The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-28
PENDERCAST IS
MISSOURI KING
OF DEMOCRATS
His State Wide Machine Is
Tammany of West,
Stokes Says.
Continued From Page One)

Federation, is making open warfare
on boss ISM
Mr.. Hirth is seeking the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor
against Lloyd c. Stark. the big ap-
pie grower Of Louisiana, Mo. who
has been Endorsed by Mr.. Fender
CAST. Though conceded no chance,
the farm leader probably will burn
the ears of the Pendergast ma
chine.
That machine is sort of Tam
many of the Middle West, but the
New Workers might learn a trick
or two from Boss Pendergast. He
controls the Governor, Guy B.
Park; is master of the election
machinery from top to bottom, has
friends on the Supreme Court and
allies in st. Louis, and can turn
out astounding majorities in this
city.
Rise Has Been Gradual
His rise has been gradual and
skillful, for it was only compare
lively recently that he began to
extend his control over the state. A
Republican Governor vetoed a re-
districting bill and all congressman
had to run at large in 1890. Because
Mr.. Pendergast had in his pocket
the largest single block of votes, all
the Democratic congressional cam
didstes ran to him, hat in hand,
and he bestowed his blessing.
Another opportunity came four
years ago when, on the eve of the
election, the Democratic candidate
Tor Governor died. 1t was up to
the Democratic State Committee 10
select a candidate in the emer-
gency and Mr.. Pendergast chose
Mr.. Park, an obscure circuit judge.
Now, with national election
coming on, Postmaster General
Farley will treat with Mr.. Fender
CAST Just as he will have to treat
with Tammany.
Works Like Tammany
Like Temmany, the Pendergast
machine has won popular favor by
small charities - coal, fire wood
baskets of food, and little courte-
sizes that the policeman on the beat
can extend, Ward captains are alert
to such opportunities.
The boss, now g. is a wealthy
man. He has numerous business in
terests, headed up by the Ready
Mix Concrete Co., of which he IS
vice president. which receives nu-
merous city contracts. There are
various affiliated concerns. such as
the Ross Construction Co., of which
he is president; Midwest Paving
Co, which has laid lots of streets
here. and the T. j. PendergaSt Dis
tributing Co., which moves its liuuor
into numerous channels.
His enemies assert that it is best
to buy building materials from the
Pendergast interests, and contribute
to campaign funds when called
upon or else city inspectors of
various sorts may find that things
are not up to specifications.
Machine Attacked Constantly
The machine is constantly under
attack and it has rhad its setbacks.
4 VI yOiIlS oGIldJOI bGIl-
nett Champ Clark gave it ire
mendous, drubbing in 1882 when he
defeated the Pendergast choice for
the Democratic senatorial nomina-
ton. But the Senator is supposed
now to be in the Pendergast camp
In the city election of 1884,
bunch of youngsters organized
Fusion movement that rolled up q
surprising vote and won two of the
eight places in the City Council.
They relate some interesting stories
Of their fight.
Seeking a citizens committee of
500, they finally rounded up 800
Right and left. they relate, leading
citizens expressed fear of Fender
CAST reprisals. Then the names of
the 300 were published, and frantic
phone calls came to headquarters
to drop this name or that.
Funds Were Hard to Raise
Dif1culty was encountered in
raising funds. One business man
told the solicitors he was afraid to
be identified openly with their
movement, but if they would come
back later they would find an en-
velope on his desk. So it turned
out
Workers rounded up $4,000 aft
davits that persons supposed to live
in certain places did not live there,
Election boards struck off 10000,
leaving $4,000, and then the court
ordered $4,000 names put back on
the list, a net loss for the young
sters of 1000
The Pendergast machine of today
was founded by Jim PendergaSt,
brother of Tom. Jim died in 1911.
The two came here from st. Joseph.
Jim opened a saloon in the old
west bottoms" along the Kansas
border, part of the First Ward,
section with large foreign popu-
lation.
Tom Extended It
The present boss extended it be-
yond the First Ward to the whole
city in the early twenties when the
city government was changed to the
city manager plan. He won ma
iority of one in the council, which
elected the city manager, w. F.. Nc
Elroy, who still holds that position.
Mr.. Pendergast lives with his
family in a handsome mansion on
Ward-pkwy, He leads quiet, I'M
ostentatious life. He never is seen
at social gatherings or at the the
alter. He does not smoke. drink or
chew.
But he does love horse racing
and frequents the track at River
side, across the river, during the
season and also visits eastern
tracks. He is said to bet large
sums.
Politics Is his life.
Early in the morning-he goes
TO bed at and rises at dawn
the portly figure may be seen en-
tering the Jackson County Demo-
cratic Club. plain two-Story build