James J. Walker—Mayor of New York

A New Portrait of the Popular Chief Executive of the American Metropolis

JAMES J. WALKER is New York's most interesting Mayor since Judge Gaynor. Gaynor had a sharp satirical sense, hated sham, quoted Epictetus, and ruled with skill. Walker wags a witty tongue, composes and sings songs, loves the theatre, the bright lights, sophisticated society (and is loved by it), and rules with ability. Though long a leader in New York politics, there is not an indication of the politician about him. He remains, ingratiatingly, "Jimmie" Walker. Born in Greenwich Village, 45 years ago (you'd never guess it), he became an amateur -actor, ball player, song writer, lawyer, Assemblyman (at 28), State Senator (in 1914), and sponsored, among other measures, New York's boxing laws, Sunday baseball, child welfare and workmen's compensation. Walker knows his job thoroughly, but he still follows sport, dines in society and entertains at the piano. And people do say that, in closing the cabarets at a rational hour, he, personally, was prominent among those left with nothing to do between 3 A. M. and bedtime