young men looking for jobs in kansas city. when big jim pendergast, through sure popularity -- sheer popularity, won anwhen big jim h sure popularity -- sheer popularity, won an influential ward with immigrants, african-americans and immigrants all over the world. they had grown up in poverty themselves. they empathized with the working people. jimfollowed his brother into politics, became deputy constable for the city course, then eventually took on other positions in the city, then took over in 1910 as a city councilmember, an alderman for the first ward, just like his brother had been. when you follow the trajectory of kansas city and its economy and growth, with versioning immigrant groups coming in -- burgeoning immigrant groups coming in looking for work, tom