Hotel Muehlebach Kansas City, Mo. September 24, 1941
Dear Bess:
Got two letters today. What a day that made it. I mean I got two yesterday because it is now 12:10 a.m., September 24. I held court all day yesterday (Monday) and saw everybody who had the nerve and the patience to wait. This suite has a dining room with a living room off of it with double doors between, then there is a hallway and a twin-bed room. There are two bathrooms and an extra toilet. I sat in the dining room at the head of the table so everybody in the living room could see me and then I put the customer with his back to the double doors, both open and occasionally while he was telling me his tale of woe I'd smile and nod to someone waiting and you'd be surprised how fast they went through. I must have seen a thousand people counting Friday, yesterday, and today.
Jim Pendergast, Tom Evans, Joe McGee, and Bill Boatright spent two hours with me yesterday--Monday afternoon--in the bedroom talking about the city situation. Mr. Gage spent one hour in the same place this morning telling me what he thought. And I spent from 2:30 to 4:30 in the P.O. at Independence today (Tuesday) talking to John Thompson, Les George, young Gabriel and Heinie. Roger is in Washington with Bell. So I have heard every angle of the city, county, and state situation. Mr. Aylward sent an emissary to see me also. My, what a difference from last year this time and what a kick there is in it. They all cuss Clark and wonder what I am going to do for the poor old "Party." What should I do?
Joe O'Brien, Fred Canfil, Gene Damon, and Ed McKim have all been helping me. Today at noon I took 'em all over to Rugel's place on the highway north of the Armour-Swift-Burlington bridge and fed 'em. Roy Webb's wife runs it for Rugel. Roy has driven me everywhere.
Had dinner tonight (Tuesday) with Mamma and Mary. Mamma is in fine spirits. She gave Roy a great kick. Archie Lodge had a nice meeting Monday night. Picked Vivian up and I went by stopped in Belton and got Ernest Miller who is Deputy Grand Master for the 34th District, and then stopped in Harrisonville and ate with the Lion's Club. Made a speech and got to Archie at eight o'clock. They held their meeting the basement of an old church. The postmaster met me at the door and introduced me to the people. He was a swing driver in my battery in France, Byron Thornhill by name. (I wonder how he got to be postmaster).
There was an old hillbilly by name of Goodrich who was the master of ceremonies and Second of the Lodge. He looked like old Prof. Blackburn our County Supt. of Schools for so long only his head was size 7 3/8. Butler, Adrian, Belton, Pleasant Hill, Harrisonville, Drexel, were all represented. No Grand Master had ever been to Archie. The Sec., in introducing me said that he'd been discouraged by the brethren when he suggested inviting me. They told him I was too busy and too big a man to come to Archie--"but my friends and brethren, he's bigger than I thought he was--he came." Well, I had a grand time and got back to the Muehlebach (that's the way they actually spell it, because I'm writing this over one of their ads) at eleven o'clock.
After lunch today (Tuesday) I went to Independence to pay Dan Deet for overhauling the car yesterday (Monday). It cost $16.00 but it was needed. Saw Christie and Marian and got the letters from you. After my conversation at the P.O. I came back over here, picked up my nigger preacher suit and went out to mamma's. Vivian came in while we were eating dinner and we had a family reunion. They are all in good health and so is Aunt Ella - saw her, Ethel and Nellie Monday evening going through the alley to get the car. Had it greased.
Grandview really put on a District meeting for me tonight. Every lodge in district represented but two. Half full to overflowing and they gave me a grand reception. I pinned a fifty year button on an old man 85 years old and he made a speech a senator could have been proud to make.
Ed McKim is asleep in one of my twin beds and I guess I ought to be. But instead of driving to Columbia I'm writing this and will sleep all the way to Fulton tomorrow morning.
Perry Hodgsden came in about noon and invited himself to go to lunch with us.
I saw some nice tea sets in Chicago from $40.00 to $240.00 and a beauty in Jaccard's window here for $80.00. Will see some in St. Louis too Friday.
Glad you liked the candy. They were lovely letters.
You should see Geo. Marquis' biography of your old man for the Grand Lodge Proceedings. You'd be like the old lady at the funeral of her husband, you'd have someone check to be sure it is the right corpse. Hello to Mrs. W.
Kiss Margie, love to you, Harry