Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-08-11
WALSH AN EASY WINNER.
Gregory Found Himself So Badly
Beaten That He Withdrew
From the Race.

SPRINGFIELD, MO, Aug. 10.-(Special)
jackson county politics got tangled up in
the caucus of the Fifth congressional dis
trict in the election of Frank Walsh as
state committeeman. Police Commissioner
Gregory. who was so badly defeated, was
forced to withdraw, and can thank Con-
gresham Cowherd. Judge Chrisman and
Tom Crttenden for his defeat. He had
nineteen of the fifty-three votes in the dis
trict. the entire delegation, with the dele
CATION from Lafayette county. going
against him. It was a bitter disappoint-
mcnt for the ambitious police manager, and
he will attempt to settle "heh ne gets pack
on the reservation.
Gregory and Pendergast arrived this
morning and We're surprised TO lind the
nine votes from Lafayette county pledged
to Walsh. Congressman Cowherd and his
private secretary, Isaac Neale, of LeXing-
ton. had handled Lafayette. and Shannon,
with the help of Tom Crittenden and Judge
Chrisman had gotten twenty-three votes
from jackson. For couple of hours this
morning Gregory tried to force Joe Mercer
to deliver six votes to him, but Mercer was
either unable or unwilling to do 1t.
The county caucus was called for 10
o'clock. but it was hour later when it
met. When the district caucus was called
CONGRESSMAN Cowherd nanl>d William
Auii. of Lexington. as chairman. Gregory
knew he was beaten and Commissioner
Hugh Ward announced his Withdrawal,
from the race. He said at the time Mr..
the race Since that time another had ap-
peared and some feeling had been awak-
ened, and in the interests of Colonel
| Mercer, Gregory desired his name with
drawn Shannon filled the three vacancies
| with his own selections and ran the ma
chine just as he pleased.
1t was an easy task to do the rest. Isaac
| P. Neale. of Lexington, who is Cowherds 8
private secretary, was elected from La
fayette county, and Frank p. Walsh, from
Jackson The Gregory men had gone to
Frank Phillips. candidate for representa-
tive and threatened to beat him If he voted
with Shannon He told them to go ahead
| cutting could be done both ways. The same
! threat was made to Tom Crittenden. and
he passed It up. BulldoZing had failed to
produce results with Mercer. and on the
| final count Mr.. Gregory saw he was beaten
so badly il was unnecessary to count up
| the vote. and under the pretense of har-
| mony his name was withdrawn. Lafayette
county rebelled at the thought of linking
| fortunes with the police combine of Kansas
| City.
| terests of Colonel Mercer in the caucus
| workers were carrying the news to the
| other delegations that jackson stood al
most evenly divided on Mercer. and while
| II wouId obey instructions, it desired the
defeat of Mr.. Mercer, this because Mr.. Mer-
Ger would not save Gregory. Jim Pender-
CAST who was manager of Gregory'S boom
was redheaded at Congressman Cowherd
| and did not hesitate to say so. When Con-
gressman Cowherd was asked why he had
| acted So he said he was satisfied and would
| do 1t again If he had the chance.
| The result of the caucus leaves Joe Shan
! non still figure in Kansas City politics