Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-11-02
- . = 49, IS 49, y -
POLITICAL CROOKS
TAKE ADVANTAGE
"0ld Guard" Disledsed Hopes
to Come Back With
Gardner
DEcENcY DEMANDS LAan VOTE
Democratic Supporters Of gardner
Are Known Law Breakers and
Expect to Continue Evil
Doing II They Can Put
Hin Over.
pEcEHcY DEMANDS LAnn VOTE

Is the odd guard" coming back!
Have the people SO far forgotten the
tremendous efforts It took a dozen
years ago to break the hold Of selfish
and corrupt politicians upon the gov.
eminent Of Missouri. when Jos. w.
Folk drove the worst gang that ever
infested the politics of the state from
power: The people soon forget and
often neglect and political crooks.
particularly. take advantage Of their
negligence to repeat the history Of
crookedness. There Is a movement
Of that kind on foot right nov and the
people OF the state need to know about
1t SO that they a be ON their guard.
Last July Col. Fred d. Gardner. who
had been mentioned for the governor
ship. and who had really aspired to
the office, looking over the field. de-
cided that he would not be a candi-
date, and, among his friends. so an
nounced at Columbia. In April OF this
year, q bunch of men who are interest
ed in the exploitation Of the Demo
cratic party Of the state. got together
al St Louis and. after comforting for
several hours in one Of the leading
hotels decided that 1t was important
for them and the peculiar interests
they represented to insist upon the
candidacy of Mr.. Gardner for Gov
ernor, chiefly because he was several
times a millionaire and could give the
campaign. in their behalf as well as
in his behlaf. a proper measure Of
needed financing. The men who at
tended this meeting were Jas. A. Reed.
who wanted TO be reelected Senator.
Thos. J. P~endergrast, the Kansas City
political boss. who was Reeds par.
ticular friend, and who. as a side is
sue. runs 4 vile resort in Kansas City
known as tho jefferson Hotel: Emil
O'Malley. a Wholesale cigar dealer In
Kansas CITY. whom Reed has recon-
nhendeds I'd postmaster, bit who was
not appointed by President because
the latter did not regard him as a tit
nan for the place. VIM. J. Stone, the
smooth Junior Senator from Missouri,
Harry B. Halves, the "old guard
gangster. Sam B. Cook, Democratic
nominee for Senator in the Jefferson
City district. who was also a member
Of the "old guard" and Col. Gardner
himself.
Tho 0anO PapNhapfnD shat Ne
Gardeners original ambition for the
governorship WAS based on social am
bition. originating from one of Gov.
Majors tango dances at the capital,
proceeded to show him what a high
honor 1t would be to him socially to
hold the gubernatoriaI office. 1t Is
said that they told him it would not
be necessary or him to spend a great
deal OF time ut the capital and that
his occupancy Of the office would not
interfere in any way with his eom-
mercial operations as head OF the Col.
fin Trust. The history OF the matter
IL that Col. Gardner finally yielded
to them and his name was announced,
with the result that he opened very
freely before the primaries and is
demonstrating his generous dispos-
ition right now in the general cam.
paign. It is Interesting to know who
these men r and what their purpose
WAS in connection with the candidacy
OF Mr.. Gardner. It is not necessary
TO Say much about Senator Reed who.
with a candidacy for reelection. and
with opposition constantly increas-
ing that grew out Of his bitter fight
against President Wilson on the sub
ject of some appointments that he
recommended thought 1t might be de-
sirable for him to have a helpful
financial partnership. Then he also
had some interest In establishing his
very dear. political and personal
friend, Thos. J. Pendergast In power.
In the spring campaign in Kansas City
last April. James A. Reed openly de-
ciared himself friend of Thos. J. PEN
dergast and defended him Is an honest
man from a score Of platforms. when
Pendergast was at the time betting the
Democratic ticket. Mr. Pendergast's
ambition, not altogether sentimental,
was to control the police board Of
Kansas City. two Of the three men,
bers = appointed by the Governor
and r removable at his pleasure.
II might be asked why Pendergast
particularly cared for the control Of
the police In his home city. 1t should
be known. however. that n proprietor
OF the Jefferson Hotel resort, he is
constantly in need Of immunity from
police espionage and attack so that
his profitable operations In that con.
nection may not be interrupted. II
L. IN open secret In Kansas City that
thfs = one Of the most d~icsfaceful
dives In the West. In fact It u Z
blot npon tho city that tolerates II
and tho state in which It II located.
II runs vide open until , Or = IN The
morning. in constant violation Of tn
Law and Il particularly shameful b
that II Is f~requentsd By boys and girll
under. age, whom II lures to ruin By
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