Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-23

ment Of my successor. / hope you WI
understand. my dear Mr.. President,
that vii permit nothing but the most
imperative dema nds to force my with
drawsi from public life. Always l sha'l
cherish as the greatest honor OF my
career the opportunity you have so
generously given me to serve the coun.
try and your leadership In these epochal
times.
"Anectionately yours,
w @. McADOO.'
The Presidents letter OF acceptance.
dated Nov. Il. follows:
NJ Dear Mr. Secretary: ] was not
unprepared for YOUR letter OF the 18th
because you had more than once. of
course. discussed with me the circuc,-
Ftances which have long made 1t Sc
rlous personal sacrifice for you to ie-
main In ONCE knew that only yo.r
high and exacting sense OF duty lad
kept you here until the immediate
tasks 90 the war should be over But
am none the less distressed. ! shall not
allow our intimate personal relations 20
deprive mo of the pleasure Of say.r,;
that In my Judgment the country has
never had an ADLER, more resourceful
and yet prudent a more uniformly ef-
h,.ent secretary Of the treasury. and
say this remembering at the able. ae-
voted and distinguished men who pre-
coded YOU have kept your letter a
number OF days in order to suggest il
could. some other solution of your
difficulty than the one YOU have now
foit obliged 70 resort to. but ! have not
been abb. To think of any. / cannot n
YOU to make surther sacrifices, serious
as the loss o, the government will he
IN your retirement. | accept your res
i.1ation. therefore TO take effect upon
the appointment Of your successor, be-
cause IN Justice to you | must.
4 also for the same reason accept
your resignation as director general
Of railroads to take effect as you sug-
gest on the first Of January next or
when your successor is appointed.
The whole world ndmires, ! am sure,
AZ | do. the skin and executive ca
pacity with which YOU handled the
great and complex problems of the
unified administration Of the rail-
ways under the stress of war uses
and viii regret, as | do. to see you
leave that post Just as the crest of its
difhculty is passed.
For the distinguished, disinterest-
ed. and altogether admirable service
you have rendered the country in
both posts. and especially for the way
In which you have guided the treas
ury through all the perpleXities and
problems OF transitional financial
conditions OF the financing Of war
which has been without precedent
alike In kind and scope. thank you
with sense of gratitude that comes
from the very bottom OF my heart.
Gratefully and affectionately yours,
WOODROW WILSON"
MIR. McAdoo explained to the COR
respondents that he had absolutely
no other reasons" tran these speci-
ned In his letter, for the retirement.
u" said he realized many rumors us
Nally accompanied the resignation OF
mn official but he emphasized again
and again that he had no motive or
purpose except those mentioned. He
raid he hated to quit the job just
TO disassociatc himself officially from
the President. but added that neces-
stiles OF providing "A living for his
wife and family make this impCr-
ativc. A moment after one cores
pendent suggested We'll, it's too
bad. MIR Secretary. that as "A rail-
road man YOU could not have shared
In tho wage increase which you gave
every one else" Then for the first
time Mr. McAdoo frightened and ex-
planned hi. reluctance to take the ac-
ton. He said he had not yet looked
around for "A job. as most prudent
mon do before quitting" but declared
he felt like taking at least three
months rest before looking for
work" He said he hoped to leave
Washington as soon as Jan. /. Mr..
McAdoo said he had no idea vino
would be his successor or success
urs"
II H. entirely probable that the Pres,'
dent may MI separately the Offices oil
secretary Of the treasury and director
general 80 railroads There was 10th
ing Official to teht on which to base a
statement OF who might he under CO...
sidcration for secretary of the treasury
en- previous occasions when a succ essor
To Mr. McAdoo was under discussion
John SHELTON WSiams. comptroller al
the currency. and w n. c. Harding
governor Of the federal reserve boa a.
q have been most generally spoken Of
Paul Warburg. formerly a member Of
tho reserve board and a prominent Now
YORK banker. and Russell c. Letting
we'll assistant secretary of the tire rs.
urN, also are rcckoned among the ror-
sibilitic' President Wilson is not re-
CURED {" choose the new director gen
'ral al railroads fro mamong the ca1i-
net members and II is possible that :he
llaco may 20 To someone associ, tcd
with Mr McAdoo In the railroad admin
i~tratiOn Y the place should 60 70
some member of the cabinet Secretary
Baker of the war department. Postmas-
ter General Bureson and Score: ,ry
Lane OF the interior department are
likely to he cons dered. Postmaster
General Burleson already Is operating
the telegraph. telephone and cable lines
hhder government control Secret "
Lane Is intimately versed in transpor.a-
ion problems. particularly railro,cs.
aud for years was n member of the IN.
terstate Commerce Commission and at
one time chairman. Walker d. Hines.
assistant director general OF raiIroa IN
Formerly a New York lawyer and chair