The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-04
WILLIAM Il. W00D|N
IS PREY TO ILLNESS
AFTER LONG fight
Throat Infection Which Forced
Retirement Aggravated
by Complications
PRESIDENT IS GRIEvED
Roosevelt Refers to Former
Cabinet Officer as My
Dear Friend

New York, May 4.-(R)-William II.
Woodin, the frail little secretary of
the treasury who helped pilot the ma
ton through the 1883 banking crisis,
is dead.
He succumbed Thursday night to
complications which followed throat
infection. He would have been 66
years old May q.
The throat trouble developed last
summer and forced him to leave the
treasury post in November.
When told Of Woodin's death, Presi-
dent Roosevelt said at Washington:
Il am deeply shocked and distressed
by the passing Of my dear friend"
An industrialist at the expense of
boyhood ambition to be doctor,
Woodin turned to music after his Goth
birthday and achieved note as COM
poser.
A spring rain, reminiscent Of one Of
his best known musical compositions
Spring Is in My Heart"-pattered
outside his hospital window as death
came. A warm friend Of Franklin D..
Roosevelt, he talked affectionately Of
the president shortly before the end.
Played Guitar Well
Woodin made a picturesque cabinet
officer. He liked to play the guitar
and he did it we'll. Postage stamps,
prints and objects Of art, all Of which
he collected, were other hobbies Of
the mild-mannered man who guided
the treasury through grave times.
He had q boyish spirit that pre-
vailed no matter how solemn the &C.
casion and he smiled his way through
his enormous tasks In Washington.
The national banking holiday pre-
vailed from the hour he took office.
He worked at the job night and day.
After q few hours sleep he was back
at the White House each morning,
always smiling and cheerful, talking
over the next move with the presi-
dent.
There came q time when the name
of Woodin was mentioned on lists
obtained from j. p. Morgan and Com
pany as among those offered stocks
at preferred prices. A demand went
up for his resignation. He went 20
the president and offered It.
Roosevelt took him on q cruise
down the Potomac river over that
weekend and made clear his resig-
nation was not desired. But the then
treasury secretary came back still In
sisting, lest he embarrass the presi-
dent.
When his health weakened, Woodin
tried again to resign. President
Roosevelt wouldn't listen, saying
Woodin had done "a grand job" The
presidert granted him an indefinite
leave of absence, hoping Woodin
could return to the office.
Resigned January
But Woodin's health did not i'm
prove sufficiently and he resigned
Jan. /. Henry Morgenthau, Jr., act
ing treasury secretary. was sworn IN
as his successor.
In his last hours Woodin talked fire.
quently Of President Roosevelt, whom
he called governor"
Prom what he said, he was ex-
tremely fond of the president" said
DIR. Robert Buckley, one Of the
Woodin physicians.
HE seemed to believe he was con-
ferring with the president, saying:
"'Yes, governor. No, governor. !
don't think so, governor
A hemorrhage sent Woodin to the
Manhattan Eye and Ear hospital
April 2. He improved somewhat, then
took a turn for the worse. He lapsed
into Inconsistencies Thursday after
noon and died at SIS p. m. (EST.
Mrs. Woodin and one daughter.
Mrs. Mary Minor, were at the bed
side. He also leaves two other daugh-
tiers, Mrs. o. F. Harvey Of New York
and Mrs. Wallace w. Rowe Of Gin
cinnati, and son, william H.
lVoodin, Jr., who Is in Arizona for his
own health.
DR.. Jerome Wagner gave the cause
Of death as nephritis and uremia, fol-
lowing upon the throat infection. Sew
eral specialists were called into con-
sultation during Woodin's illness.
Funeral services will be held at the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church at
4 .. m. Saturday. Burial will Be at
Rerwick. pa. the city OF his youth.