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January 31, 1910

FINAL "JIM CROW" ACTION TONIGHT.

Alderman J. E. Logan, Au-

thor of Measure, Disclaims

Any Political Motive.

The council is expected to take action tonight on the ordinance requiring the Metropolitan Street Railway Company to furnish separate cars for negroes, or if permitted to ride with white passengers, to designate certain seats for them. As the measure is championed by Democratic aldermen there is every probability that Republican members will permit them to do all the voting in favor of the passage of the ordinance. This is the sentiment in the upper house, but not altogether in the lower house, for if Alderman Frank Askew, a Republican, has not changed his mind he will second a motion to be made by Alderman Miles Bulger, a Democrat, that the ordinance be passed under suspension of the rules.

This will call for ten affirmative votes, and if they are not forthcoming the ordinance will have to go to a committee.

All of these possibilities depends of course on the action of the upper house. A special committee headed by R. L. Gregory, president of that branch of the council, will recommend the passage of the ordinance and this can be done with eight affirmative votes. There are nine Democratic aldermen in the upper house, and the tip has gone out that they have been lined up to vote for the ordinance. Some of the Democrats were hesitating on the propriety of passing the ordinance on account of "political policy," but it is now stated that they have been induced to see it differently.

In political circles the cry has been set up that the ordinance has been introduced at this time to cripple the candidacy of a Republican alderman, who is seeking the nomination for mayor, and who will be called upon to cast his vote either for its passage or defeat. Alderman J. E. Logan, a Democrat, who fathers the ordinance, denies this allegation.

"There is no politics or racial question involved in the ordinance," said Alderman Logan yesterday. "Similar laws are in effect in other cities where there are large negro populations, and they are entirely satisfactory to both races."

Labels: Alderman Bulger, Kansas City council, Metropolitan Street Railway Company, politics, race

November 11, 1909

PENDERGAST DUCKED

AND COUNCIL QUIT.

BULGER INCENSED BECAUSE HE

DIDN'T STICK.

"It's a Cinch We All Have a Right

to Duck If Alderman From the

First Has," Vociferated

Miles Bulger.

After the council had been in special session about 25 minutes last night, Alderman James Pendergast of the First ward asked to be excused. His request was granted.

For several months Alderman Pendergast has not been well and his physician advised him to remain out as little as possible at night. The alderman always attends the meetings of the council to see if there is a quorum present. If his vote is needed he remains, otherwise he asks to be excused.

"I move the house adjourn," cried Alderman Miles E. Bulger of the Fourth ward, jumping to his feet. "Then we may all be excused. The alderman from the First comes down here at every meeting, remains about fifteen minutes and then ducks. I think he should stick here and work like the rest of us. I move we adjourn, I say."

"Are you serious about that motion?" asked Speaker Frank Shinnick.

"Sure," replied Bulger. "It's a cinch we all have the right to duck if the alderman from the First has. I insist on the motion.

The motion was put and carried, 7 to 3, four members then being absent. Alderman Shinnick, Brown and Askew voted against adjournment. With the budget full and important work on hand the aldermen of the lower house left just as the sergeant-at-arms, James Bermingham, entered with ordinances and communications from the upper house.

Last Monday night when there was a prize fight at the Hippodrome and much work on hand, Alderman Bulger moved an adjournment after the lower house had been in session less than half an hour. It carried. The special meeting last night partly was to catch up for lost time made in going to the prize fight.

It may take another special meeting at the expense of the city to clean up the budget.

Labels: Alderman Bulger, James Pendergast, Kansas City council

March 30, 1909

VOTE OF THANKS TO BROWN.

For Once He Had No Gas Res-

olution and No Speeches.

"I am reliably informed by Alderman Darius A. Brown, our worthy member from the Fifth ward, that he does not intend to introduce a resolution here tonight regarding gas, the utilities commission or anything else and further that he will not even make a speech," said Alderman Frank Shinnick in the lower house of the council last night. "I think he is entitled to a vote of thanks by this house."

"He certainly is," said Speaker C. B. Hayes. "Will anybody put that in the form of a motion?"

Alderman Shinnick then put the motion, which was quickly seconded by Alderman E. E. Morris of the Tenth. When it was put to the house the motion carried, only two dissenting votes being recorded.

