Evening star., 1926-11-17

sonality and vigorous individuality,
who possessed strong likes and dis
| likes" says the Miami Daily News
which also recognizes that "the out
standing achievement of his career as
| Controller of the Currency was his
administration of the Federal Reserve
act. 1t is a monument to his genius
and thoughtfulness," continues that
paper, that during the years which
have elapsed since the law became eff
fective practically no deviation has
| been made from the basic administra-
tive rulings he laid down in those
early days. necessarily somewhat ex-
perimental."
| Emphasizing the part played by Mr.
Williams, the Lynchburg News OBJ
serves that efforts to give credit for
| the law finally turned out to be fu-
tile" The Greensboro Record adds it's
, testimony to the services of Mr.. Nil-
| lfamS with the statement that "he
demonstrated his mastery of finance
and the same qualities of clear vision,
| firmneSS and courage he had mani
tested in his railroad career" and re-
calls that 'it was not until the domi-
nance of John Shelton Williams. then
virile young financier. that the Sea
/ board Air Line became a great rail-
road system
| Trained by his banker father in
probity and business capacity" states
the Raleigh News and Observer, "Mr
Williams became president of the Sea-
board. He brought new and better
| and modern policies with him and
made his road popular with patrons
and the general public. AS Con-
| troller of the Currency he set new
and high standards. He waged war
against usury in way to win criti
cism, favorable and unfavorable, and
for time was the center of a great
contest in litigation at the National
Capital. He never lowered his flag,
fought unselfishly for right policies,
and had the backing and confidence of
President Wilson. who respected his
courage and integrity"
X r X
although he built railroad and pub
lie utilities and made and lost mil
lions" testifes the Richmond News.
Leader, John Skelton Williams never
| lodged duty because Of the possible
consequences to himself. He pursued
his ideal with courage that few men
possess. His contest for control of the
| SeabOard Air Line was characteristic
Of him. Faced as he was by one of
the strongest Of American financiers,
a man who could command a hundred
dollars for every hundred cents that
he could throw into the fight, Mr..
Williams took up the challen9e as
resolutely as IL he had resources equal
ing those of Mr.. Ryan. He lost, as he
must have known from the very outset
he would. but he made so magnificent
a struggle and he hit so hard that the
contest for the Seaboard remains to
this day q warning to all those who
look enviously on other mems merger
plans. Victory was his in the other
I great contest for which he will be re-
{, membered in American f1nance-the
battle to destroy the special privileges
\ enjoyed in the Treasury Department
by certain banks"
The Roanoke Times says Mr.. Will
liams believed thoroughly in Virginia
and the South. and his services to his
native State and section were such as
to entitle him to a place OF honor
among the builders Of the new South. -
Il The New York Evening World de-
scribes him as "a perfect type Of the
fine, old-fashioned Southern gentle
man. courtfy. cultured, socially pleas
ing" with the added estimate that
politically he was a courageous pro-
gressive. who on some notable occa-
sions disclosed more foresight than
= many fellow bankers better known in
JtAA financial world"