Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-10-21
The Rise Of
Pendergast's
PrOtege
Machine Started Harry S. Truman on
Path That May Lead TO White House
BY LUMAN LONG
STAFF Correspondent Of the Nsv York Sun
- eopyriEht. tsaa. KIEhl Rs.erxsdD

4Ahh1 HUMAN, DeHlOcrdClc nominee IOr vice
"A president, is the product of perhaps the most
powerful, ruthless and corrupt political machine
in American hstory-the Pendergast machine of
Kansas City.
Except for the fact that THE MACHINE
PICKED HIM UP following his failure in bust
ness Harry Truman might today be a clerk In
Kansas City store or a Woodworking farmer in
stead of the Democratic nominee for the second
highest office in the land and possible future
occupant of the White House.
The Pendergast machine, Which collapsed a
little ouer a decade later when federal prosecution
exposed its FRAUDULENT PRACTICES and put
its leaders in the pententiary, gaining poOer
by leaps and bounds in 1926 When Harry Truman,
the Pendergast candidate, elected presiding
Judge of the Jackson County court.
Thomas j. Pendergast, who is now on parole
from a federal prison sentence, was the head man
of a political dynasty which controlled the city
hall in Kansas City, was undisputedmaster of the
, county government, and was extending its tenta-
cles toward the state capital
TOM PENDERGAST has travelled long way
since he had come to Kansas City at the age
of % to take job as bouncer and handy man in
his brothers saloon.
He jumped into politics, became deputy
marshal, later Democratic ward captain in the
old First Ward, where his brother, jim, was Demo-
cratic boss.
Ton, quickly demonstrated his ability to get
out the Uote, and held several offices himself,
stantly improving his political prestige.
When his brother died. in 1911 Tom Fender
CAST took over his liquor interests, as well as the
First Ward political machine which had its head
quarters in the Pendergast saloon.
He expanded into liquor wholesaling and
BRANCHED OUT INTO SEVERAL OTHER
TYPES OF BUSINESS.
He spread his political influence to other
wards and by 1916 he overshadowed Joseph B.
Shannon, then the reigning Democratic overload:
He soon decided that the way to GREAT
POLITICAL POWER was not through running
for office, but through DEMANDING THAT
CANDIDATES WHO RECEIVED HIS EN-
BORSEMENT SHOULD DO HIS BIDDING.
Using the time-honored method of extending aid in
- return for votes Pendergast spread his control
Kansas City and Jackson County
BY looking after the MATERIAL NEEDS of his
supporters with neverfagging zeal then seeing that
they registered and that they went to the polls
election day, he built and strengthened his powerful
chine.
BY 1880, when Harry Truman reelected pre-
siding Judge by whopping majority of $4,000, cand
dates for state and national offices trekking to
1908 Main street in Kansas City where the boss main
tanned his office, to seek Pendergasts support
VITHEN his second term neared its expiration, Judge
w Truman decided to seek county job which carried
lucrative fees.
In the spring of 1884 he went to Pendergast and
asked to be put the Democratic ticket for county
collector
Pendergast's answer has become classic
NO, the boss reported to have replied THE best
can do Harry is United States senatorshp; hows
that"
Pendergast told newspaperman later that the rea-
he picked Truman for the Senate Ito prove that
put my office boy in the Senate if want to-"
At any rate it is generally believed that he named
Truman, who virtually unknown outside Jackson
County, to DEMONSTRATE THE MAGNITUDE OF
HIS POLITICAL POWER.
1t is certain that Truman fabbergasted at this
turn Of events.
To WIN the Democratic nomination for Judge Truman
red ikplV tn he Orda for tha pon
dergast machine
His opponents in the 1884 primary were two well.
known congressman, Jacob L. (Tuck) Milgan and John
J. Cochran.
Rep. Milligan who had asked but FAILED TO RE-
CEIVE the Pendergast blessing for his candidacy had
enlisted the powerful support of Senator Clark.
When the primary returns from Jackson County
in, there doubt to who the Demo-
cratic nominee for United States senator
The Pendergost machine had outdone itself, and
Judge Truman received $4,000 Uotes in the county,
While his tt0o opponents got only little than
10000 betDeen them.
Riding the crest of the New Deal tide, Judge Truman
had difficulty in defeating his Republican opponent in
November