"I am not willing to thank him until the house has adjourned," said Alderman Miles Bulger. "He may have a gas resolution up his sleeve this very minute. I know him. Let's thank him later."

"Me, too, Pete," came from Alderman Robert J. Smith. "Let's thank him at the next meeting. This one is not over yet."

The motion went through, however, and Alderman Brown kept his word. He did not even make a speech when called upon after being tendered the vote of thanks. This is the first time since he has been in the council that he has not introduced a resolution or made a speech.

Labels: Alderman Bulger, Kansas City council

February 17, 1909

GENERAL HOSPITAL IS

TO BE INVESTIGATED.

EX-PATIENTS MAKE CHARGES

AGAINST MANAGEMENT.

Cruel Treatment Alleged in Affida-

vits Read Before Council -- Com-

mittee Is Appointed to

Sift Complaints.

The lower house on the council last night named Alderman W. P. Woolf, C. J. Gilman and J. G. Lapp to a committee to investigate charges of inhumane treatment towards patients at the new general hospital.

The investigation was made upon the request of Alderman Darious Brown, who read a number of affidavits said to have been signed by patients.

Alderman Miles Bulger openly asserted that the move was a political one to embarrass the administration.

"I do not believe that Alderman Brown is any more sincere in this than he has been with his moves for a gas pressure regulation," declared Bulger.

Alderman brown denied with emphasis the charge of insincerity in wanting the alleged cruelties investigated. He added that it was impossible for him to believe that the prominent men comprising the health and hospital board would want such aspersions cast upon their management of the institution without having to falsity or correctness of them established.

FOUGHT AGAINST OPERATION.

Affidavits outlining complaints of patients who claimed to have been abused were read by Mr. Brown.

F. A. Wolf, 4237 Tracy, was taken to the hospital December 1, he affirmed, suffering from a nervous complaint, but declares the house physicians said he had a hernia and should be operated on. He says he fought being taken to the operating room and succeeded in escaping an operation until his wife could be communicated with. She called Dr. Charles E. Allen, the family physician, and Wolf was removed to Wesley hospital.

Wolf charges cruelty to other patients, declaring he had seen a patient whipped with a leather strap for asking for something to eat after regular meal hours, and had seen a man suffering from pneumonia die after being forced into a tub filled with cold water.

MODERN WOODMEN INTERESTED.

Wolf claims to be a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and a local lodge of the order is supporting him in his charges.

Frank E. Jefferson made affidavit that on October 22 he underwent an operation at the hospital, and the incision was not dressed until the 25th. Later he was moved to Hahneman Medical college.

Arthur Slim, a brick layer, declared that while he was in the hospital with an ulcerated leg and suffering much pain, a doctor ordered him to the kitchen to work. He replied "that if he had to work, he might as well be laying brick."

SLIM ACCUSES PHYSICIAN.

Then the doctor repeated his order that Slim must either work in the kitchen or leave. Slim says he left, and limped to the emergency hospital and asked they physicians there to dress his sore leg. They refused, he avers, because he had left the general hospital.

Then Slim went to the University hospital, where his leg was dressed, and he was ordered back to the general hospital.

"December 23 I went back to the hospital," claims Slim, "and when the doctor saw me, he told others he would 'fix' me. He poured a quart bottle of acid over my sore leg."

EAGLES TOOK HIM AWAY.

Signor Friscoe was a trapeze performer. He swears that on January 16, 1909, he fell from a trapeze at the Hippodrome, breaking five ribs and paralyzing his lower limbs. He complains that he was roughly handled both in the ambulance and at the hospital, and that when he asked to be allowed to communicate with the Benevolent Order of Eagles, of which he is a member, his request was denied. Finally, he got into communication with officials of the Kansas City aerie, and was removed to another hospital.

W. O. Cardwell asserts that Walter Gessley died at the hospital, and that a doctor refused to state the cause of death or furnish a death certificate until he was paid $2.

An attack on the hospital management came up in a different form in the upper house of the council. The board asked for authority to spend $5,000 for surgical instruments, an X-ray machine and fitting up a laboratory.

DR. NEAL WILL NOT DENY.

