While attending the university, he developed an interest in fighting the rampant corruption that was endemic to local and national politics at the time.

[1] California was a center of corruption at the time, influenced by the Southern Pacific Railroad, which controlled both political parties in the state.

[1] Although Ruef was for a long time a Republican, he wanted more power and in 1901 was the driving force behind the foundation of the new Union Labor Party.

[1] Behind the scenes, Ruef wrote Schmitz' speeches, planned his public appearances, and effectively ran his campaign.

But shortly after the 1905 election, his choice for District Attorney, William L. Langton, began enforcing vice laws, largely ignored until then.

Ever since the gold rush of 1849, San Francisco had a reputation as an open town, and the Barbary Coast's notorious dance halls, brothels, and barely concealed gambling dens attracted money and people.

[1] Reformers gained considerable sympathy and support from the general population, who were growing tired of illicit and immoral activity.

The San Francisco Evening Bulletin edited by Fremont Older backed Langton's actions, and the publisher persuaded millionaire Rudolph Spreckels to fund a Federal investigation into corruption at City Hall.

"[3]: 196  A contemporary editorial in the Los Angeles Herald called him "the real menace to the successful rehabilitation of San Francisco" for his leadership of the committee.

On March 18, 1907, all of the supervisors confessed before a grand jury to "receiving money from Ruef in connection with the Home Telephone, overhead trolley, prize fight monopoly, and gas rates deals.

Ruef's trial ended on December 10, 1908, with a verdict of guilty and the maximum sentence for bribery: 14 years in San Quentin.

He paid Ruef over the next year to write a serialized account of his political career in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin, revealing the vast corruption underpinning the city.

Later in 1912, Ruef wrote his memoirs, which were published in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin in almost daily installments over several months, finishing at the point where the graft investigation began.