POLITICAL NOTES: Brothers in Arms

The picture appearing on this page is reprinted from the Sept. 15 issue of TIME. It evoked the following letter from the smaller of the two lads depicted, and a correction of the article which accompanied the picture — a correction explained by the letter:

“347 Madison Avenue,

Sept. 16, 1924.

TIME

236 E. 39th Street,

New York City

Gentlemen:

“On the third page of your issue the 15th, there is a cut of me and brother W. G. McAdoo, made from a daguerreotype taken of us when we were small boys in Georgia.

“I had forgotten this daguerreotype but would like to obtain a copy. If you will kindly let me have it for that purpose, I shall appreciate it and promptly return.

“I am quite amused at the line in the article about W. G. and me when you say that the younger brother (I) looked up to the elder (W. G.) with great admiration.

“The militant spirit following the war was strong, particularly in the South, at the time this daguerreotype was taken, and the courage of boys was tested by fisticuffs with one an other. . . . Our two elder brothers, long since dead, used to egg us on to a fight by putting a chip on one or the other’s shoulder and daring the other to knock it off. This was always promptly done and a combat followed.

“There was no such thing as looking up to each other.

“The last time our father ever punished me was for licking W. G., I always did, although younger, as our two elder brothers would testify if living.

“Despite this, we were the best of friends and had our pleasures and children’s diseases together and always fought together against outsiders.

“Referring to politics, I hold Country above parties. The curse of this country today, in my opinion, is the person who votes for a party becausehis or her father voted that way.

“Such person should show that they are worthy descendants of their fathers by doing their own thinking and voting for the best interest of their Country regardless of party lines.

“Referring further to politics, I shall regret very much if W. G., in order to be regular, supports the Davis ticket. That will merely show that he holds parties above his country. I am not in politics and I hold my country above parties. Senators LaFollette and Wheeler are simply the leaders of a great cause which is above party. They are modern prototypes of Abraham Lincoln.

“You may publish this if you like.

“Sincerely,

(Signed) “M. R. McADOO.”

Hale and agile, tanned of face and bright of eye after an invigorating sea voyage following two months abroad, William G. McAdoo last Monday marched down the gangway of the S.S. Leviathan, set foot on Manhattan Island.