Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-02-19
CORTELYOU NAMED.
Presidents Private Secretary Head
Of the Commerce Department
4 SHORT SKETCH OF His CAREER.


Ing ~ UmeuhmOusWs
washington. Feb. 1.-THE presi-
dent yesterday nominated George b.
Cortelyou, of New York, to be secre-
tary Of commerce and labor. 1t Is
announced that William Loeb, Jr, OF
New York, will succeed Cortelyou as
private secretary to the president.
James r. Garfield, of Ohio, son OF
the late President Garfield, will be
appointed by the president to be com
missioner of corporations In the new
department OF commerce. Mr.. Car
field Is now member OF the civil
service commission. !.
Twenty billion dollars Is the esd
mated internal commerce OF the
United States. These figures are sup
Piled by the bureau of statistics,
which, under the new law creating
the department Of commerce, be-
comes q bureau in the new depart
ment. The internal commerce OF the
United States is equal to the entire
international commerce OF the world
Mr.. Cortelyou was born in New
York city on July 20, 1862. He 10 de-
scended from 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 ear
nest student and his home training
and associations were Of the best
After attending public and private
schools he was graduated from the
Hampstead institute in 1879 and three
years later completed his preliminary
education at the state normal school
In Westfeld, Mass. On leaving the
normal school he entered the New
England Conservatory Of Music to
continue the music studies which he
had begun early in life. Subsequent
| " he became o pupil Of DR.. Louis
Mas, formerly conductor OF the Bos
ton Philharmonic society.
In order to equip himself for an &C
tive business career, Mr.. Cortelyou
while continuing his musical studies
began the study Of stenography ant
was graduated from Walworth's In
stitute in New York. His official ca
reer in the government may be sale
to have been begun in 1889, when HI
became private secretary to the pos
Office inspector in charge at New
York. After serving the surveyor O
the port of New York as confidential
stenographer he came to Washing
ton in July, 1891, as private secretar,
to the fourth assistant postmaster
general. His record in the post oftic'
department was such that In 1882
President Cleveland appointed hin
his executive clerk and confidential
stenographer. He served Presiden
Mckinley in the same capacity unit
1898, when, on account of the vastl,
increased amount of work at tn
white house, he was appointed az
sistant secretary to the president
On the retirement Of Mr.. John Ad
Olson Porter Mr.. Cortelyou wa
named as secretary to the president
While Mr.. Cortelyou's ability was ap
preciated before the assassination o
President Mckinley, the work per
formed by him during all the anxiou
days at Buffalo revealed an entirel
unexpected phase of his character
He preserved his composure, locke
after every detail, provided every car
for the stricken president, comforte
the bereaved wife and kept the am
ious people informed Of the conditio
Of the distinguished sufferer fror
hour to hour, day and night
II was at the personal request Q
President Roosevelt that Mr.. Corte
you continued as secretary to tn
president, and in naming him as tn
first secretary of the new department
Of commerce and labor and elevatin
him to q position in the cabinet th
president has done gladly that whic
Mr.. Mckinley probably would hav
done had he been permitted to pr
vide for the organization Of that d
partment.
Both the president and Mr.. Corte
you have been inundated with col
CALCULATIONS from all sections an
classes of the country on the 81
pointment and the senate stampe
the nomination with it's cordial a.
proval by confirming It unanimousl
ON the day Il received the nomini