The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-11-23
M'ADOO RESIGNS
TWO POSITIONS
To Quit as Treasury Head
and Director General
of Railways
ANNOUNCEMENT is
A GREAT SURPRISE
Win Leave Posts as Soon as Successors
Are Appointed-Financial Consider
atoms as Well as Those of Health
Bring About Decision.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23-William G. |
McAdoo has resigned as secretary of the |
treasury and director general of rail |
roads. Both designations have been ae-
cepted by the President The necessity
of retrieving his personal fortunes, eou-
pied with consideration for his health,
Mr.. MeAdoe declared, made his action
imperative.
Mr.. McAdoo will step out as secretary
of the treasury as soon as his successor
is appointed. He will leave his railroad
Office Jan. |, or when his successor takes
office. His resignation leaves vacant two
Of the most important offices in the Presi-
dents gift. 1t is understood that the
President has made no decision regard
ing his successor. 1t is practically GER
tain that two men rather than one will
be named.
Carter Glass, chairman of the house
committee on banking and currency. and
Secretary Houston are among those men
toned for secretary OF the treasury.
Daniel Z. Roper, commissioner OF internal
revenue, and John SHELTON Williams,
comptroller of the currency, also are men
toned as possible successors To Mr.. Nc
Adoo. But it is pointed out that all of
these are southern men. and it is be-
! lieyed that for political reasons there
will be a desire in making the new APP
! pointment TO take man from outside OF
the south if the right one can be found.
| 1t is understood that there is a desire
primarily, however, TO have a man who
can with vigor and directness present his
policies before the country, In this con-
nection Mr.. Glass is spoken of favorably
on account of his record in congress.
Walker ID. Hines is assistant director
general of railroads, but whether he will
be elevated or new man appointed is
still one Of the uncertainties.
/ The announcement of Mr. McAdoo's
intention 10 retire TO private life came
a. a shock and u complete surprise to
Ioilicial Washington. BY many he has
been regarded as The strongest man in
the cabinet. and his administration of
the treasury during the war has excited
admiring comment from Republicans as
lwel as Democrats. There also had been
eyery evidence that ii had, during this
critical period, the confidence OF the bust.
ness interests, a fact in which thc Demo
Gratis have taken much pride.
1t Was not known, even to many OF
Mr. McAdoo's personal friends, that he
had any idea of resigning until he sum
moned reporters to his office yesterday
afternoon and gave out copies of his cor
respondenee with the President. 1t ap
peared from this that the President haC
had his letter for more than week
hoping TO arrive at some solution thai
would permit Mr. McAdoo to continu,
in public life
II cannot ask YOU 10 make further
, sacrifice wrote the President, "seriou
as the loss of the government will b.
|, in your retirement. | accept your resig
: nation, therefore, to take effect upon tn
!. appointment of a successor because il
!, justice to YOU l must"
How great surprise was Mr.. Nc
) Adoo's action may be gathered from tn
fact that several members of the cabine
:, last night refused TO he convinced of j
: until assured that the correspondent
u had been made public.
That Mr. McAdoo was seriously con
:, sidering laying down his Office as seere
y tary of the treasury just before the out
break of the war for the financial reason
I, he now gives was well known to man
y at that time.
While these reasons have continue
with increasing cogency, the seriou
$ problems the government is now facin
. were believed by many to have deter
= mined him to continue. for a long tim
TO come, to remain at his two posts.
In his letter to the President Mr.. NJ
- Adoo made it very plain that the cond
. tion of his personal fortunes, more tina
y that of his health which is now greatl
3 improved, was accountable for his dee
! sion