born July 22, 1872, St. Joseph, Mo., U.S.
died Jan. 26, 1945, Kansas City, Mo.
U.S. politician.
He was active in municipal politics in Kansas City, Mo., and became the political boss of the city's Democrats by 1916. His political machine dominated city and state politics for almost 25 years and influenced national Democratic conventions. He helped Harry S. Truman in his early political career. Attacked by opponents for allowing corrupt practices in Kansas City, he was convicted of income-tax evasion in 1939 and served one year in prison.