Dr. J. Park Neal, house surgeon at the general hospital, said last night:

"Neither I nor any member of the hospital staff care to deny the charges made against the hospital. We simply ignore them. They are too absurd to make a denial necessary."

Labels: abuse, Alderman Bulger, Dr J Park Neal, general hospital, hippodrome, hospitals, Kansas City council, lodges, Tracy avenue

December 29, 1908

BULGER'S HEART WAS TOO BIG.

Refused to Prosecute Two Men That

Robbed His Safe.

"I didn't have the heart to do it," said Alderman Miles Bulger yesterday after telling the prosecuting attorney to turn loose the two men who had robbed the safe at Bulger & Woolf's "cement emporium."

"It was their first offense; they had been drinking, and it's a poor way of getting even by putting two human beings behind the bars for a term of years. Besides, it makes me feel better. I am sure I would be haunted forever with the thought that I had ruined two lives."

When the men were brought before the prosecuting attorney Mr. Bulger weakened.

"Will you take a pledge not to get drunk for another year?" he asked the weeping men.

"We'll never drink again," sobbed the prisoners.

"All right, get down on your knees and take this pledge," commanded the alderman.

The men did as directed, and Mr. Bulger had them repeat a pledge given by a total abstinence society of which he is a member.

"Here's a dollar for each of you," finished Mr. Bulger.

Labels: alcohol, Alderman Bulger, crime

December 13, 1908

TO SHOW IT REMEMBERS.

City to Erect Monument in Memory

of Brave Officers.

Upon the request of Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., Alderman Miles Bulger will offer an ordinance in the lower house of the council tomorrow night appropriating $1,000 for the placing of monuments over the graves of Michael Mullane and Albert O. Dalbow, the two policemen who were shot down by religious fanatics last Tuesday. The mayor believes that the city should show some benefiting mark of appreciation to the memories of those who sacrificed their lives in the discharge of duty and the preservation of the law.

Labels: Adam God sect, Alderman Bulger, Kansas City council, Mayor Crittenden

May 26, 1908

BULGER TAGGED OUT

SLIDING TO THIRD.

Shinnick's Bunt Put the Father of

the "Ladies' Days" Ordi-

nance Out.

Alderman Miles Bulger never reached the home plate with his resolution, introduced in the lower house, to compel the management of Association ball park to admit women, when accompanied by an escort, free to ball games one afternoon each week. He got as far as third base with his resolution, and there he was tagged out when Alderman Shinnick bunted toward that base. Shinnick's bunt was in the shape of an amendment to compel the management to admit women free to all games, when with a male escort.

"I accept Alderman Shinnick's knock," consented Bulger.

"These whole proceedings look a good deal like a huge joke to me," observed Alderman Pendergast. "Bulger's effort was an amusing skit, but Shinnick has made a farce of it."

Aldermen Pendergast, O'Hearn, Smith and Gilman voted against the passage of the resolution. Alderman Brown would not vote either way, "because he is a married man," and only nine other aldermen voted for it. As it lacked one vote of enough to pass, the resolution was referred to the finance committee.

In the upper house the "ladies' day" resolution fell upon rough roads. In the first place, City Clerk Clough couldnot read it, owing to the irregular way in which the lower house amendments had been interlined. He was not able to decide whether the draft asked for one day a week for women to be admitted free to the ball park, or every day in the week Both ways were in the draft.

"It is a little confusing," said Alderman Steele, following with the usual question: "Has it ben approved as to form by the city counselor?"

"From appearances, I think it must have been approved as to form by the city engineer," responded Alderman Isaac Taylor.

Alderman Bulger came over from the lower house and tried to explain his resolution.

Alderman Edwards asked to have the resolution buried in the box of the insurance patrol. Alderman Eaton fought for a vote. In the end the resolution was saved from the hostile insurance patrol and was sent to the finance committee.

Labels: Alderman Bulger, James Pendergast, Kansas City council, sports, women

May 22, 1908

ALDERMAN BULGER'S LATEST.

Will Try to Force a Ladies' Day at

the Ball Park.

