Atlanta Daily World

Lester Walton is Given Old Job by Democrats

NEW YORK. Sep. 27 After weeks of speculation as to what would be done about publicity among Negroes by the Democratic National Committee, Lester A. Walton, well known newspaper man and formerly on the staff of the New York World, was named to the post. Mr. Walton immediately took over his duties at the Biltmore Hotel Thursday, but moved on Friday to larger quarters at 331 Madison Avenue across the street from the Biltmore, in the same building and on the floor above the office of Charles Michelson, publicity director of the Democratic National Committee. Mr. Walton, who is in the same office with J. C. Johnson of Columbus, O., acting head of the executive committee of four nationally known Negro leaders, has his own secretary and writes his own copy for Negro papers. Other members of the executive committee, with which Mr. Walton functions, are Robert L. Vann of Pittsburgh, Julian D. Rainey of Chicago, Dr. William J. Tompkins of Kansas City. All four members of the executive committee have equal authority in directing the Democratic work among Negroes. This is the third consecutive time Mr. Walton has served the Democratic National campaign in that publicity director. He started in 1924 when he worked with I. Q. Moton, and served again in 1928 with Julian D. Rainey. He was endorsed by John F. Curry, Tammany leader with Jimmy Walker, J. J. McCormick, his district leader of the A. D., where Mr. Walton is registered Democrat. The members of the colored committee strongly favored his appointment.