Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
NEW YORK LOOKS ON SEABURY
AS PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITY
Politicians Watching Probe
OF Judges Sees Him
as 1882 Timber.
Creates Favorable impress
sion by Conducting Inquiry
in BusinessIike Way.
sn.cisl Dispatch 70 The star.

NEW YORK. May II (N.A.N.A0. -
Somewhat bewildefed by all this bust
ness Of investigations, New York is
watching Samuel Sesbury, native son,
foe OF Tammany Hall and sppolntee
If Gov. Roosevelt as plenipotentiary-
investigation.
Judge Seabury. calm, impassive. rep
resents the law which has been set in
motion against the men chosen to ad-
minister the government of the city.
In recent years New York has not
taken its Investigations as seriously as
it did the investigations of Lexow and
Mazet. But if one were TO go over TO
the Supreme Court Building, he would
find an inquiry under way. Inc Jury
box is filled with bored reporters who
have been covering the case since Judge
Seaburv was sent in to investigate the
Magistrates Courts in September. Later
on his powers were extended to the flve
boroughs of the city, embracing all
municipal activities and alleged mis-
deeds.
Adberes to Best Traditions.
There is nothing sensational In the
Judges manner Of conducting the IN
yestieation He adheres strictly to the
best judicial traditions. He permits
none of the wrangline or levlty tnat
characterized too many former inquiries.
This in itself has made a most favorable
impression on the public. -
Some astute politicians of this city,
remembering the candidates. OF Jonn
w. Davis and Alfred E. Smith and re-
calling the aspirations OF Gov. Roose.
velt are wondering whether samuel
Seabury will not have better cnance
of becoming New York's real candidate
for President of the United States in
1932-that is. if he does as thorough 3
lob as Samuel j. Tilden did When ne
investigated the Tweed ring, ana ne
seems likely to do so.
This is their reasoning:
The situation around the Magistrates
Courts. as an eloquent example. mao
got considerably out OF hand, to say
nothing of the difficulties OF men OF
the toea of higher courts. such as for
mer Judge Bernard Vause and former
Judge Francis x. Mancuso of General
Sessions. who was not indicted after
the dificultles with the City Trust Co,
but who was not kindly spoken OF by
either the bar or the community.
Charles H. Tuttle, looking over Fed
eral affairs as United States attorney
found questionable bank deals. income
taxes and whatnot, and sent copies OF
his findings TO District Attorney Grain,
a Tammany Judge Of former years and
generally respected, but now In the
seventies, perhaps less active than
younger man might have been.
Anti-Tammany Platform.
Mr.. futile ran for Governor on a
platform announcing Tammany Hall
corruption. He forgot that Al Smith.
who remembers every name when his
train stops in Republican Upstate. had
pushed through a friendly Republican
Legislature every sort of bill that
brought good roads to the farmers, and
had had them cleared by the best OF
snow plows in the Winter.
II simply didn't click with the voters
and Gov. Roosevelt came through the
election with the greatest vote Of con-
fidence ever given a candidate In this
State.
Mr.. Tuttle had planted seed in the
right spot, because he was the f1rst in
years to have accurate information
which had to be considered in any in
vestige ton of the courts. Judge Crater
had disappeared, and the magistrates,
whose courts were surrounded by law
offices," fell one by one into disrepute.
Gov. Roosevelt, confronted with the
demand for an investigation, replied
that the Republican Legislature had
full power to act. He could not haunt
the Tammany Hall that had brought
his election about IL he wished further
political distinction. But he could.
nevertheless. select the highest type Of
man and jurist available in the Demo-
cratic party and turn him loose. with