The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-05-27
ly, except for The time he spenrtsSgin.
Il IIe schools 81 SAfassachusetts until


I is faith erss was Peter q: cortelyou,
Jr., and his grand father, Petersc 81 Cor
telyou, was the intimate friend and
associate of Horace Greeley, Henry J /.
Raymond and ThurloW Weed. His
father and grandfather We're asso-
ciated in one OF the largest typefound-
ing industries in the United States.
Mr.. CorteIyou entered the public ser
vice in 1901 as private secretary to
the fourth assistant postmaster gen
eral. and later became confidential
stenographer to President Cleveland
subsequently, he became chief clerk
of the White House clerical staff, and
in 1898 was appointed secretary to
the President by Mr.. Mckinley to
succeed the late John Addison Porter
OF Connecticut.
When President Roosevelt appoint
edg Mr. Cortelyou to be secretary OF
the new department Of commerce and
labor, there was no surprise. for it
was pretty generally understood that
if Mr.. Mckinley mad lived he would
nave appointed his secretary Dostmas-
ter general.
elevated to the Presidency he had on
ly q casual acquaintance with MY
Cortelyou. 1t was by no means a lore
gone conclusion that he would retain
him as his secretary, but he had de-
clared OIL that historic occasion at
Buffalo that he intended tc follow out
the policies Of the late William Nc
rjnley. He invited all the members OF
the cabinet TO continue in their Offices
for the present. and he extended a
similar invitation to Mr.. Cortelyou.
There would have been little sur
prise, however. If he had made
change in the secretaryShiD within the
next few months, and it is pretty GER
tain that. the President was not at all
sure that he would appoinp to the
pIace some man with whom he had
been long acquainted 1t 'tld not take
long for Mr.. Roosevelt to perceive
that he sim ply could not afford to
make a change.
Mr.. Cortelyou quickly made him
self invaluable to the President.
The wise, alert and tactful secretary
knew absolutely everything about the
machinery OF the Presidential Office.
He was eyes and ears to the new Pres
ident, and with his assistance the eX-
ecutive machinery ran smoothly dur
ing those trying first months.
Mr.. Roosevelt did not understand
the art, which comes Of long practice,
of receiving a large number OF visI-
tors on business in single morning,
talking with them all and without talk
ing ND too much time, and sending
them all away happy. Mr.. Cortelyou
showed him how to do it,
Mr.. Corte1you has always been
known as the man without q pull, and
this means, of course, that he never
had much to do with the practical
side Of politics. He never held an
elective office in his life, but, on the
other hand, he has never been a seek
er after federal appointm ent. Indeed,
it is inexperience in what is called
practical politics which is being
urged by some persons against his
appointment as chairman OF the ma
tional committee.
On the other hand it is called to
mind that the late. Senator Hanna had
no national reputation as political
leader when he became the manager
OF President Mckinleys campaign
only eight years ago. Yet, years be-
fore his death, he was recognized as
one of the ablest campaign generals
shat the country has ever seen. 1t is
worth mentioning that few were bet
ter Acquainted with Mr.. Hanna and
more familiar with his methods OF
campaign Leadership than Mr.. Cortel-
you.
Secretary Cortelyou has many OF
the most obvious qualities which are
generally regarded as necessary TO
successful work in campaign. he
has wide personal acquaintance, a
keen perception Of difficulties to be
overcome a systematic and business
like method of administra at least
a fair Judgment Of men and their mo-
tives, and a strong vitality and enor-
nous capacity for hard work. He new
er gets ratified is always clear headed
and does his work without any OF
the appeara noes of worry or hurry.