Sing, hey! for the gallant alderman, Miles Bulger. He's going to force George Tebeau to set aside one day a week at Association park when women baseball "bugs" shall be admitted free. Alderman Miles is nothing if not gallant. Besides, a good many wives of the Fourth ward voters are followers of the great national pastime and their husbands are growing weary of putting up 50 cents for them to see the home team beaten. Hence, Bulger to the rescue. The alderman will introduce an ordinance in the lower house of the council next Monday night requiring that at least one day a week be set aside for free admission for women at the ball park.

Whether the council has authority to compel Tebeau to grant this boon to the women fans is not known in the Fourth ward. If it hasn't Alderman Bulger may take his measure to the state legislature position. He's going to get the women past the turnstiles one day a week free or know the reason why. Incidentally, he will try to force the ball park license tax up to $250 a year. It is $50 a year now.

Labels: Alderman Bulger, Association park, Kansas City council, sports, women

April 21, 1908

MR. CRITTENDEN IS

NOW THE MAYOR.

TOOK OATH OF OFFICE AT HIGH

NOON YESTERDAY.

The Ceremonies Were Witnessed by a

Large Gathering of Men and

Women in Lower House

of the Council.

Two years of municipal rule under the Democratic party became operative at 12:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when Mayor-Elect Crittenden took the oath of office as administered by City Clerk Clough, and Mayor Beardslehy took formal leave of his two years' stewardship of the city's affairs.

The inaugural ceremony was held in the lower house of the council chamber. It was preceded at the noon hour by the firing of minute guns on the outside of the hall. The chambers were decorated with the national colors, palms, ferns, plants and blossoms. The desks of the aldermen, speakers' rostrum and reading clerk stand were particularly lavishly decorated. Many of the aldermen were recipients of special floral offerings from their admiring friends, the most noticeable set pieces being a pyramid bouquet at the station of Alderman Pendergast; an immense floral horse shoe on the desk of Alderman O'Hearn from the Second Ward Democratic Club; a vase of American Beauty roses on the desk of Alderman Woolf, and a tree trimmed with lemons which were calculated to describe what had been handed the individuals and interests that had so desperately fought Woolf in the Third ward; a four leaf floral shamrock, seven feet high, was the gift to Alderman Bulger from his Fourth ward admirers.

CRITTENDEN AND BEARDSLEY.
Led by Aldermen Bulger and Bunker, Mayor-Elect Crittenden and Mayor Beardsley were escorted into the chambers. Their appearance was the signal for an outburst of applause which continued for many minutes. Mayor Beardsley's valedictory was short. He said that he had tried to discharge the duties of mayor for two years to the best of his ability and judgement, an d impressed upon his successor that he was not the mayor of any one man, faction or party, but the mayor of the whole city and wished for him abundant success. Mr. Crittenden relied that he fully realized all that his predecessor had said, that he would try to be mayor for all the people and when in doubt would seek their advice.

"Possibly, Mr. Beardsley, during my term of office I may have to go to you for advice, and I feel sure you will be pleased to extend to me the courtesies you have heretofore granted me," replied Mr. Crittenden, who then delivered his inaugural address.

Labels: Alderman Bulger, flowers, James Pendergast, Kansas City council, Mayor Beardsley, Mayor Crittenden, politics

November 12, 1907

ALDERMAN PENDERGAST

"GETTING TIRED."

"I Am Getting Tired of This Utilities Controversy"

-- Alderman Pendergast in the Council

Meeting Last Night.

Here is a note of cheer for the friends of a Public Utilities commission from an unexpected source. When Alderman Pendergast begins to display signs of weariness it is then time for the fighters on the other side to "buck up" and put new spirit in the game. Not meaning, of course, that as long as Alderman Pendergast holds out there is no use to contend against him, or that he can hold the fort in the Lower House against all comers, or that he is invincible, or anything of that kind; but meaning, nevertheless, that he does cut considerable ice in the Council and in local politics, and that it is more encouraging to the cause inviting his opposition to see him inclined to capitulate than to witness a disposition on his part to persist in an attitude of defiance, even when he knows and the public knows that such a position is futile.

In short, it foreshadows something when Alderman Pendergast gets tired and proposes to quit. And more indicative, by far, is such a confession coming from a man who is husky and tenacious than would be that style of admission by a "welcher" who is given to squealing before he is hurt. Of this latter breed Alderman Pendergast is not a sample. It is only fair to him to say that he is "nervy" on any reasonable margin, and that his instinct and habit is to play the game as long as he can see anything in it.

