Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-16
GEORGE B. eORTELYOU.
Nominated to Be Secretary Of
Department of Commerce.
A RISE DUE TO MERIT
I'M EVERY POSITION HE HAS
WORKED WELL.
An Expert Stenographer - Sent to
White House by Postmaster
General Bisse1l.
A RISE DUE TO MERIT

The rise Of George Bruce Cortelyou to
the eminent position OF adviser to the Presi-
dent of the United States and member OF
the official presidential family has been. one
Of merit solely. 1,ot one President, but
three Presidents. have found in him the
same sturdy, splendid qualities and the same
great mental force. With President Cleve-
land he was q stenographer, designated to
the White House late in the administration
Of the democratic chieftain He did his
work well there, and carefully, intelligently
and ALPHABETICALLY transferred to letters
and documents tie dctation Of Mr.. Cleve-
land. Then President .dcKinley came In.
He had been accustomed to all sorts Of
stenographers and typewriters during the
long experience of his wonderful career.
but Mr.. Cortelyou suited him best. So
great was the confidence of the late Presi-
dent In Mr.. Cortelyou that the latter was
named in the will Of the President as
executor of his estate. Trust in man
when living and trust in him when dead
are double encomiums of faith in integrity,
honesty and ability. Mr.. Cortelyou was
merely high-grade stenographer with
President Cleveland and part Of the time
With Mr.. Mckinley, but the latter in a
year or so looked around for way of hon
oring his confidential secretary. Soon Mr..
Cortelyou was made assistant secretary,
and upon the resignation Of John Addison
Porter was promoted to the post of secre-
tary.
Remained With President Roosevelt.
Then followed the tragic death Of McKin-
ley and the inauguration of new Presi-
dent. History records there was all man.
ner of doubt in the minds Of some men as
to the political outcome. The new Presi-
dent asked Mr.. Cortelyou to continue with
him. probably because sentiment suggested
that ne make no change. Important offers
to enter business reached Mr.. Cortelyou
from friends Of Mr.. Mckinley Some of
ehem 1oreshadowed large salaries Mr..
Cortelyou was not tempted. He had stood
close to two Presidents, and his pride sug-
gested that he remain with the new execu-
tive In the rusA of work sure to follow the
Grange or administration. The confidence
OF President Roosevelt was won as quickly
as that of the others. The personification
or suavity and ease OF manner, the steadi-
est mead imaginable, with every routine Of
gers helpful and thoughtful Mr.. Roosevelt
noticed them all In Mr.. Cortelyou.- In six
months ne wouldn't have thought of max
ing change. a.chough he brought along
ABILITY and worth. Then Mr. Rooseyalt "a ",
an opportunity to add the talents Of Mr.
Cortelyou to his administration in a higher
position and long ago selected him as the
department Of commerce and labor HE
cnoice has been universally commended.
AS secretary to Presidents Mr.. Cortelyou
mas oeen genius. The trying and peculiar
with captivating grace that has made a
world OF friends. Firm and manly and di-
It IN all he does. sure Of his ground, alta
PIE ana gentle In manner. Of inestimable
Value as an assistant and adviser these
partially describe the man who goes to the
mead OF the new department. Adroitly and
care1uiiy mas Mr. Cortelyou handled gov
eminent business and the political AFFAIRS Of
the President. The multitude of things po-
ing before President have been handled
by him when possible in a way to relieve
tne rres1dent altogether. When necessary
for the President to handle them he has
found the business expedited by Mr.. Cortel-
yous aid.
Mr.. Cortelyou has been a stenographer. a
scnool teacher of standing journalist and
a magazine writer He Is a member OF the
New York Press Club. and his friends in
the newspaper profession are numbered by
thousands.
OF Distinguished Family.
He Is a member of a distinguished New
York family. Born in New York city July
26. 1862. he had the advantage of long line
OF ancestors who had stood high in social
and business history in the metropolis. The
names Of George Bruce and Peter Crolius
Cortelyou are intimately associated with
the type foundry business in this country
They conducted for half century the lead
Ing type foundry in the United States Hor-
ace Greeley, Henry ]. Raymond and others
OF prominence were associates Of Mr.. Cor
telyou's grandfather.
Mr.. Cortelyou finished public and private
schools. and at nineteen graduated with
honors from the Normal School at West
field Mass: where he had prepared for
Harvard. Subsequently he took up the
study of music and OF stenography. He
then became a teacher in preparatory
schools in New York and did stenographic
npaIp q
an official stenographer in New York
courts.
Mr.. Cortelyou's official career began in
March. 1889, when he became private Sec
rotary to the postal inspector In charge at
New York. Two years afterward he was
confidential stenographer to the surveyor of
the port of New York. and in the same
year private secretary to the fourth assist
ant postmaster general in this city. Upon
the change in administration he resigned,
but Mr.. Maxwell the fourth assistant in
the Cleveland administration: prevailed
upon him to remain in his position. He did
so. Postmaster General Bissell noticed his
good work and his ability, and recommend
ed him to Mr.. Cleveland. He went to the
stenographer to Mr.. Cleveland. and three
months later was promoted to the position
of executive clerk at the White House. In
1893 he was made assistant secretary to
ceeded John Addison Porter as secretary.
AS stenographer Mr.. Cortelyou has few
superiors. While secretary to President
Mckinley he did most of the stenographic
work Of his chief. debating 1t to other ste
nographers and supervising the work. He
has done good deal Of the same work for
President Roosevelt. although the heavy in
crease in White House official business has
recently prevented his doing much in that
line. He dictates rapidly and easily, and
does a mass of work in a days time He
has been the hardest worked man In the
government service in Washington for more
than three years. reaching his Office at $50
o'clock each morning and leaving there
about midnight. with short periods for
luncheon and dinner.