Tombstone epitaph., 1918-11-24

your leadership in these epochal times
 "Aliectionately yours,
 IVY. G. MADOO."
 The Presidents HePiy
 The president ietter O. acceptance dated NOveInJer 2l. foIo~s:
 My Dear Mr. Secretary:
 Il was not dnprepaied TOT your let ter of the l1tn Dtc-use you ..ad more than once, Oi course. dis,ussed WItn me the circumstances wh!ch have long made il a serious perso.al sac rfice for you to remain in office. 1 knew that only your high and eAacting sense Of dunty had kept you here un til the immediate tasks of the war should be over. But 1 am none the less distressed. l shall not allow our intimate personal relations to de priye me of the pleasure Of saying that in my judgment the country has never had an aDler. more resource full and yet prudent. more uniformly efficient secretary Of the treasury: and l say this remembering all the able. devoted and distinguished men who preceded you. I have kept your letter a number Of days, in order to suggest, II l could. some other solu- ton Of your difficulty than the one how felt obliged to resort 10. But have not been able to think of any l cannot ask you to make further sacrifices, serious as the loss of the government will be in your retire melt. l accept you. reslgLaj.on. to effect upon the apgolutmsL; 0. sue cessor, because IL justice to you I must
 T also for the same reason accept your resignation as director general of railroads. to take effect. as you suggest. CT the first oi January next. or when your successor is appointed. The whole world admires. am sure. as do. the skill and executive ca pacity with which you handled the grea: and complex problem of the unified administration of the railways under the stress Of war uses. and will regret, as l do. to see leave that post just as the crest of it's difficulty Is passed.
 For the distinguished. disinterest- ed and altogether admirable service you have rendered the country ill both posts. and especially for the way Ia which you have Su!Oei tie tre4sur! through all the psrpleN.tils and prop .ems of transitional i.naLcia. cOadi- uons and 0: the I.nanclag .: war "hich has been without precedent alik, in kind and in scope. | than. you with g sense ct gratituae that comes from the very bottom Of ny heart
 Gratefully and alfectionateiy yoIr,
 WOODROW WILSON"
 -'A4- -'AI-AuSO tAp46iASu tO l.-G EJ4t e. spondents that he had absolutely Lo other reasons than those specified ia his letter of rg,.cem.A, He sad he realized many yaI.-d Tanners usuail! accompanied the res.-natlCa oi an ol ficiai. but he eEpnas.zed again ana again that he had 10 motive or par pose except those mentioned.
 He said he hated to quit the tob' ! just at this time and disliked per sonally to disassociate himself Of l liciaily from the president. but added that necessities of pIov.u.ns d living Tor his wife and family made th:s iia perative.
 A moment later one coGrespondent suggested:
 Well. it is tCo bad, 1ir. Secreta.y y that as railroad man. you could no' have shared in the wage increase which you gave every enc else"
 Then, for the first time MT. McAdoc frightened, and explained his reluct ance to take the action. He said he had ECt yet looked around for a job as most prudent men do before quit ting" but declared he felt like taking at least a three months rest before looking for work" He said he hoped to leave Washington soon afte, January l.
 l MT. McAdoo said he had no ides who would be his successor or sue cessors''
 Two Successors Possibly
 It is entirely probable that the presi dent may fill separately the offices of secretary of the treasury and direc tor general of railroads. There wa: nothing official tonight on which tt base statement as to who might bs under consideration for secretary oi the treasury. On previous occasion, when a successor to Mr. McAdoo was discussed John Skelton Williams comptroller of the currency. and w P. G. Harding. governor of the fed | eral resarva hoard have moSf gen