New-York tribune., 1920-01-02
Caucus of State Demo.
cratic Leaders Selects
Him in Open Defiance of
William Randolph Hearst
Sweet A gain Speaker
Republicans Are Expected
to Re-elect Adler as
Assembly Floor Chief

Senator James J. Walker, of the 18th
District, will be selected as minority
leader of the State Senate at the
Democratic caucus in Albany next
Tuesday to succeed Surrogate and
former Senator James A. Foley.
The decision to name Senator Walker
was reached on New Years Eve after
a series of conferences here and up
state among Dem ocratic leaders.
The selection If Senator Walker was
determined upou only after a majority
of the important leaders in the Demo
cratic state machine had thras,.e ed out
not only the merits OF Senator Walker
and his only other rival for the post.
Senator John j. Boylan, of the 18th,
but the possible replisals of w. .am
Randolph Hearst for their support OF
Senator Walker.
Hearst Challenge Accepted
"We decided to accept the Hearst
challenge and name Walker and let
Hearst and his newspapers do their
worst" said The Trisune's informant
yesterday. Anyway, we do not con-
slider Hearst a Democrat. He was read
out of the party at the last state
Democratic convention when he tried
to get the nomination for Governor"
Charles F. Murphy, leader of Tam
many Hall. was at first inclined to
favor Serator Boylan. This was not
because OF the fear of the Hearst news
papers, but because those who were
pulling the wires fer Senator Boylan
pictured Senator Walker as a humorist.
"Why, most of the speeches Walker
makes on the floor of the Senate are
humorous" said one of Boylan's
friends at one Of the conferences in
this city. "He won't be taken ser-
ously"
1t was a retort to this criticism
from one OF Walkers frienus that set
tied the case.
His Humor Justified
walker" was the reply, "has made
humorous speeches. But when lie
made them it vas only on The specific
invitation Of the Democratic floor
leader, who wanted the aid OF his
ridicule in trying to lau.h some bill
to death. And let some of Walkers
critics ATTEMPT his form of expression
and it is dollars to doughnuts that
they will remind you of bear trying
20 walk a tight rope"
Senator Walker before entering the
profession of law and politics made
His living as writer OF ballads, many
Of them popular successes at the time.
One Of them was "Will You Love Me
in December as You Do in May?"
But Senator Walker, /de pitc the
criticism of those who opposed his
.election, is regarded as the ablest
Democrat in the Senate His sneeches
attacking William Randolph Hearst
and his newspapers on The floor Of the
Senate at the last session were char
acterized by oldtimors in the Lesis-
lature as among the best ever de
livered.
There will be no change in the other
!caderships in the Legislature. On
the Assembly side Thaddcus C. Sweet
will be reelected Speaker, and the Re-
publicans will also rename Assembly,
man Simon L. Adler, of Monroe, floor
leader.
The Democrats will reelect AS
semblyman Charles D. Donohue, of this
city, minority leader of the lower
house. The Senate organizes only
once every two years, so that Senator
j. Henry Walters, Of Onondaga, will
continue as President pro TEN. Of the
Senate.