Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-11-26
Secretary McAdOO's SerVice
To America and the W0rId.

10 america ana EHe ~ ora.
The resignation of Hon. William G. Nc
Adoo as Secretary of the Treasury and Direc-
tor General of the Railroads brings to the
entire country feeling of incalculable loss.
His service has been so devoted, so able, so
sufficient unto the grave and perplexing
DAYS with which he has dealt that the ma
ton has come to know him as tower Of
strength for its time Of utmost need.
Looking back over the last six epOchal
years, one finds few major results in Ameri-
can or world history to which Mr.. McAdoo
has not memorably contributed. His was
the shaping hand in most of those great
economic measures which distinguished the
first term of the Wilson Administration and
which fortified the country for the coming
shock of war. The Banking and Currency
act with its emancipating and stabilizing eff
fects; the Income Tax law, with its timely
solution of revenue problems incident to the
new tariff and its fairer distribution of the
national tax burden; the development of
closer commercial and financial relations be-
tween the United States and Latin America
in these and other instances almost beyond
number, Mr.. McAdoo proved himself not
only a great executive but also great in
terpreter of the peoples common needs and
a constant friend to the rank and file.
Americas entrance into the war added
enormously TO his responsibilities. In that
conflict, more perhaps than in any other of
all history, financial sinews we're of decisive
Importance To Secretary McAdoo fell the
task OF mobilizing the monetary resources
with which our army Of four million men was
equipped and maintained, with which our
navy was enabled to perform its gigantic
and heroic Iabors, with which our critical
problems OF shipping were met, with which
the whole vast machinery of our war plans
was kept speeding and with which ample
credits were provided 70; our sorely strain
ed Allies. When we reflect that in the last
year and a half some eighteen billion dollars
has been raised for these purposes through
Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps, be-
sides the billions procured through taxation,
and that throughout that stupendous en-
deavor the responsibility of leadership and
supervision rested upon Secretary McAdoo,
we can but marvel at the strength and the
brilliant prowess with which he has borne
il. Truly has he been called the nations
Field Marshal of Finance, and when History
sits calmly down to write of those who won
the war for freedom she will record the
services of William G. McAdoo in her most
glorious chronicles.
AS Director General of the federal rail-
road administration, he manifested the same
ability and devotion that marked his other
war labors. The duties of that post alone
were tremendously important and tremend-
ously difficult, but he performed them I'M
erringly and uncomplainingly without pen
ny's additional compensation. 1t is char
acteristic of Mr.. McAdoo's practice and
philosophy of life that while applying him
self with the utmost zeal and success to the
great problem of conserving the nations
financial strength, he subordinated his own
interests so completely that he is now oblig-
ed out of consideration for his family to
turn to the task of recouping his personal
resources which six years of an inadequate
Government salary have depleted.
Along whatever paths his future may lie
Americas heart will follow him with con-
slant wishes for his good fortune and never
forgetting gratitude for his splendid service.
AS the French say Of their noble sons, "He
has deserved well Of his country; and If
happily the opportunity comes, his country
men, we believe, will gladly reward him
with the highest honor in their bestowaI.