bribery or corruption and Calhoun was among them. Spreckels went back on his class.” That’s what was said, and he was “cut”; his family was punished; his bank suffered a (rich depositors) run. Spreckels was unmoved; he was getting publicity, but he^ took it. He called at his bank; lunched at “the” Club; and he appeared constantly in court. He was following the evidence.
This is all that is necessary. Let such a man
