Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-04
Walkers Wealth Subjected
To Widespread Criticism

Mayor Walkers statements as a wit
ness in the Hofstadter investigation of
New York, under the questions Of Judge
Seabury, are carefully considered by the
country, especially testimony that he
had received large gifts while holding
the office Of mayor. The rule of Gov.
Roosevelt, upon which he based his de-
cision in the Farley case, Is suggested
as a guide in all cases At that time
the Governor maintained: The stew
ardship Of all public officials is a seri-
Gus and sacred trust. They are so close
to the means Of private gain that. in a
sense not at all true Of private citizens,
their personal possessions are invested
with public importance"
IF the people of New York." advises
the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin (in-
dependent Republican,, ARE satisfied
to be ruled by an executive whose stand
ards are measured by the provisions of
the legal code. nothing thus far has
developed to demonstrate the ineligible
ity of their mayor" That paper how
ever, feels that the mayor docs not
quite attain to the Roosevelt standard
of good stewardship laid down in the
Farley case" The responsibility Of Gov.
Roosevelt in connection with the posi-
ton Of the State in such matters is
brought out by the Charleston IS. c.
Evening Post Democratic) and the
Nashville Banner independently while
the Milwaukee Journal independently
suggests that in national affairs Mr..
Roosevelt would be a lot more comfort
able If Tammany were mad at him." and
the Boston Transcript independent Re-
publican) sees the Governor between
the devil and the deep sea-" The
Scranton Times CDemocratic) advises
that Mayor Walkers testimony puts
him in less critical position" and
that che weakened very much. If he did
not destroy entirely. the case built up
against him"
"The mayor must know" according
to the Chicago Daily News .Gndepend-
enD, that there are in New York, not
far from the madding crowd of more
or less moronic enthusiasts, thousands
Of serious-minded persons who do not
I think he has any reason for self-con-
graduation; that, indeed, his refer
ence while on the witness stand to an
alleged custer plot against him was q
tacit admission Of weakness" The
Rochester Times Union dndependent)
voices the judgment: This inquiry
has disclosed one after another of the
principal officials Of the New York City
government as banking large sums of
money. Few of them have given any
adequate explanation of how the money
came into their hands Now Mayor
Walker Is added to the list with his
story OF stock pools and gifts from
friends. 1t does not present pleasant
picture"
Finding disagreement q to whether
Walker was q successful witness or q
failure before the committee. the Jer-
sey City journal Independent Repub-
licanD states: ITO the Nation-for in
vestigation of the Mayor Of the City Of
New York, with possible reference to
Gov Roosevelt. candidate for Demo-
cratic presidential nomination, has an
interest to every State in the Union
the result 50 far Is clear: Walker
failed" The San Francisco Chronicle
independent Republican, holds that "a
man Of honor would invite, demand,
compel the fullest inquiry and give 1t
the fullest assistance" but that paper,
feeling that this rule docs not seem to
apply to public ofacials," insists that 1T
is time that it did, time that the people
insist that it apply"
Asserting that what was on trial BE-
fore Judge Seabury was not Jimmy
Walker, the hometown boy who made
good. but the government Of New York
City," the Newark Evening News Gin
dependent offers the appraisal: Walk
er Is a man of considerable charm. OF
ready wit. So are Q hundred movie
actorsy whom even the voteRs q sNe~