Evening star., 1938-10-22
The Political Mill
Missouri Thinking of Senator Clark in Terms Of
1910 Favorite Son.

tressed the boss greatly-he declared
henceforth there must be honest elec-
tions, in Kansas City as well as in
the rest Of the State, and as a result
there has been 200 indictments In
Kansas City on charges Of election
fraud.
Pendergast urged Gov. Stark to re-
appoint the old Election Board, COM
posed Of Pendergast's friends. Instead
the Governor appointed a board hos
tile to the boss. He drafted two for
mer presidents Of the Chamber Of
Commerce Of Kansas City, two Repub-
licans and two Democrats-one Of
whom was an enemy of Pendergast.
The new board knocked between 10000
and $4,000 names of the election list.
The boss and the Governor broke
right there. Pendergast remarked:
From now on let the river take its
course" figuring that he would take
the Governor for ride. AS a matter
OF fact the Pendergast ticket won in
the city elections, which encouraged
Pendergast to step out-and he pulled
boner. He attempted to monkey
with the judiciary. Others have tried
that game and received setbacks. Gov.
Stark had appointed Judge James NJ
Douglas to the State Supreme Court
to fill an unexpired term. He had
been good judge, but Pendergast,
having cleaned up in the Kansas City
election, decided he would 60 after
Gov. Stark's Judge, who came up for
nomination to succeed himself in the
primary last August. The boss entered
Judge James v. Billings as his can
didate.
Signals Bitter Campaign.
The bitterest campaign in the men,
ory Of Missouri was on Immediately
and Missouri has been remarkable for
bitter campaigns. The Governor pro-
ceeded to dismiss from Office all Of
Pendergast's friends-among them the
| liquor commissioner. He took the stump
himself In the end Stark won, elect
ing Judge Douglas with a lead of
almost 10000 votes over Pendergast's
man. This knocked Pendergast's pres
tige as a State leader into a cooked
hat and at the same time gave the
Governor great boost.
During the judgeship campaign,
Senator Clark attended to his own
knitting. He was candidate for re-
nomination himself in the same pri-
mary. But before the close of the
campaign, Clark announced that he
| would vote for Douglas. In spite of
that fact, Pendergast as we'll as Gov.
Stark, is friendly with Clark, and
presumably to his presidential candi-
dacy. OF course Clark does not admit
he is candidate for anything today
except for his present seat in the
Senate.
Born Into Politics.
Clark has remarkable background
for political career. He was born
into politics, son of the late Speaker
Champ Clark. He served as parlia-
mentarian of the House while his
father was Speaker He has been
delegate or an officer, or both, Of all
the Democratic national conventions
since he became Of age. He is con-
cluding his first elective term in the
Senate-he served short time under
appointment after retirement Of for
mer Senator Harry B. Hawes and after
he had himself been elected.
Gov. Stark halls from the famous
Stark nurseries, man of consider
able wealth. How far he will 90 in
politics remains to be seen. He is a
comparatively newcomer in the great
American game. But like Clark, he
has stirred the political situation with
a bold hand. How much of New
Dealer Gov. Stark is, despite his
friendship for and support of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, it is more difficult to
say. He has not had to vote on the
court bill, the reorganization bill or
any of the other measures, which the
President has put forward.