EVEN BY TOM'S TOWN STANDARDS, THE ELECTIONS OF 1924 WERE MEMORABLE

By Bjorn Skaptason, Tom's Town Historian

KANSAS CITY, 1924: – Miles Bulger, the Little Czar of the 2nd Ward, was a fractious lieutenant of small stature and oversized ego.  The Boss gave Bulger broad leeway because he always proved useful at dipping into public coffers.

Bulger chose the city primaries to move against the Boss, sparking a civil war amongst the Goats. On the morning of March 7, Bulger mustered his forces to hijack the Democratic primary convention, scheduled that day at the Police Court annex on 19th Street.  Once Bulger’s insurgents had barricaded themselves inside, the forces of the Machine laid siege.  The Little Czar strutted about taunting the Boss’ legions before retreating to his headquarters on Summit Hill.  Hours later a Bulgerite relief force, led by the Unterrified Swede, Oscar Benson, descended 19th Street to rescue the beleaguered garrison.  The besiegers, led by Terrible Solly Weissman, linked arms, and a donnybrook ensued.

Dozens were injured.  The coppers found Solly Weissman beset by four Bulgerites, and getting the best of the deal. They moved in to rescue the quartet of unfortunates from the jackhammer fists of Boss Tom’s rampant goat.  After the casualties were counted, the primary went to Boss Tom and his candidate.

Though bested, the Little Czar had a final vindictive card to play. In the general election Bulger defected to the Rabbits and knifed the Machine by throwing in with the Republicans, handing them the city hall.

Tom could abide rebellion, but not treachery.  On the morning after the election a self-satisfied Bulger stood on a downtown street corner when a battleship grey Cadillac roared up, and an enraged Boss emerged with rolled up sleeves. The Little Czar took off like a rabbit amid the hoots of a hung-over electorate, and the last anyone heard of Miles Bulger was his panicked cry, “It’s Tom Pendergast.  He’s got a gun!”