Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-11-23
RETIREMENT COMES As
SURPRISE AT CAPITAL.
Need Of Money Given a. Reason,
Whill Health 10 Secondary Consider.
ation-Po,itieian Believe Step 10
First Move to Secure Democratic
Nomination For Presidency TO Sue.
coed Father in Law.

announced his TetlremenC 70 pIlSdS
life.
President Wilson made public last
night his acceptance of his son-in-
laws resignation and the correspond
ence which passed between them.
Mr.. McAdoo gives as his reason for
leaving the administration the i'm
perative' necessity of making. better
financial provision for his family than
is possible on the salary Of a cabinet
officer and of repairing his private in
terests, injured thru neglect and the
expenses of public life in Washington.
His resignation as secretary of the
treasury is to take effect upon the
qualification of his successor, while
his resignation as director general of
railroads is to be effective Jan. next
or upon the qualification of his sue
cessor.
Surprise to the Capital.
Altho there have been frequent re-
ports that the secretary of the treas
ury was to retire at the conclusion of
peace, Mr.. McAdoo invariably has de-
MED them most emphatically. The
announcement of the resignation last
night, therefore, took Washington by
surprise.
There appears to be no doubt that
there has been complete under.
standing between the president and
his son-in-law for some time regard
ing their official parting and that she
president sympathized With and APP
proved Mr.. McAdoo's motives.
There is also reason to believe that
the president has selected, in collab-
Grafton with Mr.. McAdoo the latter's
successor as secretary of the treasury
and also his successor as director gen.
era of railroads.
Guesses as to Successor.
The identity of these successors is
shrouded in secrecy, but speculation in
official circles turns upon Mr.. Wilson's
we'll known inclination not to go far
afeld in choosing his coadjutors. 1t
therefore would occasion no surprise
were the president to appoint as Sec
rotary of the treasury either Bernard
M. Baruch, now chairman Of the war
industries board, or Secretary OF Agrl-
culture Houston. Comptroller OF the
Currency John Shelton Williams Is a
candidate. for the place.
For director general of railroads the
logical successor to Mr.. McAdoo Is
Walker d. Hines, formerly chairman
of the executive committee OF the
Santa Fe and now assistant director
general. Regional Directors Hale
Holden and Alfred E. Smith also are
mentioned. >,
It is assumed that the president
will make both of these appointments
before he leaves for France to attend
the peace conference. That the resig-
nation of Mr.. McAdoo was not unex-
pected and has not interfered with Mr..
Wilson's plan is indicated by the fact
that the secretary's letter Of retire
ment was written to the president un-
der date of Nov. IA, while the presi-
dents announcement of his journey
was made four days later.
+ McAdoo Tells His Reasons.
Mr.. McAdoo said last night in dis.
cussing his resignation that his need
of money is the primary, and his
health a secondary reason for his step.
He plans to take a three months va
cation in the open air, probably in the
far west, as soon as he is relieved OF
Office by his successors, After he re-
turns from this vacation, he said, ne
will take up his residence in New
York and open law office.
The announcement Of the resigna-
ton gave Nrise to a flood Of rumors
that there had been breach between
the president and his son-in-law, and
that Mr.. McAdoo is going back 70
priyate life with the intention OF pc
coming candidate for the presidency
in 1920, whether or not he has the
consent of his father-in-law.
Careful inquiry into the situatl9h
fails TO disclose any tangible basis for
thege rumors. The associates OF IMr
McAdoo in the cabinet are MOI less
nositiye than the secretary himself
that there has not BEEN the slightest
friction between him and the presl.
dent. and they regard his retirement
from the administration as evidence
that he does not intend to seek the
presidency.
Strain Of Work Telling.
One official who has seen much OF
Mr.. McAdoo Of late, is convlncec t me;
the strain Of his Six years Of n l.a,
| work, including the Tour years va y;
period, with the manifold responslDa,..
ties he has shouldered, have tolo mol'
heavily than he himself reallzes up9!
the health of the secretary. THIS on
cial Itestifies that within the last 1ort
night Mr.. McAdoo has seemed 20 Ok
changed man. - ~.
Certainly if the resignation OF !ne
secretary is the result OF any 1Ilct 70,
between him and the president, IN.
fact has been most cleverly concealee
in the correspondence passing betweel
them In the case Of the resignation
Of NJ. BRYAN and the resignation O
Mr.. Garrison, the correspondence NE, No ~
nnlv failed to conceal, but actually re
veak.st,, the ;nsurn,cnntahle ailiference'
between the president and these caDl
net members. but nothing OF that sor
annears "a Mr.. McAdoo's letter to TN
nresidant or Mr.. Wilson's reply.
Expected to Run in 1920.
r. has been the firm belief OF TN
noliticians that Mr.. McAdoo aspire
70 the presidential Office and tnat y
, ~ he candidate for the demo
cratic nomination in 1920 unless ~ ~
father-in-law should decide TO run 70
a third term. The means taken !
exploit Mr.. McAdoo and his multltuo
If manifestations as public servan
bava promoted this belief, despite tn
1 secretary's frequent denial OF harDor
4 ing such ambitionsJ
a Som. T Of t Il the politicians process ncs
Il - believe that the resignation o. tn
sarrefarv r. the first step In tho nc