The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-04
j.. ]. WALKER
TAKES MAYORS
JOB IN n. Y.
Beasts a Versatile Career
First Mayor to Come From
''Tin Pan Alley"

- view 1Ork, Jan. E.-I%J-Iammy
Hall has presented to Americas
largest city new type of man to
wear its mayoralty robes-James J.
Walker. product Of Greenwich VIII
lage, pianist, composer Of popular
songs and legislator.
In the past, the city's mayors have
come from many walks of life, but
this is the first time "Tin Pan Al
ley" has seen one Of its sons in the
office. The new mayor boasts a
versatile career.
In Colonial times up to 1774, the
mayor was selected by the governor
Of the province, and he was always
a man of high standing. Until 1920,
the appointing hoard Of the state,
headed by the governor, named the
mayor. and from 1921 to 1929, when
the charter was amended, the COM
mon council chose him.
After that the city made its Sc
lection by popular vote, but it was
not until 1898, when consolidation
with nearby communities was effec-
ted, that the first mayor of Greater
New York was elected.
Father Came from ireland
Mayor Walkers father was an i'm
migrant from Ireland, and as a dis
trict leader became friend of the
late Charles F. Murphy, Tammany
leader. "Bill" Walker, as he was
known on the West Side, was an al
derman when Jimmy" was boy of
seven. He was a prosperous lum-
Der dealer. He later served two
terms in the State Assembly.
Young Walker attended La Sale
Cnn
and later entered New York Law
He had starred in school athletics
and one season played semi-prO base
hall with II Hoboken team.
For while, he held secretarial
position in an accounting concern;
later he was member Of a company
launching an ill-destined subway
project to go under the East River
) to Brooklyn, then separate mu-
nicipality.
Song writing was hobby. His
flair for the stage led Walker to an
association with members of Tin
Pan Alley" many of whom he knows
intimately today. He is a. pianist
Of ability and for while played the
piano on the vaudeville stage.
One of his lyrics was set to tune
by Ernest Ball, the song composer,
and achieved something of hit as
the song, "Wirl You Love Me in De-
cember as You Do in May"
Entered Assembly In 1909
Walker was elected to the Assem-
bly, at Albany in 1909, taking the
same seat representing his home dis
trict that his father had held before
him. In 1912, he married Janet AL
len, childhood sweetheart. The
same year he was admitted to the
New York bar and became success
full as lawyer.
For five years, Walker sat in the
the Senate, where from 1920 until
his resignation to assume the may
orally office he was leader of the
Democratic forces. His legislative
record was identified on the side of
Governor Smith.
He has always been a partisan. He
fought for Sunday baseball and
movies, sponsored legalized boxing
and the bill that hears his name. sup
ported 2.75 beer (afterward declared
unconstitutionaD. voted for the res
Olution to Congress asking modifi-
cation of the Volstead Act to per-
NIT the use of beer and light wines
under proper state restrictions, and
helped pass the law which forced
the Ku Klux Khan to make public it's
membership and the laws bringing
about reduction Of Is per cent in
state income tax, workmen's COM
pensation, widows pensions and
emergency rent laws.
In his campaign speeches for the
mayoralty, Walker promised to dig
new subways, maintain the nickel
subway fare and give the city a clean,
economical administration.
New York Democrats gave him a
plurality of 100000 votes over Mayor
Hylan in the primary fight, and the
city elected him over Frank D. Wa,
terman, Republican nominee. by a
majority Of approximately 100000.