In one memorable scene, he confronted an angry crowd of striking workers who had come to the city council chambers to protest the banning of improvised 'jitney' transportation.

He based his election campaign in April 1930 on his response to the strike and on his credentials in restoring 'law and order,' and beat opponent Francis Williams by a comfortable margin, winning 14 of 17 wards.

Owing his political success to his membership in the Old Regular machine's Choctaw Club, Walmsley benefited from their ability to turn out votes and dispense patronage.

[2] Among the accomplishments of his administration were improvements in street paving and drainage, construction of the Municipal Auditorium, completion of a new Criminal Courts Building and the extension of New Orleans City Park towards the Lakefront.

[3]In return for the political support of the New Orleans machine, Long promised a bridge over the Mississippi River, a Lakefront Airport, and money for infrastructure improvements.

The alliance brought overwhelming Old Regular support for Long's chosen successor as governor, Oscar K. Allen, who won 70 percent of the New Orleans vote in the gubernatorial election of 1932.

Long proposed a series of bills cutting off state funding for the city and stripping municipal government of its traditional rights to issue licenses, assess property taxes, regulate public utilities, and control the police department.

After the rally, Long stepped up his assault on Walmsley by sending Louisiana National Guard troops to occupy the registrar of voters office across the street from New Orleans City Hall, setting up machine guns in the windows and declaring martial law.

Dissatisfaction with this state of conflict with Long and caused Walmsley's own Old Regular ward leaders to ask the mayor to resign in the hope of ending the legislative siege.

Years after his resignation as mayor, Walmsley moved to Washington to become deputy director of the Office of Civilian Defense in 1941, under Fiorello La Guardia.

In March 1942, Walmsley returned to active service with the Army Air Forces, but he died three months later on June 19, 1942, of a heart attack in San Antonio, Texas.