Evening star., 1932-09-15
WALKER 7 Kinks
. PRESIDENCY EASY
Being Mayor Isn't as Impor.
tant, but It's Harder,
"Jimmie" Says.
snec,a1 Disnatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, September Is N-A.
NA).-On the evening before sailing
dor Europe James J. Walker sat In the
living room of his suite at Mayfair
House and talked Of the Job Of mayor
of New York.
TT is not as big job as being Presi-
in many ways it is harder. and I'll show
you why. The President practically
chooses his own outside contacts. His
privacy is carefully and jealousy
guarded in home set In extensive and
protecting grounds. The normal popu-
1ation of Washington Is less than half
million.
terent. The last Federal census gave
us over 100000 inhabitants. In the
metropolitan district there are over
1OO00,o00. According to figures given
me few years ago the city Of New
York has an area Of little over 800
square miles and $4,000 persons to the
square mile. Most Of them get an op-
portunity, at some time or another, to
speak to their fellow-citizen. the head
man. The mayor Of New York is not
isolated He has about the personal
privacy Of Irwin Cobb's famous goldfish.
Popularity Takes Time.
ITO be Jimmie to a million people"
said the former mayor, lis a great
asset in campaign, but later 1t cuts
Into your time"
Mr.. Walkers apartment is on the
ninth floor. Dressed Immediately in
nliS thin. alert, rather wistful face, he
looked through west window at the
Hudson. George Collins, his executive
Isecretary when he was mayor, was talk
ling with visitors in another room. The
valet was packing trunks and bags.
Miss Wagner, personal secretary, was
answering telephones, which rang with
the frequency of elevator bells.
Every one looks at newspaper pic
tures of a mayor" said Mr.. Walker
rand imagines that he leads the life of
Riley. How ever stood up under it, l
don't know. guess must be like the
fellow who is always sick, but never
dies. I never left the City Hall before
2 o'clock. They used to talk about me
as the late mayor I was-late in
leaving.
Plenty of Waiting Outside.
Then there generally would be
about fifty persons waiting in the hall
and 100 more outside, all with impor-
tant business. But never minded see
ting people. What always found tough
was when they wanted me to do some
thing for them that couldn't do"
The former mayor stared straight be-
fore him. He was looking at memories,
and he smiled broadly.
Those vacations they always were
talking about" he said. What vaca-
.tions they we're! Dog tired, I'd go
somewhere for a rest. hoping to get it.
I'd go unofhcially, but that never made
any difference.
New York City," he resumed, Should
be an example to the world in settling
international difficulties. People from
every race on earth live within its
boundaries. We say to them. We don't
care where you come from, what your
race or religion may be. From here YOU
start even. You are all New Yorkers.
Why look" he continued, French
men and Germans. Italians and Aus
trians live in the same houses without
friction. People can live together, If
they are treated alike It is when they
are treated differently that trouble
starts. One of the first things deter
mined as mayor was that there never
should be any discrimination Of race,
creed or color. AL citizens are Of the
same importance"
Job Essentially Human.
Mr.. Walker said that running New
York was not only a great job, but es-
sentially human job; that the city
was not 5000 miles of paved streets,
hundreds of subway trains, scores OF
skyscrapers. but the men, women and
children who use them. He observed
that you never could know the city
from study of maps, or satisfy the
citizens by pushing buttons.
"A successful mayor" said Mr..
Walker, cant run city on statistics
He must deal with flesh and blood. He
can't govern from blue prints. He's
got to do it from heart throbs. You
can live on Park avenue" he contin-
ued, IF you don't forget your friends
in Hell's Kitchen And for the six and
a half years that I was mayor" he
added, there was no such thing in the
city of New York as a forgotten man."
Nevertheless, in pointing out what is
involved in running the largest city in
America, Mr.. Walker quoted statistics.
He spoke of the fact that, as a sepa-
rate State, New York City would rank
third in population, exceeded only by
Pennsylvania and Illinois. He told of
the city's half-million- dollar daily food
bill, Of its 100000 miles of telephone
W1re. most OF it underground of its
departments Of finance, education Do
lice, fire, health, correction, law, docks,
taxes, parks, plant and structures, tene-
ment house-and the mayor technically
responsible for them all. as we'll as for
boards, bureaus, and all that they in
rolvs.
Heads Many cards.
The mayor Of New York is chair
man of the Board of Estimate, the
Sinking Fund Commission, the Bank
ing Commission, the Armory Board, the
Art Commission and the Board Of City
Record. He IS a trustee of various
charitable institutions, museums, Ii
braries and institutions of arts and
sciences. For the various boards and
departments he must personally sign
maps. deeds, budgets, certifeates, re- re.
leases, reinstatement applications, local
laws, amendments, transfers, reports,
proclamations, petitions and scores of
other documents.
This Island of Manhattan" said the
former mayor, sis a narrow strip of land
with ships, railroads, bridges, and tun-
nels pouring people into it from every
where. We can't go east or west because
of the rivers so we have to burrow and
climb. And when the people come
pouring from the heights and depths,
I'VE have traffic problems. And, be-
cause the strip of land is so narrow,
we have housing problems.
Eve say to the working man, Get
out of the dark, crowded tenement. Get
out OF the congestion. Go out where
you and your family can get light and
air and sunshine And we say to him
Wen see that you can get out to that
place, and back from that place, for
cents And that Is part of what
mean when I say a mayors problems
resolve themselves into factors Of flesh
and blood.
Il never minded the public recep-
tions." said Jimmy Walker II guess I
am naturally friendly. But the City
Hall is always opeh and it doesn't cost
ANYTHING to come out on the steps and