While Boss Tom Pendergast made plenty of money off of vice, he also had a genius for turning a buck at his day job, or rather, any of his many completely legitimate money-making enterprises. Kansas City’s ambitious “Ten-Year Plan” provided the opportunity for Boss Tom to put his mark on the city in a way that nobody could miss.

Tom Pendergast showed up early for federal prison. The guards didn’t expect Tom until after 9:00 a.m., but Pendergast did an end run around the press and showed up early at Leavenworth Penitentiary without escort. The harried federal marshal had to race up from Kansas City to play his part in Tom’s introduction to federal service. Apparently, it was customary for powerful men to dance when Boss Tom called a tune. Even the frowsy-headed marshal had to skip breakfast to accommodate The Boss of Kansas City.

Basie First of the Blue Devils: Kansas City Stomps to New Swing Sound From Southwest Circuit!

Respectable Republicans of Kansas City were sick and tired of Pendergast Populism.They decided the bi-cameral legislature – with upper and lower houses resembling the U. S. Congress – was too beholden to Boss Tom’s corrupt machinations. A new city charter, conceived “scientifically” by urban engineers and supported by bankers and businessmen, was put to a vote. The new charter would put Boss Tom and his cronies out of business, and replace Tom’s figurehead mayor with a professional city manager with dictatorial power. The legislature would be replaced by a nine-man city council whose principal duty was to hire the dictator.

Kansas City Monarchs pitcher-manager Jose Mendez pitched through pain today to nail down the championship in the first Colored World Series. The Tom’s Town nine, champs of the Negro National League, clinched their trophy on the road, winning 5-0 at Chicago’s Schorling Park, while playing as the home team against Philadelphia’s Hilldale club from the Eastern Colored League.

Someone pulled the rug out from under Herman Epstein. One day he was an honest businessman pursuing a legitimate trade. The next day he was a bootlegger. The grandfather of Tom’s Town Distilling Co.'s illustrious co-founder, David Epstein, would have to wear the title, or find some other business.

The best day in Tom Pendergast’s life was arguably the day he hung up the “closed” sign, and turned the lights out at Pendergast Wholesale Liquors, January 17, 1920. Prohibition was supposed to close down the gin joints and saloons that drew so many good citizens down into debauchery, and Tom was content to play along – as long as the debauchery continued.