Thomas Joseph Pendergast, "Boss Tom" *Goat faction leader, 1911-1939 *Indicted in 1939
by Jason Roe
1. Bryce B. Smith *Mayor of Kansas City, 1930-1940 *Self-styled Rabbit who generally cooperated with the Pendergast machine as mayor *Resigned after Tom Pendergast went to prison
2. James "Jim" Aylward *Chairman, Jackson County Democratic Party *Former Rabbit, turned Goat in 1925
3. Joseph Shannon *"Rabbit" faction leader, chief rival to James F. and Tom Pendergast *Aligned with Pendergast after 1925 *U.S. Congressman with Pendergast backing, 1931-1943
4. Missouri Democrat *Newspaper published for the machine
4.1. James T. Bradshaw *Chief Editor, Missouri Democrat newspaper, 1925-1939
5. Atlas Beverage Co. *Tom Pendergast Jr., President
6. City Beverage Co. *Distributed all Anheuser-Busch products across Kansas City *Tom Pendergast Jr., President
7. City Council *Pendergast controlled at least 5 out of 9 members from 1925-1939
8. Tom Pendergast Jr. *Son of Tom Pendergast
9. T.J. Pendergast Wholesale Liquor Co. *Tom Pendergast, president *Later known as the T.J. Pendergast Distributing Co. during Prohibition.
10. James Francis Pendergast, "Big Jim" *First Ward boss *Founded the Pendergast machine, 1880s-1890s *Older brother of Tom Pendergast *Died 1911
10.1. James A. Reed *U.S. Senator, 1911-1929 *Endorsed by the machine in 1911
11. Guy Brasfield Park *Governor of Missouri, 1933-1937 *Selected and endorsed by Tom Pendergast
12. Michael Ross *Boss of the North End, taken over by John Lazia in 1928
13. Charles Clark *Prominent long-time ward heeler, First Ward
14. Edward L. Schneider *Pendergast business associate, possible money laundering and tax evasion. *Found dead of an apparent suicide after cooperating with federal prosecutors.
15. Frazier Distilling
16. Massman Construction
17. Ready-Mixed Concrete Co. *Michael Ross, President *Tom Pendergast, Vice-President
18. Sanitary Service Co. *Contracted to collect garbage throughout Kansas City *Tom Pendergast owned 2/5 of stock shares
19. Shawhan Distilling
20. W.A. Ross Construction Co. *Tom Pendergast, President *Michael Ross, Vice-President
20.1. Philip H. McCrory *Business Associate *Cofounder, T.J. Pendergast Wholesale Liquor Co.
21. Oriental Café
22. Jefferson Hotel *Owned by Tom Pendergast. *Headquarters, Jackson Democratic Club until it moved to 1908 Main St. in 1926
23. Casimir John Joseph Michael "Cas" Welch *Boss of "Little Tammany" in Wards Six and Eight. *Leader, Jefferson Democratic Club *Sided with the "Rabbits" prior to 1924, then with the "Goats" until his death in 1936
24. Miles Bulger *Second Ward boss until 1924 *Sided with Rabbits or Goats when convenient
25. Conrad Mann *Chairman, KC Chamber of Commerce *Republican, Supported the Ten-Year Plan
26. Albert Isaac Beach *Republican Mayor of Kansas City, 1924-1930 *Supporter of the city manager form of government in 1925, which backfired as a reform effort *Powerless compared to Henry F. McElroy, city manager
27. Chester Arthur Franklin *African American Publisher of The Call, a Republican-leaning newspaper for the black community
28. Ewing Young Mitchell Jr. *Assistant Secretary of Commerce appointed by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933 *Fired by Roosevelt in 1935, in relation to Mitchell's disputes with Pendergast.
29. L. Perry Cookingham *Appointed City Manager in 1939 *Proceeded to reform city government and fire Pendergast appointees, including half of the police department
30. John B. Gage *Reform mayor of Kansas City elected in 1940 *Labeled himself a Rabbit Democrat
31. Rabbi Samuel S. Mayerberg *Reformer who opposed the machine from the early 1930s in partnership with the KC Ministerial Alliance *Nearly assassinated in 1932.
32. Kansas City Star *Republican-leaning newspaper
33. William Volker *Businessman, philanthropist, and reformer *Convinced City Council to adopt the Board of Public Welfare in 1908 to counter the machine's patronage efforts *Supported the 1925 city charter reform effort, which backfired
34. Matthew S. Murray *Appointed Works Progress Administration (WPA) Administrator for Missouri, 1935 *Selected by Senators Harry Truman and Bennett Champ Clark *Directed WPA projects to Pendergast-affiliated companies *Controlled patronage in 80,000 WPA jobs *Previously the Director of Public Works for KC, 1926-1935
35. Harry S. Truman *Judge of Jackson County's Eastern District, 1923-1925 *Presiding Judge of Jackson County, 1927-1935 *U.S. Senator, 1935-1945 *U.S. Vice President, 1945 *U.S. President, 1945-1953 *Friend of James M. Pendergast from WWI
36. Eureka Petroleum *John T. Pendergast (brother of James M. Pendergast), President *Hugh J. Pendergast (brother of James M. Pendergast), Vice-President *James M. Pendergast, Secretary Treasurer
37. Kansas City Limeolith
38. Gidinsky Construction
39. Midwest Asphalt Material
40. Mid-West Pre-Cote
41. Henry F. McElroy *City Manager, 1926-1939 *Officially appointed by City Council, but chosen by Tom Pendergast *Controlled day-to-day operations and most patronage in the city government *Awarded City Contracts to Pendergast-affiliated companies *Administered Ten-Year Plan
41.1. Dr. D.M. Nigro *Commissioner of Communicable Diseases
41.2. Dr. William J. Thompkins *Physician, administrator for the segregated General Hospital No. 2 *Publisher, Kansas City American newspaper *Appointed Recorder of Deeds for Washington, D.C. in 1934
41.3. Otto P. Higgins *Chief of Police of Kansas City
42. John F. Lazia *North End boss *Leader of organized crime *Controlled patronage in the KC police department *Operated gambling joints and bawdy houses *Murdered in 1934
42.1. Charles "Charlie the Wop" Carrollo *Succeeded John Lazia as North End boss after Lazia's murder in 1934
42.1.1. Glendale Beverage Co. *Charles V. Carrollo, vice-president *Mrs. Rhea Lazia (mother of John Lazia), Secretary Treasurer
42.1.2. Glendale Sales Co.