Evening star., 1932-06-05
'SEABURY POLITICS.
HIT BY ROOSEVELT
Eye on Presidential Nomina.
ti0n Is Seen in Walker
Probe.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HYDE PARK, N Y, June "A
spokesman for Gov Franklin D. Roose-
velt who visited the Governor today
said Mr.. Roosevelt was disappointed
that Samuel Seabury chose to play
politics" in his own interests in con-
Quoting the New York City investiga-
ton, and that ne felt Seabury was hurt
ing rather than helping the cause of
good government.
He used the question Of the Mayor
Walker charges Is an example OF Sea-
bury's politics" saying the committee
counsel hoped to make 1t appear that
the Governor was doing nothing. when
as matter Of fact he, Seabury, had not
sent a word Of testimony against the
charges. The Governors spokesman
said that Seabury "at least considers
himself a presidential candidate"
The visitor, who, 1t was made plain,
represented the Governors views. prom
ised that Mr.. Roosevelt would act
promptly in the Walker case once
charges were filed. He said justice
would be done the ''accusers as well as
the accused" by the Governor.
Text Of Statement.
The statement of the visitor, who re-
fused to permit the use Of his name,
was as follows:
"All the Governors friends are pleased
that he has exposed to public view the
methods and purposes Of Judge Seabury
which they characterize as not only un-
ethical, but as now revealed, to possess
thoroughly mean motive.
In the case of Sheriff Farley, when
all the evidence was taken, Judge Sea-
bury asked the Legislative Committee to
send 1t to the Governor along with
charges. The Governor was OF the
opinion that the committee, although
required by law to report only to the
Legislature, had duty such as that OF
any citizen to call to the attention OF
the authorities evidence Of any crime
or malfeasance in ONCE.
The committee took the other view
and declined to report to the Governor
Then Judge Seabury dispatched the
testimony and charges to the Governor
himself But he tried to make 1t look
as though he was acting in his offlcial
capacity by writing on Legislative Com
mittee stationery. The Governor COM
PEELED Seabury to admit that he had
no official authority and was acting
only as private individual.
Accused Of Passing Buck"
THAT procedure was, Of course, per-
fectly proper, and If it had been fol-
lowed in the case OF Mayor Walker
Judge Seabury would have been con-
sistent But what happened? On
Thursday. Judge Seabury showed his
clear desire to play politics, and re-
member that he at least considers HIM
self presidential candidate. The
ct, vyac IN
papers to carry q story that the next
move was altogether up to the Gov
ernor. He passed the buck to get
criticism from the Republican press
that the Governor was doing nothing
Don't forget this, all through these
weeks the Governor had no word OF
any kind from the Legislative Com
mittee or from Seabury. There was nc
transcript or testimony. nothing but
| newspaper stories. And remember. on
Thursday Judge Seabury told his COM
mittee that he might still offer more
evidence.
In other words. the case was still
before what amounted to grand jury
and the Governor had no right to in
ject himself until the grand jury had
demonstrated that it had completed its
work Judge Seabury, however, was
| sion that the next move was up to the
Governor. He gave out no statement
| and made 1t clear he was not to be
quoted, but he intimated OF the rec
| ord to newspaper men that he was
! through and that the case was up tc
| the Governor.
1T Is worthwhile to cite IS an in.
| cident that while he was saying thi'
secretly to the press his own staff wa.
| getting directions to prepare com
plete transcript and an analysis Of the
evidence as the basis for charges.
| Action Declared Detrimental.
The Governor by his action Friday
| in demanding some steps completely
| destroyed the political trap Seabury
tried to spring. People who know thu
| Governor know that he feels disil.
| Iusioned by the methods employed BY
| Judge Seabury. and that he feels that
| these methods have hurt instead oi
helped the cause Of good government
| the elimination OF graft and the bring.
| ing of guilty persons to justice.
THE Governor makes it very cleal
in conversation that he has no patiencs
with those writer's who bring his ma.
tional candidacy (for the Democratic
presidential nomination) into associa.
| ton with the New York City investiga.
| ton or any other matters Of state which
come within his functions as Governor
He is firm in the stand that these ef.
forts have no foundation in fact.
You can count on this: The Walker
charges will undoubtedly come befor,
the Governor When they do they will
! be handled by him without regard tt
politics. with due promptness solely or
their merits and In a way to do justic,
| to the accusers as well as the accused.