The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-23


Letter OF Resignation.
Mr.. McAdoo's letter of resignation
dated November IL, follows:
DEAR Mr. PREsIpENT--Now that an
armistice has been signed and peace Is
assured / feel at liberty to advise you
of my desire TO return as soon as pos
sible to private life.
have been conscious for some time
of the necessity for this step, but OF
course l could not consider Il while
the country was at war.
For almost six years l have worked
incessantly under the pressure OF
great responsibility. Their exactlons
have drawn heavily on my strength.
The inadequate compensation allowed
by law to Cabinet officers Gas you
know I received no compensation as
Director-General of Railroads) and
the very burdensome cost OF living in
Washington have so depleted my per-
sonal resources that am obliged TO
reckon with the facts of the situation.
do not wish to convey the impress
sion that, there Is any actual impair
ment OF my health, because such is not
the fact. AS a result of long over
work need a reasonable period OF
genuine rest to replenish my energy
But more than this. I must, for the
sake OF my family, get back to private
life TO retrieve my personal fortune.
Would Avoid Inconvenience.
cannot secure the required rest
nor the opportunity to look after my
long neglected private affairs unless
am relieved of my present RESPONSE
bilities.
am anxious to have my retirement
effected with the least possible incon-
venience to yourself and to the public
service. but 1t would think be wise
to accept my resignation as Sec
rotary Of the Treasury. to become
effective upon the appointment and
qualification OF my successor so that
he may have the opportunity and adj
vantage of participating promptly in
the formulation OF the policies that
should govern the future work OF the
Treasury. l would suggest that my
resignation as Director-General of
Railroads become effective January 1,
1919, or upon the appointment OF my
successor.
hope you will understand. my dear
Mr.. President, that will permit moth
ing but the most imperious demands
to force my withdrawal from public
life Always l shall cherish as the
greatest honor OF my career the op-
portunity you have 50 generously
given me TO serve the country under
your leadership in these epochal times.
Affectionately yours.
W. G. McADoo.
Reply From the President.
The Presidents letter OF acceptance
dated November 81. fellows:
Ny DEAR Nh. SECRETARY: was not
unprspared for you- letter of the 14th
hecause you had more than once, OF
course, discussed with me the clrcum-
stances which have long made 1t
serious personal sacrifice for you to re-
main In office. knew that only your
high and exactlng sense Of duty had
kept you here until the immediate
tasks of the war should be ove-. But
I am none the less distressed.
I shall not ALLOW our intimate per-
sonal relations to deprive me of the
pleasure of saying that in my Judg-
ment the country has never had an
ADLER a more resourceful and yet
prudent. a most uniformly efficient
Secretary of the Treasury and ] say
this remembering all the able, devoted
and distinguished men who preceded
you. I have kept your letter h num-
Der OF days In order to suggest, IL ]
could. some other solut!on~of you diff
dculty than the one you have now felt
Obliged 10 resort 10. but I have not
been able TO think of any.
cannot ask you to make further
sacrifices. serious as the loss 10 the
Government will be in your retire
ment. accept your resignation.
therefore. TO take effect upon the APP
poiutment Of successo", because in
Justice to you I must.
Says World Admires skill.
also. for the same rea son. accept
your resignation as Director-General
OF railroads. to take effect, as YOU
suggest, January next. or when your
successor is appointed. The whole
world admi-es 4 am sure. as ] do. the
the skill and executive capacity with
which you handled the great and COM
pick problem OF the unified Rdministra-
ton OF the railways under the stress
OF war uses. and will regret. as / do.
TO see you leave that post just as the
crest Of its difficulty is passed.
For the distinguished, disinterested
and altogether admi-a BILE service you
have rendered the country in both
posts. and especially for the way in
which you have guided the Treasury
through all the perplexities and prob
lens of transitional financial eondi-
lions and of the financing of war
which has been without precedent
alike In kind and IN scope. thank you
with a sense of gratitude that comes
from the very bottom of my heart
Gratefully and affectonatsly yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
Coming as It did tonight without AM
warning the severance by Mr.. McAdot
OF his official relation with the Presiden
naturally has started much speculate T
which, however. Is believed to have NJ
basis IN fact.
Decided on Armistice Day.
To few OF his intimate friends Mr.
McAdoo made clear tonight how insur
mountable has been the problem that h,
faced, and his regret at having to ado
nj this time TO the burdens of the Presi
dent. Only the war has caused him e
continue in Office and postpone the tim,
when he would attempt to lay by com
petence. His decision to place the situa
ton again before the President was mad,
the very day the armistice was signed
He felt that In Justice to his successor
he should take this step before new
policies were initiated rather than to re
quire him to carry out policy which h,
had no hand IN shaping.
Intimate friends Of Mr. McAdoo know
that the closest Of relations have existed
and continue 10 exist between hin
and the President. aside from the fam
fly relationship through his marriag
to the Presidents daughter. Thes
friends insisted tonight that nothing
had occurred 10 mar these relations II
the slightest and any rumor OF thi