Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-19
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

Up in New York a political drama
is unfolding that may have far-reach.
ing effects on the national political
situation next year. Serious charges
have been filed with Gov. Franklin d
Roosevelt against Mayor James j.
Walker of New York City, on behalf OF
the City Affairs Committee, by John
Haynes Holmes, pastor of the Com
munity Church, and Rabbi Stephen S
Wise of the Free Synagogue. The wise
cracking mayor is charged with failure
to remove officials of the city govern
ment who have been shown to be in
efficient or corrupt or to pay any real
attention to charges that the magis-
/ trates' courts were corrupt. There Is
a long list of specifications in the
charges. Under the law, the Governor
of New York has the power to remove
the mayor of New York City.
~ X
Gov. Roosevelt has let it be known
that he is acting as chief magistrate
of the State, as a Judge and court in
fact, in passing on the charges against
the mayor He has threatened with
contempt newspaper reporters who ask
| him questions about his attitude toward
the charges, and he has declared that
speculation regarding the political effect
of his removal or failure to remove
Mayor Walker will be prosecuted.
This is matter" Gov. Roosevelt is
quoted as saying. into which politics
cannot possibly enter. I am called
upon to act in a judicial capacity with
respect to these charges"
X
Gov Roosevelt in effect declares that
he is not to be influenced in his con-
sideration and decision in this matter
of Mayor Walker by political reasons.
Nevertheless, 1t is quite clear that what
ever he does in this matter will have an
effect on politics. Gov. Roosevelt has
been widely mentioned as the probable
nominee of the Democratic party for
President next year. The revelations of
corruption in the city government of
New York, including shocking condi-
tions in relation to the vice squad and
the preying upon women by members
of the police force and by attorneys,
have shocked the people of New York
City themselves and have been widely
published in the newspapers throughout
the country. The investigation of the
magistrates courts by Judge Samuel
Seabury brings story after story of
women who have been prosecuted and
worse by members of the police force
itself
Mayor Walker is out in California for
rest. If Gov. Roosevelt determines to
deal with the charges against the
mayor, he probably will give Walker a
chance to make answer. The Governor
has instituted removal proceedings
against District Attorney Grain, and
Samuel Seabury is conducting the
inquiry. Charges against Grain were
preferred by the City Club.
*
1t is not difficult to imagine the
political unrest in the political organi-
cation in New York City which has
dominated the election of mayor and
the election and appointment of many
officials now under fire. That organi-
cation is Tammany. 1t looks now as
though Gov. Roosevelt must either
break with Tammany or go through
with that organization still in COM
mand of the Democratic situation in
New York. During the campaign last
year, when Gov. Roosevelt was a can
didate for reelection, efforts were made
constantly to embroil him with Tam
many. He was denounced in some OF
the newspapers of New York because
he did not throw wide the gates for
an investigation of the courts. He was
charged with having yielded to Tam
many Nevertheless, he was over
Whelmingly reelected, with a plurality
of some 100000 votes over his Republi-
can opponent.
That was in New York State, how
ever. At the time the opinion was ex-
pressed in some quarters that the queS-
ton Of his allegiance with Tammany
would rise later to confront the Gov
If
What will happen in New York if he
now undertakes to lift the lid in New
York and to get rid of Mayor Walker
is only matter of conjecture. Under
such circumstances can he hope to have
a solid State delegation for him in
the Democratic National Convention
next year? Will Tammany retaliate
and make impossible his presidential
aspirations?
On the other hand. if the Governor
puts the scft pedal on, if he does not
proceed against the mayor, and at the
same time the revelations of corruption
and crime and graft continue in New
York City, where will the Governor be
left in the estimation of the rest of the
country? Gov. Roosevelt has declared
that politics cannot enter into his de-
cision in the matter of the charges
leveled against Mayor Walker. In other
words, he can only do exact justice, as
chief magistrate. That may be per-
fectly true, but at the same time what
he does is going to be watched with the
keenest interest. If there had been no
scandals in New York City. as now re-
vealed, Gov. Roosevelt would have been
in far stronger position than he is
today, so far as national preferment is
concerned. But If he deals with the
New York situation with firnneSs he
may greatly strengthen himself. There
Democratic leaders are looking to him
as their standard bearer next year.
X X X y
A story is going the rounds that
Secretary Patrick j. Hurley of the War
Department is being gToomed in some
quarters as vice presidential nominee
on the Republican ticket next year. So
far, it is said, the matter has gone no
further than quietly sounding out senti-
ment among Republicans in a number
Of States. Mr.. Hurley halls from Okla
homa, usually Democratic State, al
though it cast its electoral votes for
President Hoover in 1928. Just what
is back of the Hurley for Vice Presi-
dent talk has not become apparent. 1t
is expected that President Hoover will
be candidate for reelection and also
that Vice President Curtis will have
the call for the vice presidential nom
nation next year, if he desires it,
The Vice President comes from
Kansas, which last year went Demo-
cratic in both senatorial and guberna-
torial elections. He Is popular in
Kansas. He has made model Vice
President and doubtless he would