Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
LATEST PLAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC
MACHINE.
coWHERD is TOO SLOW
HAS NOT "ACCOMPLISHED" any
THING FOR HIS FRIENDS.
Combination Is After Bob" GreEory's
Scalp Hecause He Won't Enthuse
for Stephens After Being
Thrown Down by His
Eycellcncy.

The Kansas City Democratic political ma
chine managers were at Jefferson City last
week and some lively srists of local poll
tics were ground out At the executive man.
sion and In private chambers of the Madi-
son house. Plans were perfected that may
change the political future of several ambi-
tious people of Kansas City and upset plans
that now seem full of promise.
According to the plans that are now well
under way Frank P. Walsh will be the next
Congressional candidate from the Fifth dis
trict and Congressman Cowherd will be
retired. Mr.. Cowherd from whom such
great results were expected, has been a
great disappointment TO those who backed
him for the place. He has failed to show
any tangible results of his public service
and there is little promised from him for
the future. In the parlance of the gang
he is a dead one and will have to step
aside.
Frank Walsh is full of political ambition,
IS one of the shrewdest tacticians in the
Democracy of the district and has an ex-
ceptionally high standing in the party
councils of the state. He is a practical
man. and has always shown an aptitude
for knowing how to get his friends into
places of profit in politics. He is believed to
know how it should be done in a larger
field. The wiseacres of the party have
picked him fer the winner and there will be
piculy u lltLi MllAii6 " bVL III LAX bolio
wagon early.
With Walsh as a candidate, 10 Shannon,
his side partner in politics, would be placed
in an embarrassing position Shannon is
the Kansas City manager for Presiding
Judge Lee Chrisman, and that man is being
literally consumed with deep desire to go
to congress from this district. He has am
bitiop and plenty of cash. That sort of
a combination ought to produce results
but apparently Walsh is the man who has
been already picked for the place. Chris
man is by no means as astute a politician
as Walsh. Chrisman is a stubborn man
when he has his mind made up and he
may not look with much favor on the ac-
ton of Shannon in tying up to Walsh so
early, but Shannon has handled other men
4 Just as stubborn and ambitious as Judge
Chrisman.
With Walsh as congressman from the
Fifth district Shannon would go up the
ladder of political Importance several
rounds and become a factor in national
politics. He has climbed up from the
Ninth ward where for years he was only
a lieutenant for other men. until he DOM
mates the ward, handles the politics OF the
city in Democratic circles. has the real
management of the county matters and
is one of the men TO whom the governor
looks carefully in state matters.
May Ask Gregory TO Resign.
Democratic politicians who have spent
the past week in Jefferson City have re-
turned with the impression that within a
few weeks Governor Stephens will ask for
the resignation of Police Commissioner
Robert L. Gregory and if it does not show
up promptly he will remove him. They
claim that political combinations have been
made that will require the sacrifice of Mr..
pointment of Thomas n. Vallins, the Pink
erton superintendent, as chief of police,
1t is rumored that Mr.. Gregory will be
sacrificed for the blunder that was made
with the advice and approval OF Lon Ste.
phens. 1t has never been denied that
OF the board to name Vallins as chief OF
police here, approved 1t and promised to
element got after the board in such a
lively manner and the whole action had
been repudiated by the party and was at
Governor Stephens got his friend. Attorney
General Grow, to help the administrator
promised to stand by Mr.. Vallins and they
did it to the end and because Commission
er Scarritt expressed surprise at the du;
plicity of the governor he was removed
and now Mr.. Gregory is to suffer a similar
fate for the same cause:
There Is no doubt that Governor Steph'
ems has gone into a combination to force
the nomination of Attorney General Grow
for governor at the next state convention
practical forces of the party that he car
control in line for his man. The combi
nation wants the delegation from Jackson
county and as it consists of forty-forl
votes It is worth having. The worker!
have looked the field over and have de
cided that Commissioner Gregory coulI
not be depended on TO force the selection
of a delegation that would be friendly II
Mr.. Crow: MI. Gregory Is still sore il
and would probably fail to enthuse to an.
great extent for the officer whose inter
ference o,, threw h Ue7 him dow down "a, and knocked III, hi
ed to land the nomination for mayor an
failed again to be made state committee
man and the administration is said L
doubt his ability to handle the machine il
the county, even if he should consent I
make a show of enthusiasm.
The facts are that the Stephens-Croy
combination has gone into partnership wit
Joe Shannon and Frank Walsh and is go
ing TO allow them TO name the next polio
board and in return for this patronag
the Shannon people will undertake the tas
OF sending Il Crow delegation to the stat
convention. Gregory will be thrown dow
and possibly Commissioner Ward will fol
low him, although that is not clearly in
dicated at present.
Police Commissioner Hugh Ward IS sal
10 be nursing a healthy political ambitio
TO be chosen as the successor of Judg
Turner A. Gill on the court of appeals an
will probably make the race for the nom
3nation for that place. He was mentione
very freely last summer for the circut
bench. but while he had judicial aspira
tons II was stated at that time that h
would waive them for the circuit benc
and offer himself for the court of appeal
All J'Nv. bt Iidct Is one OF Inc most Gt
sirable that will be filed in the state. Tt
term is for twelve years and the salar,
while only $500. will certainly be increase
as the increasing business of the coul
requires more work. The judges on III
similar court at st. Louis get $500. 1t
as nearly a gentieman's position as thel
is 10 be filled in the state and would i
very much in harmony with the tastes
Mr.. Ward.
While all of these plums for which I,
men aye hungerinc are not to be plucke
for nearly two years. the fact that plar
are so early being made for their captul
shows how interesting and spirited n
camnairn will be WHOM ii comes.