The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-17
WILLARD RESIGNS FROM
WAR INDUSTRIES BOARD
Interests of Baltimore and Ohio Kai1-
road, Hc Declares, Call Him
Back to It's Management.

Washington. Jan. is.-Presldert
Wilson will accept the resignation of
Daniel willard as chairman Of the
war industries board and as chairman
of the advisory commission Of the
! council of national defense.
With view Of cffsettIng persistent
reports TO the eff NJ that Mr.. willard
had resigned by way OF protest AGAINST
! the lack Of proper Capitalization In
( .he purchase Of war supplies the
White House tonight made public tho
text OF his letter OF resignation. II
read:
MY Dear Mr. President: The TAX
ing over CT the railroads by the gov
eminent has naturally raised many
unforeseen and intricate questions,
and IL seems clear TO me that l ought
now to give my whole time 10 the
affairs OF the Baltimore and Ohio
company. Further, the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad company. because
of it's location, liz one OF the heavy
coal carriers and also serves many OF
the industries engaged In the manu-
facture of materials necessary ~sr the
prosecution Of the war and in COM
mon with all other American rail-
roads its operating organization has
been considerably weakened during
the last year because of the large
number of officers and skilled en-
ployes who have gone to France and
Russia.
with all this in mind. " has
seemed to me best that | should ask
You to relieve me, AZ lea st temporarily.
of the duties OF chairman of the war
industries board. in order that I may
devote my whole time to the Balti-
more and Ohio service. u felt that
my resignation would interfere with
the usefulness of the board, | should
hesitate TO ma Ike this request but /
am confident that there are many 9TH
ers much better qualified than I am
to perform the duties of that impor-
tant position.
al appreciate greatly ;he honors
you have shown me and the conf
dence which you have placed In me-
and regret that il has seemed TO me
n necessary 10 ask YOU TO accept my
resignation. but my sense OF obligs-
ton to the Baltimore and Ohio. COM
pany. together with the very strong
feeling which I have that under ex-
Using circumstances | can actually
contribute more toward winning the
war as president of that company
than In any other capacity convinces
me that / am taking the right course.
While reel that 1t Is in the best
interest OF all that the change should
oe made as soon az possible, shall
Of course expect TO yield to your
wisk rs aud endeavor to meet your
view.
~ wish to assure YOU again OF nay
undivided confidence and support and
my willingness and desire to be of
hnTn fnpf
may continue to have good health ana
strength to sustain the great respon-
sibiliry that rest upon you.
Il remain.
Respectfully. and sincerely yours.
(SignedA DANIEL WILLARD"
The letter Ia dated January IL,
il was stated that it did not reach the
president. however. until sometime
within the psst twenty-four hours.
Formal acceptance will be made. Z
is SOLD az soon as Il successor has been
dena!tcIy chosen,
John +. Ryan. of New York; Rob
sft s Brookinzs. OF ST. Louis, and
walter &. Clifford AT present director
of the advisory commission OF the
council OF national defense, are men
toned as among these being corsid-
cred for the place.
The war industries board represents
! the keystone in the governments war
purchasing machinery as now consti-
:uted It is intended to be the clear
= ing house Of negotiations between the
government and the allied nations, on
the one hand and the Industrial re-
! sources OF the nation, II ia to this
body under the reorganization re-
Gently effected that all questions are
intended to go concerning the rela-
tive needs for the war and the capa-
city OF private manufacturers and
! producers TO meet them. 1t is in
! tended 10 he the superarbiter on all
/ questions Of priority in the obtaining
Of supplies.