The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-04
Former Secretary OF
Treasury Is Dead
tContlnued from page ii,

tho midst OF an omInous banking
crisis. Mr. W00din worked dny
and night for weeks, though he
nlready was marked by the persist
ont infection OF tho throat which
was TO cause his death.
with Mr. Woodin when no died
was his wife, and his daughter,
Mrs Mary Minor. Ho also Ii sur.
vIved by his son, William Woodin,
Jr, now In Tucson. Arizona, for his
health, and two other daughters,
Mrs o. y. Harvey, New York, and
Mrs Wallace w. Rowe, Cincinnati.
Mr. Roosevelt whom told IN
Washington was deeply affected.
II am very deeply shocked and
distreH1cd by tho passing of my
dear friend" no said.
He In expected TO attend the fun
oral. arrangements for which will
be announced today. Mr. WOOdln
would have been SO years old May
28th.
Came Out on Top
Mr. Woodin was ono OF tho most
enigmatio characters 10 play u
largo part In the American scene.
A. poetic type, soft. gracious, he
played the game OF big business
where the rough .and -rendy Indi.
vlduni traditionally In supposed 10
take the prizes, and came out on
top. Music was his hobby and he
made himself u skilIe1 composer
after he was 90.
He was president OF tho AnerI.
can Car and Foundry Company,
Independently wealthy, but com.
pietcly unhoGrd Of by the great
mass Of the public when circum.
stances and devotion TO "the Gov.
ernOr" called him onto the stage.
President IsOoBeveit called
W0odin TO direct tho United States
treasury when Il faced Its dnrkegt
days since the Civil War. He pro.
tested, but Mt tho insistence Of
tho Governor he smiiingly nc.
quiesced.
Closed Every Bank
On his first day In office every
bank In the nation was closed. 10.
lying his reputation as O composer
and postage stump collector he
went Mt his herculoan task with u
vigor that ast0unded washington.
With rapId-firc decisions no
brough order out OF financial
chaos,
Tho strain WIS too much. After
eight months In office, on October
81, no withdrew from active work,
President Roosevelt announced
resignation January /. Woodln
meanwhile remained nj Tucson.
ArIz, recuperating until March I.
He arrived home March 4. tho
first Anniversary OF the in0ugur-
alton.
Woodin was born In Berwick,
Pa, May 20. 1893, the son Of
family long associated with the
iron industry.
President Distressed
Washington, May 4 -. CUP -
President Roosevelt WAS deeply
distrcsscd today by the death Of
william Wo0din, tho shy. ouckish
musician innnclcr who was his
good friend and first secretary Of
the treasury.
Both the President and Secretary
Of the Treasury Henry MorgeD-
than. Jr. blamed Woodin's dcnth
sumod In the hectic first days Of
the administration.
A White House statement said:
DVtU tUO anu HfEB
Roosevelt have felt deep concern
for Mr. Woodin's health ever since
the day In the spring OF 1893 when
he declined 10 take adequate care
OF an liberated throat and insisted
upon working day and night dur.
Ing tho financial crisis of the ma
ton"
sln reality he gave his life In
service of his country" said Nor
genthau.
II was n service frightened BY
unfniIing cheer and a sense Ut
humor.
He Loved His Music
Woodin, who In addition to his
career az q business man was u
composer OF note. often would slip
nway for few moments reiaxa-
ton playing his either. Once when
runors of his resignation were hot
and heavy. he called In reporters