The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-29
WALKER FATE
NOW IN HANDS
OF ROOSEVELT
N. Y. Mayor Denies Sea-
bury Charges; $1,000
Words in Statement.
REMOVAL, is FOUGHT
Governor Between Two
Fires in Deciding on De-
mand for Custer.

By United Press
ALBANY, N. Y, July 29.-The
fate of the dapper, playboy mayor
of Americas largest city and the
political destiny, possibly, of the
Democratic presidential candidate
were entangled today in a 27,000-
word document studied by Governor
Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The document was Mayor James
J. Walkers spirited denial Of every
charge made against him by Samuel
Seabury, counsel for the committee
which investigated Tammany Halls
New York City government.
The answer was more than
denial; it was a counter-charge that
the whole investigation was inspired
by the Republican party ito divert
public attention from those respon-
sible for the dreadful condition of
affairs throughout the country"
Tammany Backs Roosevelt
Roosevelt must decide whether to
remove Walker from Office as
asked, and thus face the prospect
of losing the vote of Walkers
friends in the election in a pivotal
state, or dismiss the charges and
risk allegations by Republicans in
the south and west that he is
Tammany tool.
Regardless of what Roosevelt's de-
cision may be, he appears assured
of Tammy Halls support.
The organization Thursday night
in New York adopted resolution
indorsing him for President; the
allied organization dominated by
John H. McCooey in Brooklyn did
likewise.
The action apparently freed
Roosevelt from any restraint that
might be induced by the threat of
Tammany reprisal.
Guilt Denied by Mayor
The mayor in his reply specif1-
cally denied he was guilty of these
offenses charged by Seabury:
That he violated the city charter
by accepting Reliance Bronze and
Steel Corporation bonds.
That he owned any Interstate
Trust Company stock. 1t had been
alleged that 300 shares of this stock
had been purchased by his asSo-
ciates and used in connection with
a franchise deal.
That he helped promote fran
chise for the Equitable Bus Com
pany in return for financial "gratu-
tiles" such as letter of credit for
a trip to Europe.
That he promoted taXicab legis-
lation in return for gifts of Sc
curities from brokerage firms in
terested in such legislation.
That he did wrong in accepting
from his friend, Paul Block, a $246,-
coo share in the profits of a joint
stock account, or that Block ex-
pected anything in return.
That he was responsible for the
100000 stock and bank accounts of
Russell T. Sherwood, who he said
acted as agent for many, but was
not his financial agent,
Answers Fifteen Charges
Walker cited law to the effect that
most of the fifteen charges made by
Seabury concerned the mayors
previous term in office, and, there
fore, could not legally be made the
basis of the present action. How
ever, he answered every charge in
detail.
Those charges were that Walker
had received almost a million dollars
in gifts during five years on
salary of about $150,000.
Walker admitted gifts or sharing
in joint trading accounts amount
ing to almost 100000.
Some $245,000 of sthis was re-
ceived from the Paul Block account.
Testimony was that Walker and
Block were old friends, that Blocks
young son wondered if Walker could
live on his salary, and that Block,
as the result, opened the account.
Walker said that under the law he
was liable for any losses by the ac-
count. Therefore, he argued, he
was entitled to his share of the
profits. The city, Walker said, had
nothing Block needed.