The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-12-13
ss Is
r THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
By J. z. Jones
Mr.. McAdoc Makes a Hit

almost as startling as that Of the
kaiser and much less expected. Out
side the president, MI McAdoo has
been the most influential man in the
American government Friends and
foes alike willingly admit that INC
Adoo is a wonder" The president
undoubtedly was right when he wrote
in his letter accepting the resignation
that Mr. McAdo0 was the greatest
secretary Of treasury in history On
the face Of the cores pondence. and
for the information Of the public. Mr.
NcAdoo gave up his place in Wash
ington in order TO "recoup his per.
sonal fortunes When q man has
the strings to pull that will haul down
q hundred thousand dollars 4 year as
against a salary Of ten thousand for
looking after the biggest administra-
tive fob in Washington. it is not
strange that in his grandfather days.
coupled with the possession Of . beat
tiful and wonderful young wife and
comparatively new baby. that the
mind hould turn to the problem Of
laying by nest eggs as against the
days OF sans eyes sans teeth" etc.
Mr. McAdoo undoubtedly quit for the
very reasons that he gave-and if it
had not been for the "0ther reasons
it is likely that the original reason"
might not have resulted in this sen
sational exit from political life
4 good deal Of newspaper discus
sion and speculation has taken place
since Mr.. McAdoo resigned. and one
paper that has called the turn on
events tine and again. declares that
M. McAd0o has never been q public
ownership man. and that his views
have brought him into continuous
and acrimonious discussion with Mr..
Wilson and some OF his fellow-cabinet
members on the subject OF the future
Of the railroads" Al least two other
members OF the cabinet are in the
same frame of mind as that credited
to Mr. McAdoo. and men within the
administration circle believe that in
this attitude the insurgents are sup
ported by Colonel House, whom the
political gossipers insist reached the
parting OF the ways with Mr.. Burle
son several month ago
This last bit OF information is al
most equal in political Importance to
the McAdoo resignation. so far as it
affects the issue OF politics surround
ing government ownership. for Col
onel House made Burleson," in the
common expression Of Washington
Congress VIII Resume It's Functions
As stravs show which say Winds
blow. the Washington political gossip
which is unquestionably correcr,
shows that the democratic party IS
not going 10 surrender itself to the
championship Of the soeiaIistic doc
triues Of Mr. Burleson and some
other political leaders, without 4 big
fight Government operation of the
railroads wire lines. etc. has been
justified as war measures. and they
were accepted by congress without
much protest. But congress is likely
to assume the responsibility OF pass
ing upon these issues as a matter Of
permanent policy. and there is half
the pride in reconstruction" that is
indicating itself on the surface, the
legislative branch OF the government
will determine the fate of the rail
roads. wire lines, etc, in its own way,
irrespective OF the cabinet or per-
haps even the president. if the latter
chooses to take a hand Congress is
pretty near the point of hosting the
red flag against the method of cab
met legislation, that has been sent
up to the Hill for Okeh.
The probability that Colonel House,
Mr. McAdoo and some of the cabinet
members oppose government owner
ship. shows that the democratic party
is not likely to become committed in
IT'S entirety to government owner
ship. On the other side of the politi-
cal arena stands the republican orga-
nization, made up almost entirely of
opponents Of government ownership.
The great economic and industrial
issues involved in government owner
ship do not lend themselves readily
to partisan political juggling, and
| when men like Mr.. McAdoo quit there
are grounds to believe that the demo
cratic party will not swallow the new
doctrine, hook, sinker and bobber
without a pretty careful amount oil