Evening star., 1938-03-13
Acme Photo.

-ACWC THOLO.
opened Pendergast's followers were on
hand. They stormed the hall, elected their
own chairman and set up political machin-
cry acceptable to Pendergast
Thus his control spread over Kansas
City, and thus it extended itself over Jack
son County. BY 1880. candidates for State
and National Offices we're coming to that
brick building at 1908 Main street, where
the boss keeps his Office, seeking his sup
In 1882 the Missouri Legislature failed
to establish the new congressional districts
required by an act of Congress, and there
fore all 13 of the States Congressman
had to be elected at large That played
directly into Pendergast's hands He named
his slate of 13 Congressman, announced
his candidate for the United States Senate,
and told the Democratic party In Missouri
which candidate to nominate as Governor.
attorney general and every other state-w wide
elective ofncer. And just by passing the
word down through his vote getting ma
chine, everything went as scheduled-with
one exception:
Bennett Champ Clark, son of the late
great Champ Clark, wanted to be United
States Senator. He made vigorous cam.
paign. openly fought the Kansas City boss,
and won gloriously-the only Democrat
elected to Statewide political office in
Missouri against the wishes of Tom
Pendergast in the last decade.
Strong opposition to Pendergasts rule
developed IN the spring municipal election
OF 1884 when new group, the National
Youth Movement, fusion organization
led by young and determined Joseph c.
Fennelly, sounded the battle-cry of good
government and entered the field to contest
the power Of the Big Boss in naming the
city ofi1cials. That election was marked
by bloodshed and terror. But the fusion
youth movement threw q scare into the
Big Boss by electing two members of the
City Council and by cleaning IS 900 votes
I'VE got that many counted" laconically
remarks Mr.. Fennelly-to about us 900
for the machine.
The biggest victory Of that election was
not measured in votes. It came from the
demonstrable fact that aroused citizens can
join hands and get the scalp of any political
boss-if they're In earnest about it,
Political power is to Pendergast. as to
all political dictators, a means to an end.
Some of the business interests of Penderrast
include the manufacture of cement and
concrete. cement pipe, a paving company,
OIL distribution companies, the Riverside
race track, wholesale liquor company, q
taxi company. With the control of political
destinies of public officials in his hands. it
is reasonable to suppose that these business
interests would prosper nightly. It's not
only reasonable-it's inevitable.
To the charge that he uses his political
power to control contracts and furnish
material for public use, Pendergast an
swers:
"Yes. Why not? Aren't my products as
good as any?"
To the charge that Kansas City has
become wide open" town, where
gambling and prostitution flourish under
police protection, the Boss answers:
We'll, the rich men have their clubs,
where they can gamble and have q good
time. Would you deny the poor man an
equal right?"
To the charge that elections are corrupt,
that registrations Of voters are padded"
from tombstones and vacant or non-existent
buildings, with terrorism and intimidation
rampant at the polls, Pendergast has never
made answer. But when lieutenants and
leaders were brought into court, Pendergast
saw that money was raised for the best
legal talent obtainable for their defense.
That the Pendergast machine has given
heart to the formation Of political machines
in other American cities there can be no
doubt. It is certain that the example Of
Pendergast control in Kansas City has been
followed by the Crump machine in Men,
phis, the Hague machine in jersey City and
the Kelly Nash combination in Chicago.
In bold relief now stand those factors
which are breaking Pendergast's political
hold, and which must be employed to
break the power Of any political machine:
First, fearless court; second. honest law
enforcement omcials, and third, strict cleo
t3en laws taahsd hy militant public opinion.