Ruef contributed $16,000 ( about $436,000 today ) to Schmitz ' campaign and used his considerable influence to make sure Schmitz was selected to front for the new Union Labor Party .
He and Ruef had been friends for 15 years .
Ruef contributed $16,000 ( about $436,000 today ) to Schmitz ' campaign and used Ruef 's considerable influence to make sure Schmitz was selected to front for the new Union Labor Party .
He and Ruef had been friends for 15 years .