Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-02-25
.CORTELYOU
SPROMOTED
New Member of Presidents Cabinet
Has Had a Career Possible Only
In America.
A CLERK FOURTEEN YEARS AGO
Cleveland First Acknowledged Hi,
Ability and Mckinley Retained
Him as Secretary.

The appointment by President
Roosevelt of Geo. B. Cortelyou as sec.
retary of commerce and his prompt
confirmation by the senate opens an.
other interesting chapter in the ca.
reer of one whose merits have been
everywhere acknowledged.
Few in American pubic life today
are more widely or more favorably
known than Secretary George Bruce
Cortelyou. For years he has occupied
prominent place in the interest of
the people, and the exemplary manner
In which he has met every emergency
that has arisen before him has won for
him the cordial esteem not only Of
those with whom he has been inti-
mately associated. personally and of.
ficially, but also OF the body of the
American public to whom he is known
merely by reputation.
Something of the New Secretary.
Secretary Cortelyou is a man of at.
tractive personality, q scholar of abil-
ity and admirable training, and pub
lie official of genius. In politics he is
stanch republican, but his present
political position has been achieved
rather by merit than by political ia
vor. He has set high standard as
secretary to the president. He is the
personification of courtesy. is invari.
ably kind and obliging, and may be
depended on always to say and do the
right thing. He combines rare tact
with brilliant executive ability, and
his capacity for work amazes all with
whom he comes in contact.
Mr.. Corteylou was Dorn in New
York City on July rs. 1862. He is de.
scended from a distinguished family.
his ancestors being among the lead.
ers In the colonial and revolutionary
history of the state of New York.
From early childhood he was an earn.
est student. and his home training
and associations were of the best.
After attending public and private
schools, including the old Moravian
school at Nazareth. ra., he was gradu-
ated at the Hampstead institution,
and three years later completed his
preliminary education at the state
normal school in Westfield, Mass. On
leaving the normal school he entered
the New England Conservatory OF
Music to continue the musical studies
which he had begun In early life. Sub.
sequently he became pupil of Dr.
LOUIS Mas, conductor of the Boston
Philharmonic society. II is not gen
orally known, but 1t is quite true. tha,
Mr.. Corteylou is an accomplished
musician, a thorough student OF the
best composers, and a musical critic
of rare ability.
Studied Stenography.
In order to equip himself for an ac
tive business career, Mr.. Corteylou
while continuing his musical studies
began the study of stenography, ant
was graduated at Walworth institut,
in New York. While acting as an as
sistant In the Walwroth school h,
took the clinical course in the New
York hospital. lie became widely
known as an expert medical stenogra
pher, and in association with jane
+. Munson. author of the Munson sys
tenn OF photography, reported man.
notable cases in the courts of New
York. His official career in the GOV
ernment may be said to have begul
in 1889. when he became private sec
retary to the postoffice inspector il
charge at New York. After servin
the surveyor OF the port OF New YorI
as confidential stenographer he cam
to Washington in July, 1891. as pr
vate secretary to the fourth assistan
postmaster general. His record Il
the postofiice department was sue
that In 1895 President Cleveland az
pointed him his executive clerk an
confidential stenographer. He serve
President Mckinley in the same ca
pacity until 1898. when on account O
the vastly increased amount of wor
at the white house, he was appolnte
assistant secretary to the president
On the retirement Of John Addiso
Porter. Mr. Corteylou was named a
secretary to the president. The wii
dom OF Mr. McKinley's choice ha
been demonstrated thoroughly.
In the Trying Days.
While Mr.. Cortelyou's ability wa
appreciated before the assination {
3 President Mckinley, the work pc
formed By nim during all the anxiou
days at Buffalo revealed an entirel
unexpected phase OF his characte
His relations with President McKir
: lev were those OF tender regard an
affectionate friendship. Notwltl