Evening star., 1920-03-28
Who's Who for President

ment money. But when a job had
to be done during the war he did
not stop to count the cost. Some
time after he became director gen.
eral of railroads the ambassadors
of Great Britain, France and Italy
called on him one morning to ex-
plain that there was serious dan
cause the allies could not get the
supplies of food and materials
they needed from the United
States. The foodstuffs were not
moving to the ports. they said.
Mr.. McAdoo comprehended at once
the seriousness Of the situation.
He issued orders for thousands Of
northwest to haul the foodstuffs.
They went empty. many of them.
A costly way Of doing business.
But the allies had to have food.
In a few weeks he was notified by
the same ambassadors that the
supplies had piled up in the ports
SO fast they could not find bottoms
TO carry them away to Europe.
Those who know Mr.. McAdoo in
timately say that he is quick to
= grasp essential points in any prob
lem that presents ITSELF They say
he is able to say yes" and mo-
quickly. thereby saving much time.
They say. too. that once he has
MADE up his mind. he sticks to it;
ina, that ne has unlimited courage and
Will carry a contest to the end.
During the first liberty loan drive
he was in the west campaigning.
A long-distance telephone came
from one OF the assistant secre-
tarfes Of the Treasury, saying that
things looked bad for the loan. Mr..
McAdoo replied forcibly:
You don't know what you are
talking about. this thing is going
over big"
Notwithstanding his quickness at
decisions. Mr.. McAdoo is not dicta-
torial. He seeks advice, and then
acts upon it. He is always ready
to give his subordinates credit,
they say themselves. Invariably he
is courteous to those under his
orders. He has a keen sense Of hu-
NOR. The quizzical smile on his
thin lips, often seen, is not for
nothing.
Once. soon after he became Sec
retary of the Treasury. he was
travelling to New York by himself.
The federal reserve system was un-
der consideration by Congress.
Across from Mr.. McAdoo was a
man reading a New York newspa-
per containing an attack upon Nc
disgust, exclaiming:
THAT man McAdoo must be a
fool"
With a face as solemn as a
judges. the Secretary agreed to
this proposition. They fell into a
discussion as to how many kinds
of fool Mr.. McAdoo really was:
Finally unable to restrain himself
longer. Mr.. McAdoo said:
81 am absolutely sure you are
right. because I am the Secretary
of the Treasury myself"
The stranger was abashed. He
Immediately began an argument to
prove that he had been wrong in
his first estimate of the Secretary.
Mr.. McAdoo just as earnestly took
the opposite side of the question.
trying to prove the mans original
remark was correct. In the end
Secretary assuring his companion
that he was not in the least of
Tended and that he had enjoyed
himself immensely.
In recent years Mr.. McAdoo has
not had much time for recreation.
But when he has an opportunity he
likes to motor. driving his car him
self. He is an excellent driver. by
the way. He rides horseback, too.
At odd times he has betaken him.
self to his ranch in the southwest
and there has roughed 1t, hunting
and fishing. When he first came to
Washington and before the war
broke out ne used to attend many
of the social functions of the capi-
tai 1t was said by the debutantes
that Mr. McAdoo was as graceful a
dancer as any partner they had.
Mr.. McAdoo, 1t is said, has long
believed in giving the public a
square deal. When he was presi-
dent Of the Hudson and Manhat-
tan railroad ne had placed in the
cars signs reading The Public Be
Pleased" paraphrasing the old slo-
gan, 'The Public Be Damned" OF
more INSCRIPTIONS days. He saw
to it, too. that the woman employees
of the company got a square deal.
insisting that il they did work Of
the same character as the men they
receive the same pay. He carried
this rule into effect when he be-
came director general of the rail-
roads. He was interested in woman
suffrage years ago, and was a
strong advocate of the constitu-
tiopal amendment.
Taking him by and large, his sup
porters for the nomination say:
'McAdoo IL do"
Copyright, 1920. by The Washington star.)