Evening star., 1932-09-02
Walkers Statement
Mayor Says Decision TO Resign and Lay Case Before
People Is Only Means Of Avoidmg Cor
ernor's Usawpssion Of Power.

1t TO the supreme authority. the people
trial so as y take u away from biased
Judge. acting Illegally and in an avowed
usuFpetion Of power. with q personal
interest IN the outcome that disuuali-
f1es him as matter OF common de-
cency from acting as a judge In the
matter. MIR. Curtin's letter shows thas
not a shred of Justification exists fo-
the refusal of the Governor to dismiss
the charges. Apart from that II ap-
pears:
"O) Not one witness has testified
that any act of mine, either of COM
mission or omission, was Influenced By
any improper. illegal Oh dishonest cen.
sideratien.
Cites Cest Of Investigation.
"(2) Not enc witness has testified
that ! either sought OF received any
money, or anything, as consideration
for any official act Of mine.
80 Not one witness has testified
that have ever done anything. either
by malfeasance, misfeasance or non
feasance. injuriously affecting the City
OF New York or its citizens.
80 Not one witness has testified
that I have caused the wrongful ex-
penditure or the loss Of single dollar
to the people of the City of New York.
although upward of FIVE billions Of DOL
lars have been expended during my ad-
ministration as mayor.
This uncoutradicted record stands,
despite the expenditure OF $75o, 600 de-
voted exclusively to man hunt url-
successfully pursued to find some means
of destroying me. In addition. another
s100 o0e Of public funds viii have to be
provided to defray the expenses of the
hearing ordered by the Governor
high price for a mock trial.
Under these circumstances the cues
tion which I am faced with Is, Shall
I permit myself to be lynched to satisfy
Nejudice or political ambition?
"1 feel If I further submit that /
would bemean myself as wen as the
citizens Of New York. who have TWICE
honored me by electing me mayor by
overwhelming majorities. because the
verdict, whether for or against me,
would not be on the merits, but dc
tated by political expediency.
II have gone as far as any one could
to prove my willingness to answer ques-
tions about every act in my life. I have
met my accusers and disproved their
charges. I have met Mr.. Seabury and
answered his every question. have
met the Governor and answered his
every question. Both exhausted them
selves In examining me and told me
they had ne more questions to ask.
Puts Case Before People.
"r have not been given an oppertu-
nifty to prove my record of service to the
city as Its mayor for tive terms, rec
~zA - -. N n AVH
which was acclaimed by the whole city,
tunity from the Governor. That Ia
apparent.
why, then, continue before him
when there Is another forum open to
me? To that forum. the people of the
City of New York, I leave my case In
the spirit of true democracy. conscious
Of the rectitude Of my efficial acts and
with faith In the fair Judgment Of
my fellow citizens.
"1 am not trying 10 avoid RESPONSE
bility I am incurring 1t by submitting
my case to the people who made me
mayor, the people Of the City of New
York. To this decision have been
urged by the most loyal and distiD-
giished Democrats In the country"
The statement of Mayor Walker was
made public last night as reply to
tie recommendations of his counsel.
John j. Curtin, whose letter Of advice
was released simultaneously.
After reviewing removal proceedings
against the mayor In more than 1000
words, which included sharp criticism
of Gov Roosevelt, Curtin concluded:
TIVE Courses Open.
"You have two courses open
to you.
lone Is to continue TO submit to the
illegal and unfair proceeding before the
Governor In which may eventuate an
illegal order of removal which would
be void from the entry. The declaring
Of It's void character. however, would
have to await proceedings after the
event. with consequent delay.
1.-The other course is to submit your
case to the psople Of the City of New
York. who, after all, are the ones most
concerned.
which course you should follow Il
for you TO decide
"The frst is q temporary submission
to usurpation of power and disregard
Of settled law The other 10 q sub
mission to the source of all law, the
people; and that course would produce
q speedy verdict that would end the
matter once and for ali, with a CON-
plete elimination of the peril of chaos
and complications in city affairs.
LAS o final word let me say that
whatever course you take will be salts
factory to me"