The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-22
'BOSSISM' IS
MADE issue
IN MISSOURI
Control of Delegation to
National Democratic
Convention at Stake
By JAMES E. HILBERT
Press STAFF Correspondent

JEFFERSON CITY. Mo. July
22. (UP)-The Missouri Demo
cratic primary campaign today
raced toward showdown be
tween strict, military-trained Gov.
Lloyd c. Stark and Beefy Tom
Pendergast, the Kansas City
Democratic Boss who helped
Stark to power.
The governors latest charge
was that WPA workers had been
inundated in the race upon
which he is baSing the strongest
fight against PcndergaSt the state
has seen in many years.
For the showdown in the PIT
mary election Aug. = Stark chose
a battle between Judge James NJ.
Douglas, his own appointee to the
state supreme court. and Circuit
Judge James V. Billings in which
Douglas is seeking rrnomlna-
ton.
Stark picked Douglass; Fender
CAST. biding his time until after
the city election in Kansas City
gave him a victory, took Billings
and the two built the race into
an old-fashioned struggle between
a boss and would-bc- boss-breaker
for control Of the Democratic
party in the state and resultant
control Of the capital.
The governor, an uncompromlS-
ing product Of Annapolis and
later the army, strict business
man whose family made famous
the swcet-tasting apple that bears
the family name, made no specific
accusations in connection with al
legged intimidation Of WPA work
crs. but it was stated authorlta-
lively that protests have been
made to Washington.
Harry l.. Hopkins, relief add
miniStrator, summer State WPA
Administrator Matthew S. Muir
ray, Il Pendergast follower, to
Washington for a conference on
the governors charges.
No greater contrast could be
found in the nation in struggle
for power between personalities.
This is not liberal-cOnSerVatlVe
lineup; there are no labor issues.
This is not a battle of theorists.
Stark is an amateur politician,
4 man who apparently has an
honest conviction that "bOsslsm'
is menace to the state, and who,
on the side, plays hand in poll
ties Of st. Louis, which lost con-
troll Of the state with the defeat
of the Republican party and with
the powerful hands of Pendergast
welding the top-heavy machine
in Kansas City. He is waging war
against gambling and vice III
Kansas City.
Pendgast is boss Of the old
school. Political experts call him
Americas most successful boss OF
the type. He looks the part, is as
Irish as his name, and has infinite
pride that he "never broke his
word" He controls political ma
chine that hooks in with his bust
ness interests-liquor and heavy
His influence pene-
trates, not only Missouri but many
section of the Southwest.
The governor has. been indie
pendent of Pendergast since ne
went into office with the endorse
ment of the boss. Before the
election Stark wooed Pendergasts
favor. but observers later have
felt that Pendergast might have
been obliged to accept Stark be-
cause Of the governors seyen-year
campaign before he finally be
came a candidate.
The victor in this primary most
likely will control the delegates
to the next Democratic National
Convention.
The state capital-Filled at
first with persons appointed
through machine patronage-ls
divided. Stark hasn't the firm
hand of the old line politician.
Every employee whose job de-
ponds on the governors office
clerks, stenographers, even JAM
tors-has written rs letters at