The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-20
Walden Fawcett in Leslie's Weekly.

WaluOn tFaWCett IN LeSlle, w eekly.
With the nations youngest president in
the executive office at Washington 1t Is
perhaps appropriate that the present
should be dominated the .tyoung mans
administration" but of late President
Roosevelt appears to be striving to make
1t so In fact as well as in name. Recently
there has devolved upon the chief magis
trate the task of selecting new occupants
for some of the most important positions
under the national government, and in
exercising choice he has manifested
pronounced and almost universal prefer
ence for young men. Indeed, in one or
two instances senatorial confirmation was
almost imperiled because Of the youth Of
the appointees.
The presidents belief in the infusion of
young blood iE public life has been strik-
1ngly demonstrated in the case of the
department of commerce and labor. The
first occupant of this new cabinet office
George B. Cortelyou, is barely 40 years
OF age and therefore ranks as the third
youngest man who ever had place in the
official family of president Of the United
States. James r. Garfield, who has been
chosen for the $4,000 position Of COM
missioner Of corporations-a post which
in importance and responsibility ranks
second only to that Of secretary-is still
younger man, and his career has been in
some respects little short of meteorie
Mr.. Garfield who is the son of the late
President James A. Garfield. was we'll
nigh failure when he essayed to carve a
niche for himself in the politics of his
native state of Ohio, and when, after his
defeat for legislative office a few years
since. he retired to private life and de-
voted himself to legal practice with his
brother in Cleveland, persons who did not
appreciate the young mans tenacity of
| purpose We're wont to declare him polite
ally dead. Then all of a sudden, a few
months since, the president asked him
to come to Washington to take Roose-
velt's old place on the civil service COM
mission. Once at the capital the tireless
and earnest worker from the buckeye
state made such an impression upon the
chief executive that when the position OF
commission of corporations was to be
| filled he selected the newcomer at once
| and right here it may be added that such
| is President Roosevelt's interest in the
bureau of corporations that he sent Mr.
Garfields name to the senate ere he even
| gave thought to the selection of men for
other important offices in the new branch
| of the public service.
| 1t has been said that William Loeb. Jr
| who succeeds Mr.. Cortelyou as secretary
to the president knows Mr.. Roosevelt and
! his characteristics better than any other
man in Washington, and yet he is under
81 years Of age and has been associated
| with Mr.. Roosevelt only since 1899. How.
| ever, Mr.. Loeb has served as secretary
to Mr.. Roosevelt while the latter has &C.
cupied SUCCESSFULLY the offices Of COVER
nor of New York, vice president, an6
president; he has accompanied him on his
tours; has borne the burden of his chiefs
official cares during the latter's summe,
respites at Oyster Bay, and has, in fact
earned the sobrquet of ''the PRESIDENT
| right-hand man.
! -. F. Barnes, who declined the SIS, 0O
position of assistant secretary of the new
department of commerce and labor in or
der to retain his present position Of as