Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-09-11
HE'S CALLED ASSISTANT PRESl-
DENT IN WASHINGTON.
RISEN BY MERIT ALONE
Hears State Secrets by the Score and
Chiefs Ears-His Success Com
plimentary to the Civil Service
System.

Bruce Cortelyou. occupies a place all
his own.
Aside from the president himself,
his secretary probably knows more
state secrets than any other man in
the country. The trying times OF war
and peace during which Mr.. Cortel-
you has served have abundantly dem
onstrated mis- fitness for such re-
sponsibilities. His deep devotion to
the late President Mckinley, particu-
| larry at the time of his death at Buff
falo, was subject of national COM
ment.
Mr.. Cortelyou is probably The first
man to rise to the position of secre-
tary to the president by promotion
through the government service, with
out political associations to commend
| him for the post. This has been by
merit. He was born in New York
city, July 20, 1852. His family is one
of the Oldest in the country. With
the late George Bruce, they were
among the master spirits of the type
! founding industry, Peter Corlus
| Cortelyou, ST., was for 40 years Mr..
Bruce's partner in what was one of
the leading houses of it's kind in the
world for nearly so years. The elder
Cortelyou was prominent resident of
New York and was the intimate friend
and associate of Horace Greeley
Henry j, Raymond, Thurlow Weed
Hugh Hastings and other brilliant
. journalists. His son, Peter C. Cortel-
} you. Jr., was associated in business
/, with him.
George B. Cortlyou. son of the last
named, had exceptional educational
advantages. He attended public and
private schools and was graduated
from the Hampstead Institute in 1879.
At the age of 16 he entered the state
normal school at Westfleld Mass.
and, completing an advanced course
} OF study there graduated with honors
: in 1879 and prepared for entrance at
Harvard. However, when he left the
normal school he entered the New
England Conservatory of Music al
Boston, where he pursued several
!, courses of study and taught English
literature to students from the Cam.
, bridge high school.
) In Boston he was a pupil of the late
Dr. Louis Mass, formerly of the Eeip-
sig conservatory. He continued his
/, musical studies under private tutors
in New York and studied stenography
in the Walworth Stenographic Insti-
tute. He graduated in less than four
months and became a teacher in the
school, remaining in this position I'M
I'll he engaged in active business as
a stenographer. Subsequently he
was re-engaged as principal assistant
and for time conducted the in
stitute.
Mr.. Cortelyou was appointed stem
ographer and private secretary in
the United States appraisers office in
New York in 1884. When the admin
istration changed he resigned and re-
sumed his work as a law and YER
batim reporter, becoming associated
with James e. Munson author OF the
| Munson system of photography.
While engaged thus he gained the rep
utation of being an expert medical
stenographer
! From 1885 until 1889 Mr.. Corte1you
was principal of college preparatory
school in New York and in the fall of
the latter year became private secre-
tary to the postofice inspector in
charge of the New York division. In
March, 1891, he was appointed conf
! Dental stenographer to the surveyor
of the Port of New York and in July
Of the same year private secretary to
the fourth assistant postmaster gen
| eral. When the administration
/ changed again In 1893 he resigned.
but at the request of General Maxwell
withdrew his resignation. In addi-
ton to his duties as private secretary
he was appointed acting chief clerk
Of the fourth assistants Office, and
was also designated acting fourth as
sistant postmaster-general.
The record he made in the post.
Office department attracted the atten-
tion Of President Cleveland. and when
Executive Clerk Robert l.. OBrien
resigned in November, 1895, to as
sumo charge of the Washington bu-
reau of the Boston Transcript. Mr..
Cortelyou was transferred to the ex.
ecutiVe mansion and appointed stem.
ographer to the president. Three
month later he was appointed execu-
tive clerk, and when the additional
assistant seeretaryship was created
by congress Mr.. Cortelyou was chosen
for the place, his appointment dating
from July l, 1898. When the resigna-
ton of j. Addison Porter left vacant
the position of secretary TO the presi.
dent. no one but Mr.. Cortelyou was
thought Of for the place.
While Mr.. Cortelyou was executive
clerk he had charge of all correspond
ence and supervision of the clerical
force. He was also confidential clerk
to Mr. Mckinley and to him the pres
ident dictated his messages and other