The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-01
THINK MADOO IS
 MAN FOR THE PLACE
By HOLLAND

l New York, December 31.-(Special )
 Success is the criterion was the only comment which man whose opinion upon matters of national importance is often sought and usually needed, per- l mitted himself to make two days after announcement came from Washington that the President had taken over th American railroads and that the Sec retary of the Treasury, Mir. McAdoo, is to stand in supreme authority under the President over the roads.
 It was evident from the manner in which this man spoke that he is already 1 inclined to believe that Secretary McAdoo will be successful so far as it is possible for one man to be in the administration of this new and stupendous power If he should be successful no one can tell what the future of Secretary McAdoo as public citizen may be. Certainly there
 is no record since the establishment of the government which tells of the re- posing in one man of the responsibility of wise administration of the treasury de- partment while at the same time he is the exclusive directing force in another executive and administrative work Some cabinet officers have served well in one department and later served even better in another. Secretary McAdoo is to serve at the same time in what are to be substantially two great departments of the governments administration, the treasury and the railroads.
 Since the announcement by proclama- ton that the president had taken over tlzA L that Secretary McAdoo is to be the ex- elusive administrator of them, sufficient time has passed for those who are ex- perienced in great affairs to reach judgment respecting this action. It should be reported that, on the whole, in this city this judgment is in cordial ap- proval of the Presidents action and for the most part in equally cordial ap- proval of the selection of MT McAdoo as exclusive head of the American rail- ways until such time as they are re- turned to their respective private own ershps, if they ever are.
 MIR. M'ADOO'S QUALIFICATION
 Secretary McAdoo has one especially strong qualification for administering both the treasury department and the American railroads at the same time. His is master mind for organization That is a quality which was not gener-
 
 came Secretary of the Treasury It was recognized and acknowledged by these who were associated with Mr. McAdoo in the construction and then the operation of the Hudson river tubes
 This unusually strong gift for adequate organization will, it is presumed, make it possible for Secretary McAdoo to handle these two important administrative and executive duties without imposing too great strain upon him. Men of fi- nance of this city, some of them ac- knowledged leaders have within a year and especially since the floating of the two liberty loans. been accustomed to speak with unrestrained admiration of Secretary McAdoo's direction of the treasury department, saying that he has been able to accomplish unusually diff ficut achievements in great measure be- cause the gift of organization is born in him and has also been well trained Therefore it is the presumption here that he will perfect the present treasury or ganization, or so expand it, as to make it possible for him to feel that the de- tails of that department great and small are thoroughly well handled, thereby leaving to him no more than the neces- 1 sary consideration of great undertakings. especially the floating of the third war loan and later loans
 ORGANIZING THE RAILROADS
 Sc also is it presumed that Secretary |