Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-02

The American public has examined
the defense CT Mayor James J. Walker
of New York as to the affairs of the
metropolis, and in general is not favor
ably impressed by his discussion of the
matter of responsibility. In view of
any support he has received through the
verdict of Gov. Roosevelt, 1t Is felt that
further evidence may be necessary. but
the popular belief is that final decision
mayors charge that his accusers are
Socialists is regarded as irrelevant
Walker would have made a stronger
presentation Of his case If he had alb
stained from rejecting upon the COM
plainants," thinks the Erie Dispatch
Herald, with the conclusion that net
withstanding his long legislative service
events have proved that he has no
broad grasp of the details of the city
government nor any disposition to study
them" but that 1.-The voters of New
York condoned his faults by re-electing
him by great majority" The Dis
patch Herald maintains that lit takes
something more than rhetoric to fur
nish grounds for the removal of an
elective official"
1T is reasonable defense he makes,
according TO the Charlotte Observer,
that he could not be held responsible
for the personal conduct of nearly 49,
900 men IN the police organization, but
he gladly accepts responsibility for &C
tive procedure against any member who
has in any way indicated unftness to
wear The uniform. He instances the
case of the President of the United
States or the Governor of State, who
can do no more than exercise a rea-
sonable amount of regulation and SUI
perv1ston. 1t is to be expected that the
mayors accusers will now come to the
bat, for it is up to them to make good
their charges or bend the knee in con-
fession Of error"
IF he does not know that there has
been incompetence and worse in some
of the departments, he is not fit to be
at the head of the CITY," contends the
Indianapolis Star. while the Worcester
Telegram points out that "fundamen-
tally the mayor Is responsible, for most
of the men against whom corruption
has been proved held office by the suf-
ferance Of the mayor" and the Buffalo
Evening News declares: I'm no Case
has he taken the initiative in an effort
to put his house in order. He has
moved only under stern necessity. Con-
ditions in the New York City govern
ment are so bad that they have aroused
public disgust"
The keynote Of his reply to charges
filed against him." AYERS the Kansas
City Star, lis that his homer refuses to
be a detective Indeed not. 1t is not
the mayors business to open desks and
drawers and go shopping and sniffing
around corners to check up hourly on
the actions of 10000 city employees.
The mayor is a man of honor. He will
play in the open, or nowhere. Tam
many leaders are men OF honor, too
There ere points beyond which, even
TO which. they also will not go. These
gentlemen showed that plainly when
they we're called before a grand jury
investigating Tammany and were asked
TO waive immunity in testifying. They
were grossly inSulted, and said so. They
knew what their business was. even as
the mayor knows what his business is
or is not. Think of a mayor shopping
around trying to keep tab on his faith
full workers! Whooie, as George Bungle
would say, such crust! Somebody had
better apologize to the mayor right
away"
His answer is more thorough than
the document that produced it," in the
| opinion of the New York Sun. which
comedies that 1.-The mayors list of the
accomplishments Oh MS duIIlullSILdIlOl
! is long and in the main creditable,
| but advises that he might we'll have
! omitted the attack on Messrs. Holme'
and Wise for their Socialism; that has
nothing to do with the merits of either
the charges or the reply" The New
York Evening Post says as to the radi-
cal charges By the mayor What rot
! How can a grown man shout forth this
kind Of stuff in voice trembling with
roscicn end expect public respect fol-
his intellect"