Evening star., 1932-09-02
WALKER RESIGNS SUDDENLY.
New York Mayor Quits with Bitter De-
nsfseiatiors OF Gov. Roosevelt.

New York Mayor Quits with Bitter De-
nafaeiation Of Gov. Roosevelt.
NEW YORK. September tP).-James
J. Walker Is mayor no longer-and the
bitter words of his ''au revoir' rams
through the political world today.
Looking like d wrath Of the former
sparkling jimmy" the man who rose
from Greenwich village ooscurity tt
world notice handed in his resignation
last night, while Gov. Roosevelt pre-
pared to cali him again today for an
other session Of his long hearing on
removal charges. Joseph v. Mckee
president Of the Board Of Aldermen,
automatically became mayor.
Almost as sensational as his abrupt
resignation and his more than a hint
that he would seek vindication by run
ming again was the Tamrnany mayors
undiseuised assault on the manner In
which Gov. Roosevelt, national leader
of the Democratic party, conducted his
hearing.
"Chanse Of Venue"
"Un-American" extraordinary in
o,iisition -"travesty''-"mock trial
'.nerversion of the executive power
sstudiousls unfair"-"biased judge
were some Of the phrases that studded
the statement he gave cut en- his resig-
nation.
ne announced the purpose Of his res
isnation was to change the venue"
II can change 1t to the supreme au-
thority, the people themselves" he said
ct can change the place OF trial so as
to take IL away from biased judge act
ing Illegally ana In an avowed usurpa-
tion OF power, with personal interest
in the outcome that disquahfles him a.
a matter OF common decency from act
ina As a judge In the matter
Nothing At all to say" was GOV
Ruosevelt's only comment last night
But from Samuel Seabury, counsel for
the Hofstadter Legislative investigating
Committee which dug up the material
on which the unf1tness charges were
based, came this statement:
"'The charges against the mayor were
fully proved ana cofroborated In many
instances by documentary evidence
which was undisputed, and by the
admissions of the mayor.
"The mayors resignation In the face
of this record Is equivalent to con-
Session Of guilt.
Sees Timing Significant.
sNo intelligent person will be r11isled
by the mayors attempt to substitute for
a defense an assault upon the good
faith and the motives OF the legally
constituted authority to review his acts
while in office.
Mt is highly significant that this ex-
cuse is availed Of by the mayor on the
exc OF the Governors inquiry into the
relations between the mayor and his
fugitive agent, Sherwood"
Seabury has charged that Russell T.
Sherwood, accountant. handled nearly
q million dollars In transactions for the
mayor before vanishing. Walker denies
the charges.
The mayor, who has become pale and
Ill, spent part Of his last cay in office
at the funeral Of his brother, George F.
Walker, in st. Patricks Cathedral His
frail shoulders shook and tears streamed
down his cheeks He was no longer the
clipper, gay youth Of 81 that New York
and q large part of the world knew
After the funeral he dropped from
sight for hours, while rurlors that hc
would resign flew At 10 pm he re-
turned to the Mayfair House where he
lives, telling reporters he felt great"
Get down to City Hall" he told re-
porters, with laugh. There's state
ment waiting there for you"
Conferred With Leaders.
Halt an hour later City Clerk Michael
j. Cruise announced the mayors res
igriatiof1. walker had submitted il
after conferences with political leaders
reported to include John F. Curry
leader of Tarnnaf1y Hall, and John H
McCooey, Democratic leader in
Brooklyn.
The mayors chief counsel. John j
Curtin, who battled for him before
Gov. Roosevelt, had written him for
NAL le,t sr. in which he said there were
two courses open to him:
l. ITO continue to submit to the Il
legal and unfair proceedings before the
Governor in which may eventuats ar
illegal order of removal, which woulc
be void from its entry.
Z. "To submit your case TO the peo-
pie ~ .S.e City of New York, who. after
ali. are the ones most concerned"
walker chose the latter course. de
claring he was Submitting my case tt
the people who made me mayor, th'
people OF the City OF New York
"5hAll I permit myself to be lynchec
to satisfy prejudice or political anibi
tion7" he asked.
He called the proceedings at Alban.
"a travesty, q mock trial, q proceedin,
in comparison to which even the prac
tics Oh q drum-head court-rnartia
seemed liberal"
Mckee known rs Scholar.
walker, who became the city's chic
executive In 1875 after career as son
writer, lawyer. Assemblyman and Dem
ocratie leader of the State Senate,
the first mayor of New York TO resigl
underl charges.
McKee, who succeeded him. has bee