The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-25
Schwab and M'AdoO
 As Great Leaders
By HOLLAND


 Charles NJ Schwab and William c. Me. Adoo are now at the age reckoned b, birthdays which is the average age ol almost all of the Presidents of the United states. Roosevelt was the only Presi. dent able to retire as a sage at 50 years of age.
 According to one report MT. Schwab's nfty-sixth birthday was on the Monday between the anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln and the anniversary of the birth of George Washington Other records report that MT. Schwabs birth. day was in April, 1862. about a veal carrier than the birth of Mir McAdoo. therefore, whether the date of the birth be in February or in April MT. Schwat IS now, if not at thu maturity of his powers, at least in the youth of that ma turlty. For if there be contemplation oi his achievements since he was 20 year. of age and especially since his exalted industrial leadership when he was be tween 30 and 40 years of age, the reasons are excellent for believing that he ha, not yet attained the height of hi. achievements and that probably, in thu period of adjustment which will follow the close of the European war, he may gain more distinguished triumphs moi only personal, but those which are fo, the advantage of the American people than he has already secured
 The remark has sometimes been made since the war began and especially since Secretary McAdoo became director gen. eral of the federalized railways of the United States that there is only one man in the United States who, in the variet, or hls activities and the magnitude ol them, can be compared with Secretary McAdoo. The man thus referred to is MT. SchWab It has been said however that there is difference between tht leadership of MT. Schwab and Secretars McAdoo, because in the case of MT Schwab, he is not only paramount bui supreme In authority in all the under. takings with which he is and has been occupied. whereas, on the other hand, Secretary McAdoo is encompassed by statutes, more or less enslaved by prece. dents amenable to criticism, some oi which Is severe, although now most of ii is friendly, and moreover stands as thu representative of the American people under President Wilson. in these dayi or war and must ultimately answer to the people.
 MT. Schwab is the master of his owr destinies. His directors are not only his friends, but his friendly servants Hi. advice is not merely needed but regarded as the best that can be given. < He i! able, therefore. to go ahead confident that his associates and subordInates will Loyalty support him in accepting ob. legations which involve the employment of thousands of men. the purchase oI supplies aggregating millions, the man ufacture of commodities unmatched in money value even by the commodities produced by the Krupps of Germany and to act upon intuitive and instant Judgment with respect to these various transactions.
 MIR. SCHWAB AND THE FUTURE
 IyOvr f., s,l.1 T N project his mental vision has been sew eral times wonderfully demonstrated. II is evident that he is now looking far ahead. For instance, realizing what the iron situation was, what the need of the ore for his works at Bethlehem was to be, he almost upon the instant two oi three years before the war began con. tracted for the constricution of six ore. bearing steamships by means of which the ores which are dug from the minei In Chili of which he has obtained con. sessions from the Chilean government caa be transported by way of the Pana. ma canal to the Delaware river thence by rail to his plant at Bethlehem. Every leader in the iron and steel industry oi the United States at once realized that MT. Schwab was looking far into the flu. ture when he undertook this unparalleled adventure. The only comparison which ~ei't of James J. Hill to build large oceangoing steamers by means o1 which great international trade be. tween the far east and the western coast of the United States could be established Not through any error in judgment oi Mr. Hills but by reason of the fact that he interstate commerce. commission put ts prohibitory finger upon the plan, waa his project brought to an unsatisfac- tory termination.
 Then again, although chiefly for wal 'easons. MT. Schwab, upon the instant, decided to spend millions in the construc. ion of great plant upon the shores oi Chesapeake bay. After the war is ended his plant will be utilized undoubtedly for purposes which MT. Schwab has clearly II mind He came also upon the instant o the rescue of Great Britain at criti- ,al time of the war. pledging himself in conversation with Lord Kitchener oi lot more than 10 minutes duration, to 'upply in short time the largest amount ,f certain kind of munition of war Which at that time had been contracted Or with one corporation. Furthermore le kept his pledge
 There are some men who have gained brilliant successes upon the operating or side of the iron and steel There are others who have re-
  hese propositions, MT. Schwab, like lanes J. Hill. Is the master of great if lancing, as Hill was also of supremely 'reat railway construction and opera ion. Furthermore he has gained an nviable reputation as a man who is not fraid to speak when the time and event ustify speech and whose word is now ccepted as having been sincerely spoken. lis financial transactions are relatively, though not concretely as great as those which have been undertaken by Secre- ary McAdoo, but the Secretary has tho ntire resources of the United States be- ind him while MT. Schwab has noth- ng but his own credit reputation, achievements and resources, to support inancial problems which involve many 1illions. He was quoted as having said pon his birthday that recent events ave shown that 'the pen is mightier han the sword" His word and his pen re powerful, but it may be that hs verlooked the modifying statement mich Richelieu made in Bulwer-Lytton's rama, for Richelieu said: Beneath the ule of men entirely great the pen is lightier than the sword" and Quali- cation of this kind undoubtedly aptly pplies to MT. Schwab's word and pen. Perhaps the most impressive personal ppearance ever made by MT. SchwAb in his city was at the time that he was ! the witness chair In the hearing at hich testimony was taken for the gov- in proceedings for the dissolu- on of the United States Steel corpo- ltion. There sat witness who was at le head of a corporation which he, in reat measure. built up and to which he ent after his services as president Of le United States Steel corporation. Had