Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-10-23
DISSATISFIED WITH SHANNON.
The Gang Bosses May Compel the
General Manager of Their Cam
paiEn to Quit.

pulSn 10 quit.
A week ago the gang bosses were conf
dent that they would elect William s.
Cowherd. candidate for congress, and their
entire county ticket by big majorities. Now
they are fearful of complete and over
wheiming defeat. They were then speak
Ing in tones of disrespect and in con-
temptuous terms of Lon Stephens, the
Democratic free silver candidate for gov
error and were doing nothing to aid Bry-
an, the Popocratic candidate for president
When talking to each other or. to their
trusted tools and associates they made, no
disguise Of the fact that, while ostensibly
supporting the state and national tickets of
the free silver wing of their party, they
were firm believers in sound money. Like
Cowherd. who was put through an electro
plating machine. in which he took on
thin plate of silver, they deemed 1t ex-
| peeient to keep quiet when mingling with
! the Democratic masses about their views
| upon the money question.
, Without being a member OF the Demo-
| cratic county committee. Joe Shannon Sc
| cured his election as chairman of its ex-
| ecutive committee. He associated himself
| with Elihu W. Hayes and Andy Gala
CHER and at once began running the party's
| to attempt to dispense with the services
| Of Chief Boss John P. O'Neill. who has
| turned the sheriffs Office into a haven of
| rest and refuge for men indicted for bal
| lot box stuffing and other election crimes.
| But o'Neill had his eyes firmly fixed upon
| the spoils which 1t WOs expected would
accrue to the gang, and he would not sub
init to be brushed aside. Now that defeat
is staring the gang in the face. he may
voluntarily. retire and give up active par
| of his friends that he is disguised and dis
heartened and wishes he had never identi-
| fled himself with the gang.
While victory seemed certain all the gang
| bosses. sub-bosses and ''pluggers were
| pleased with Joe Shannon's management of
the gangs campaign. But all is changed
| which may result in his retirement. The
| first rumblings Of discomfort were heard
when Joe Shannon: very indiscreetly ac..
cording to John May and a number of
other gangsters, cried fraud and made
ridiculous and Intellectual attempt to show
that the Republicans had padded the regis
names of colored men who were not en-
| titled to vote May has, it Is said. between
l25 and $50 men working on city sewer and
other contracts. and he expects to vote
! every one of them for the gang candidates.
After May and others had intimated in
| strong language that Shannon was injur-
| other matters came up that made more
| trouble for Joe Shannon. To such an ex-
! tent has the dissatisfaction grown that
| members of the county committee are talk
| ing of forcing him to give up the position
| of chairman of the executive committee.
! Some of the candidates who were put upon
! spectability and who are running for Of
| fees the gang can afford to lose, are OBJ
| jecting to paying additional assessments.
| They know that they are to be left to
| suffer defeat and that the money they have
| contributed and the money that they are
| now being asked to contribute will be
| used to pull Bob Stone. Frank NJ. Lowe
and Sam Chiles out of the political mire.
If it is possible to do so. They also know
| that all of the funds raised by assess
| ments and shaking down. will not be
spent in conducting the campaign. Some
| of the bosses and sub-bosSeS have not
| worked for months and have no income
| except from politics. and they are living
| as well many men who are drawing
] large salaries regularly.
| There are a number of interesting
mors concerning the deals that have been
made by the gang. One is that ex-Re-
| corder of Voters Charles S. Owsley, in
| whose office thousan of fraudulent names
| We're registered and in which the election
| returns were forged two years ago. is to
| he the first assistant prosecuting attorney
| in the event of Frank NJ. loves election.
| Mr. Owsley is said to be the gangs legal
! adviser. Another rumor is that S. A. Pike.
| who --''' In the riot upon
| the southwest boulevard on election day
| in April 1893. is to be a deputy under
| Bob" Stone should that gang favorite be-
| come sheriff The story is that Pike has
| promised to deliver at least 500 A. p. A.
| votes to the gang.