Machines

New Dealers were not the only victors in last fortnight's great Democratic Sweep. Many a humble ward-heeler, many a red-nosed boss of a local machine, beamed and burbled. For there were few places in the land where the New Deal's triumph was not a golden benison to Democratic political machines. No less than 25 Democratic Governors were elected to supply their Democratic followers with patronage, the stuff that machines are made of. For all of them it was a glorious victory.

Pendergast-- One of the best machines in the U. S. is that well-oiled engine with which Thomas Joseph Pendergast rules the destinies of Kansas City and Jackson County, Mo. Last August this rotund boss got the Democratic nomination for Missouri's seat in the U. S. Senate for one of his boys, County Judge Harry S. Truman. His only obstacle in putting Harry in the Senate was the way stand-pat Republican Senator Patterson kept raking up the five bodies of the victims of Kansas City's year-and-a-half-old Union Station massacre. On the eve of election an inconsiderate grand jury indicted three Pendergast henchmen. The charge was perjury: two of them had denied under oath telling two detectives to "lay off this Union Station case," the third, a police lieutenant, swore he had not told county prosecutors that his first duty was not to Kansas City but "to the Democratic organization of which Mr. Pendergast is head."

Tom Pendergast and his machine went out to show what they could do. As it happened their efforts were not really necessary. St. Louis, normally Republican, gave Democrat Truman a 50,000 majority; other sections of the State added another 75,000. According to census figures 62 1/2% of Missouri's population is old enough to vote and Kansas City has about 400,000 inhabitants. Kansas City turned up with 248,000 registered voters--62% of its total population. A few more thousands on the voting lists and it would have looked as if something was crooked. On election day Kansas City turned out a net majority of 140,000 for Mr. Pendergast's Judge Truman.

Kelly. Year and a half ago an unconscionable assassin deprived Chicago of its Democratic Mayor Anton Cermak. Chicago's two Democratic Bosses, Septuagenarian Patrick A. Nash, and State's Attorney Thomas Courtney, picked Edward Joseph Kelly, chief engineer of Chicago's Sanitary District, to be Mayor. Big, red-haired Irishman Kelly and his political friends did not have an easy time. The Hearst papers strewed their path with thorns, broke the news that Mayor Kelly had to make a tax settlement to the Federal Government of $105,000 because of $450,000 income which he did not report at a time when he was drawing $15,000 a year salary from his official jobs.

The New Dealers in Washington did not look on Mayor Kelly & friends with much Democratic warmth and ardor. Their recommendations for Federal patronage were pigeonholed and other Democrats, not of their clique, got coveted appointments. None of this was a cheering prelude to the fact that Chicago must elect a new Mayor next spring. But last fortnight the New Deal swept the nation. Its results were glorious for Mr. Kelly. All his friends up for office in local elections won handily.

Dooling. When Franklin Roosevelt was grooming himself for the Presidency, he, as Governor of New York, had to look into charges of Tammany corruption. He asked Mayor "Jimmy" Walker such embarrassing questions that that political playboy found it best to resign. Last year Tammany, with impaired prestige, went into a municipal election not only against a Republican-Fusion ticket but also against a "Recovery Party" ticket, sponsored by National Boss Farley. Tammany took one of the bad lickings it takes once in a generation, then cleaned house after a fashion and picked a new boss, young District Leader James J. Dooling.

Last fortnight's election was Tammany's first opportunity for a comeback. The "Hall" nominated Frank J. Taylor for Comptroller of New York City against Mayor LaGuardia's Fusion candidate. When election day came the Tiger went for a ride with the New Deal's Governor Lehman. They returned from the ride with Governor Lehman in by a big majority. Candidate Taylor in by the skin of his teeth, and a broad smile on the face of the Tiger.

For the first time since 1913 New York Democrats captured both Houses of the State Legislature. That victory not only meant more Democratic patronage but made certain that New York State's long overdue redistricting would be carried out on Democratic terms. Democrats cheerfully prophesied that the redistricting would put the New York State Government in the hands of the Democratic Party for 20 years to come. And since New York City provides the stamina of the Party in the State, Boss Dooling saw himself equipped with a bigger and better playing field as soon as he can reassemble his momentarily scattered team.

Guffey. "The victory in Pennsylvania was the sweetest victory in the country to me," cried Jim Farley last week. If it was sweet to National Boss Farley it was sweeter still to State Boss Joe Guffey. Through the bitter fruitless years of the 1920's, Boss Guffey's efforts almost alone kept the Democratic Party alive in Pennsylvania. His valiant attempts to swing the State for the Democrats in 1928 and 1932 were in vain, but this year his Pittsburgh machine carried the city of Mellon and Reed, his lieutenants in Philadelphia mustered within 4,000 votes of the number polled by the decaying Republican machine of the late Mr. Vare. They took Pike County out from under Governor Pinchot and Franklin County out from under Henry P. Fletcher. They put Joe Guffey himself in the Senate, named 23 of Pennsylvania's 34 U. S. Representatives, named the Governor and all the State officers up for election, won a majority in the State House of Representatives.

"Gee whiz!" exclaimed Governor Pinchot when he heard the final returns.

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