Evening star., 1938-02-05
Headline Folk
and What
They Do
Lines Are Drawn Up
for Finish Battle in
Kansas City.
By LEMUEL r. PARTON.

ASHlNGTON news dis
M patches report that Sen
v ator Harry s. Truman Of
Missouri has withdrawn
MS opposition to the reappointment
Of Maurice Milligan as United States
attorney-"after a conference with
Thomas j. Pendergast," with whom
he is politically allied.
The Democratic Senator's oppnsi-
ton to the man who has been dealing
misery to the Pendergast machine. in
Kansas City, stirred up a row widen
ing national interest and considers DIV
embarrassed the Democratic high
command. Mr.. Milligan procured
about IS indictments and sent a flock
of machine workers to jall in 35
prosecutions of election fraud cases.
This writer is informed by a reliable
source that Senator Bennett Clark,
bitter opponent of the Kansas City
machine, induced Mr.. Pendergast to
call off the opposition to Mr.. Milligan.
From the same source comes an
amusing story of Missouri's "folsky"
and ingratiating little Senator and
the big town boss. AS this tale runs,
and it has ample corroboration, Mr..
Truman. after years of diligent but
comparatively inconspicuous political
activity. called on Mr.. Pendergast
and said:
Tom. I've been working hard for
good many years and I think IN IN
Aro foy az -L,,J
wan to be collector of internal rev.
enue."
Senatorship Best Job Open.
Harry, you certainly are entitled
to something good Mr.. Penderea~t
replied. But you've caught me in a
tough spot just now and I Just cant
deal you that revenue ioo But Ill tell
you what l will DO. ! can fix you UP
with something pretty nice. You string
along with that for a while and then
you'll get your turn at something
worth while. The best l can DO now
Harry is a United States senatorship.
HoV's that?"
That was all right. and in 1884 MIR.
ocratic nomination. Senator Bennett
Clark. who had won his seat in a
rock-and-sOck battle with Mr.. Pender-
gast, backed Truck" Milligan. a pop
ular former Missouri football star and
a brother Of Maurice Mllligan. TIE
Pendergast machine swarmed all over
Milligan. 1t was a case of political
mayhem almost without precedent.
But Senator Clark procured the ap-
pointment of Maurice Milligan as
United States attorney, and then ore
thing led to another.
May Battle to the Finish.
Mr.. Milligan began pegsing inolct-
ments to the venerable Federal judge
Otis Republican and Harding ap-
polntee, who also had been run over
by the Pendergast iuggernaut. It sp-
peared that Senator Clarks recon-
mendatlon for MIR. Mlllieans reap
pointment would be blocked. but nov.
that's all over and it looks as If tl7e
battle Of Kansas City would be fought
to a finish.
When he went TO the Senate. Nj.
Truman said he wasn't going to talk
much and wasn't going to splash
around any-that he was "iust farm
boy from Jackson County and he
didn't intend to be ensnared by Wash
lneton elegance and pretense. He is
native of Lamar, Mo. 53 years old. a
Jackson County judge ana Federal re-
employment director of Missouri be-
fore he was tapped for Senator. He
was clerk in Kansas City, active
for many years in politics. Member
ship in the bar is not required for
judges in Missouri. He is small alert,
and talkative. with fine teeth and a
winning smile. and is an accomplished
and ambitious politician.
lCopyrght, 1885,