Evening star., 1938-03-13
Crusade in Kansas Citv
Fusion Forces Fighting Overthrow Penderas Long
One of Americas Great
BY O. X. ARMSTRONG.

ME last Tuesday in March will mark
another election day for the mu.
i nicipality Of Kansas City, and the
Dig question is this: Can Tom ]. Pender-
sast Big Boss of the city's Democratic ma.
chine and emperor Of the political destinies
OF Missouri, be beaten? Will the impend-
Ing election bring his downfall?
In campaign flaming with the zeal Of
a religious crusade forces promising to re-
store good government are attempting to
write the answer. A fusion group is bat
Ting the machine with vigor and determt-
nation never seen in Kansas City before.
Boss Pendergast can be beaten, they say.
They declare that he will be!
The elective Offices at stake on March 20
are those Of mayor and eight councilmen,
who hold ofice for four years. But these
Offices are the key to control Of the city
all appointments within the city govern
ment are made through them, all policies
formed, all contracts let.
Pendergast now controls every appointive
ONCE in every department of the govern
ment. -Four years ago fusion group, the
central power Of which was Youth Move
ment for Good Government, elected two
commissioners At this election the fu-
sion1sts expect to re-elect these and at
least three others. That would give them q
majority. More than that would definitely
clinch their victory over the Boss.
Fusion Leaders Confident.
The fusion leaders and workers are con-
fident of electing majority Of the Council.
II they do. the tremendous political empire
Of Boss Pendergast will come crashing
down about his ears Observers give them
an even chance
This Kansas City battle has become the
years most closely watched campaign in
American municipal politics The forces
who have been seeking to overthrow the
Boss were given added strength when, on
December II. 1886, Judge Albert L. Reeves
seated himself on the bench of the United
States Court In the Federal Building In
Kansas City and the marshal intoned the
announcement opening court, ending with
the traditional words
God save the United States and this
honorable court!"
He might have added, land help save
Kansas City!" For something out of the
ordinary was about to take place in the
Federal Court. A judge and Federal
prosecutor we're about to launch q grand
jury investigation of racketeering and crime
in connection with elections in the munich
pality, one of many conditions stemming
directly from the rule Of ruthless political
machine.
That session of the United States Court
for the Western District Of Missouri, con-
vening on December IA, 1885, was destined
to be perhaps the most important in Its
history. Slowly and distinctly Judge Reeves
began reading his charge to silent, seri-
Gus grand jury sitting before him. He was
talking about dishonest elections in Kansas
City! Was some one in authority at last
rising up to challenge the almost absolute
power of T. J. Pendergast?
It was common knowledge, Judge Reeves
was saying, that elections In Kansas City
and Jackson County were farce, shot
through with fraud in registrations and
balloting. controlled by ward heelers, pune
tuated by terrorism and crime. And he
concluded his charge with these words:
Gentlemen, reach for all, even If you
find them in high authority. Move on
them!"
Mentioned No Names.
Never once had Judge Reeves mentioned
the name Of the man who started as an at
tendant In his brothers saloon in the old
first ward Of the young, vigorous, growing
city on the banks Of the Missouri. and rose
to position of political power unequaled,
perhaps, in any municipality in the United
States. He did not need to. Hadn't he
said to the jurymen-"Reach for all, even
II you find them in high authority?
Headlines in papers all over the Nation
heralded the fact that at last tight had
been started on Boss Pendergast and his
henchmen-a fight that promised not only
to break his power over the city he con-
trolled, but to point the way to cracking up
the control of bosses in other cities. Here
was q spotlight of investigation, turned
upon the inevitable alliance between ma
CAliilC pOlltlCS duu BIdlG, corruption ana
crime. II this thing could be done in Kan
sas City, it could be done anywhere. Groups
of public-spirited citizens, especially those
interested in good government, eagerly
awaited developments.
They came swiftly. The grand Jury
moved on them" Maurice M Milligan
United States district attorney, q Demo-
crat, who owed no allegiance to Pendergast,
young, fearless and able, led the fight.
i. Judge Merrill E. Otis, occupying another di-
vision of the District Court for Missouri
also called grand jury for investigation
and prosecution, and declared that his
court would give every assistance.
The immediate point Of attack was upon
wholesale frauds in elections, and specific
cases were drawn from the primary elec-
ton Of August, 1886, and the general elec.
ton in November. Action of the Federal
Court was based upon the fact that in those
elections, members Of the United States
Congress were being voted upon; and Fed
eral Courts have jurisdiction to punish
frauds In such elections.
Evidences Of Fraud.
What were the evidences of fraud? Thev
were found. first Of all, in the election
figures themselves, Mr.. Milligan pointed
out to the jury. For example: In the