But you may have noticed that this sort of pluck is not to be confounded with the foolish temerity that leads men to batter up their heads against stone walls. It is habitually combined with the brand of shrewdness that causes even the most obstinate fighters to know when they have had enough and to realize when they are up against a losing proposition.

Alderman Pendergast, we must remember, has been in the Council for seventeen consecutive years. This means that he is no slouch of a politician. It indicates that he keeps his fingers on the pulse of his constituency, so to speak. He is engaged in a business which brings him in touch with the people who send him to the Council, and he must have learned that wage earners and the common run of voters are not going to pay onerous tribute to the corporations -- if they know it -- for the mere sake of politics. In the wards of all the Aldermen in the Lower House who are fighting for the corporations, the people are directly concerned in good service by the Public Utilities at a fair price. You can't convince people who know enough to live in Kansas City, that is is sane or reasonable to sacrifice their own interests to those of the corporations. Groves and Bulger and Woolf and Launder and others seem to think you can. But don't forget that the man who talks about getting tired, knows more politics and can see farther ahead than all of the other corporation allies in the Lower House, and it may be suspected, too, that he had found out that there are other folks whom he sees frequently and talks with "close down" who are "getting tired" also.

Labels: Alderman Bulger, James Pendergast, Kansas City council

May 7, 1907

HENDERSON WANTS A VACATION.

For Thirty-Three Years He Has

Fought Fires in This City.

"A man who has served thirty-three years on the fire department is entitled to three months' leave of absence," commented Alderman Miles Bulger in the lower house of the council last night, when he presented a resolution giving a leave of absence for three months to Alexander Henderson, first chief of the fire department.

To Bulger's sentiments there was a unanimity of approval, and the ordinance went through with a rush. The upper house of the council has to yet pass on the ordinance. If that body complies with the actions of the lower branch Mr. Henderson will spend his vacation in Old Mexico.

Labels: Alderman Bulger, Fire, Kansas City council, Mexico

April 16, 1907

TO CONNECT THEIR STORES.

Tunnels and Viaducts Across the

Alley Between the Jones Buildings.

The council last night passed an ordinance giving permission to the Jones Dry Goods Company to erect viaducts over and tunnels beneath the alley to give access to their block of buildings bounded by Main, Walnut, Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. In the lower house Alderman Bulger wanted the ordinance sent to a committee, but Alderman Groves and Hartman, practiced builders, attested to the plans and specifications for the viaducts and tunnels and the house concurred in the estimates.

Labels: Alderman Bulger, Jones Dry Goods, Kansas City council, Main street, Thirteenth street, Twelfth street, Walnut Street

April 13, 1907

FIREMEN TO GET MORE PAY.

Alderman Bulger Succeeds in Getting

Their Salaries Raised.

There was joy, contentment and satisfaction in the house of Bulger yesterday. The alderman, after no end of hustling, discovered that his labors in behalf of a raise of salaries for the 220 privates and 22 captains in the fire department had met with the approval of the salary revision committee. The reasoin, it was learned, for the ordinance not getting to the council last Monday night was that Comptroller Pearson was too busy with othe matters. Next Monday, the ordinance will reach the council and thereafter firemen who have been receiving $75 a month will get $80, and captains will hereafter receive $100 a month instead of $90.

Labels: Alderman Bulger, employment, Fire, Kansas City council

March 2, 1907

BULGER'S MT. PELEE BRAND.

Cigars the Alderman Distributed

Caused a Vote of Censure

Alderman Miles Bulger drew a vote of censure in the lower house of the council last night. The resolution was offered by Alderman Shinnick. The offense of Bulger, and which brought down the wrath of the majority of his colleagues, was that he liberally passed about loaded cigars and there was some startling exhibitions of high class gymnasics when the cigars exploded. The sport was enjoyed by all those who had not been inveigled into smoking one of Bulger's Mont Pelee brand, but those that did go against them were ruffled in temper and demanded revenge.

Labels: Alderman Bulger, cigars, Kansas City council