Alderman Jim Pendergast
Abstract
James Pendergast came to Kansas City in 1876 from
St. Joseph, Missouri. After working for several years as
a laborer, Pendergast entered the saloonkeeping business
in the West Bottoms, the heart of Kansas City's industrial
and commercial district. He became interested in local
politics soon after coming to Kansas City. An extremely
generous man, Pendergast, who was always helping the needy,
became popular with the Irish, Italian and native American
laborers who inhabited the West Bottoms. In 1892, the
working class dwellers in the First Ward, which encompassed
tbe West Bottoms, elected James Pendergast to the lower
house of the city council. Alderman Jim, as Pendergast
became known, was re-elected eight times in succession to
the lower house from the First Ward. Between his first election in 1892, and his retirement
from politics in 1919, Pendergast reigned supreme in
the First Ward. His political power, however, transcended
the boundaries of the First Ward which he represented in
the city council. Alderman Jim's popularity and political
adeptness helped him extend his political machine from its
base in the West Bottoms, into the North end. By the turn of the century, Jim Pendergast had established himself as the boss of a large area of Kansas
City. He sometimes used the large number of votes which
he controlled to further his own interests. However, he
often threw his political strength on the side of the reformers,
to further the general interests of Kansas City.
At times Pendergast's devotion to the general welfare of
Kansas City was detrimental to his own financial interests,
for he was no corrupt, self-seeking politician like so many
bosses who wielded their power during the same period. The significance of a study of James Pendergast
lies in the fact that he does not fit the stereotype of the
"typical" political boss that has been depicted by so many
writers. Unlike many city bosses during the late nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries, there is no evidence
that Pendergast was ever in the ranks of the boodlers and
grafters who sold their votes when the price was right.
Likewise Pendergast was on the side of the reformers on
many important municipal issues, not at loggerheads with
them as the stereotype often portrays city bosses. James Pendergast also merits study because of the
extremely important role he played in putting his younger
brother, Thomas J. Pendergast, on the road to political
domination of Kansas City. Alderman Jim was the most powerful
boss in Kansas City between 1892 and 1910. During
those years, the saloonkeeper put Tom Pendergast to work
within the organization, and taught him every aspect of managing a political machine. When Jim Pendergast retired
from local politics in 1910, Tom Pendergast was well trained
by his brother to assume the leadership of the Pendergast
machine. From that base created by Alderman Jim, Tom Pendergast
was able to build a larger organization, which ultimately
enabled him to become as powerful in Kansas City
as "Boss" Tweed had been in New York.
Table of Contents
From whence the leader emerged -- King of the First -- Boss of the West Bottoms and North End -- The twilight years and the James Pendergast legacy
Degree
M.A.