Evening star., 1932-08-15
WALKER S POLITICAL FATE HANGS
ON RESULT OF TODAY'S HEARING
Sherwoods Part in Mayors Official Life
Will Decide Whether Roosevelt
Orders Executive Out.
BY WALTER TRUMBULL.

ALBANY. N. Y, August IS (N.AN.A)
This may prove one of the most i'm
portant days in the life of James j.
Walker
The hearing which resumes here at
1870 today may determine definitely
within the space of a few dramatic
hours whether Gov. Roosevelt will re-
move the magnetic, quick-minded. witty
and appealing Jimmie" as mayor OF
the largest city in the United States
For it is now that the proceedings
have arrived at those charges which
have to do with Mr. Walkers relations
with the persistently absent Russell I.
Sherwood alleged to be the mayors
financial agent. When the Legislative
Committees investigation into the con-
duct of city officials began to involve
the mayor. Mr.. Sherwood announced
that he was going on his honeymoon
and this honeymoon. In the face OF
s5O,OOo fine for contempt Of court,
seems likely to set a world record for
length.
Charges Are Manifold.
The charges on this matter are
divided into four sections, but may be
crowded easily into a long sentence.
They are:
That the mayor caused to be deposit
ed bv Sherwood close to 81 600 900, OF
which about $700 900 was in cash; that
he failed to give a satisfactory explana-
ton as to the source of this money;
that he failed to aid the Hofstadter
Committee in forcing Sherwood's re-
turn: that ne failed to produce complete
records OF his finances: that his tes-
timony was neither frank nor truthlul.
It is probably this set Of charges up
on which Judge Samuel Seabury, couh-
sui for the Hofstader Committee. renes
to break upon the legislative wheel one
he regards as something decidedly more
dangerous than a Broadway butterfly.
On the other hand, il the mayor can
talk or fight his way out this corner,
he will be in decidedly better posi-
tion than he is this morning. So far,
this hearing has failed to prove worse
than that he acted in manner, on
various occasions which laid his mo-
tives open to suspicion and whlcn
might not be considered compatible
with the importance and dignity OF his
office.
Sherwood Is Big Issue.
Up to low. on the testimony adduced,
Jimmie Walker can say:
Il may have been fool; but aren I
we all? You haven't proved, and 1
defy you to prove. that was anything
worse"
But the Sherwood matter is the big
oarrage of his accusers. Through IL
they openly expect to prove Mr.. Walker
guilty of misconduct violation OF ofn-
cial duty, and corruption, all OF which
the mayor stoutlys denies. But thlS
looks like his crucial battle. Either he
must stand firm here, or his defenses
are shattered
His last line of retreat would be
some sort of appeal to the courts. TINS
was intimated by his counsel, John j.
Curtain, in his very denial that such
action would be taken, unless We con
get the trial we want" BY that, Mr.
Curtain evidently meant that he con
sidered that the proceedings, so far
have been arbitrary, and he has indi-
Gated this by his constant exceptions
to the Governors S rulings.
The conference between Mayor
Walker and John F. Curry at Larch-
mont also is considered to have signifi-
canoe. Not alone the mayor, but Tam
many Hall is considered to be on trial
here This is merely the big thrill OF
the plot unfolded by Judge Seabury
upon the municipal stage.
Former Governors Cited.
As to the questions OF jurisdiction
and procedure. it has beer plain that
the defense relies much upon the de-
cisiors and opinions Of former Gov
ernors. References already have beer
made to utteranceS of such Governors
as Charles Evans Hughes and Theodore
Roosevelt. For example. when the for
mer President was Governor OF the
State, he said:
The power of removal from office OF
elective officers should be treated much
as we treat the power OF impeachment
1t is an extraordinary and not an ordi'
nary remedy. The normal remedy FOL
bad government must be an appeal tC
the people"
Mayor Walkers supporters argue thai
his removal undoubtedly would be ir
effect a minority action that the ma
jority of the people Of the city of which
he is the official head have twice giVer
him an overwhelming vote OF conn
dence. City leaders also have some
thing to say concerning the wisdom o.
a Democratic Governor letting himself
be put in the position Of removing &
D6T1OCIdJlC IldyOI. PA AoSNANU''F NN N'-'
behest of Republican committee.
MAY Call Witnesses.
There is a possibility that .witnesse
NAV be called; although. If they are
it probably will be by the Governor. "A
the last hearing Gov. Roosevelt asked
whether Edward Stanton could b.
reached and was told he was In tn
room. Mrs. Walker stands ready U
testify for her husband. 1t is possible
that Paul Block, the publisher, may b.
called.
I 1t is said to have developed that tn
1 income tax. which the mayor stated n
understands was paid by Mr.. Book. OF
/ their Joint account, in reality was pals
/ by Mr.. Blocks brother.
( Were the Governor. some time afte
Friday, TO remove Mr., Walker. tn
mayor still could refuse to vacate hi
Office and challenge any one to diSput
his right to it. That would mean ;
taxpayers suit, which naturally woul'
be fled at once, and a resort to tn
courts 1t Is conceivable that such
court fight might extend for months.
The first of the principals in tn
proceedings to arrive here last nigh
after the week end recess was tn
! mayor himself.
The mayor took the train at Har
mon arriving there by automobil
from the home of his friend. A. {
Blumenthal, in Larchmont. where n
had spent the week end. When the
came out of the house there wer
photcgraphers waiting and May