The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-05-18
CORTELYOU MAY
SUCCEED PAYNE
Could Pay Political Promises as
Chairman in Post Office
Appointments.
is A BID TO WALL STREET.
With Roosevelt, He VIII Direct
the Campaign for Harmony
and Money From Oyster
Bay.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Washington. May 1L-In6ications now
are that, II George r. Cortelyou makes
| political promises as chairman Of the
| Republican National Committee he will
be able to pay the bulk OF them as Post
master General. IL President Roosevelt Is
| elected.
| His decision to engineer the campaign
will necessitate resigning his present post
as Secretary of Commerce and Labor
within a few weeks. Broken in health.
| Henry c. Payne is willing to lay down
the burdens OF the Post-Ofice Depart
| ment after the election. This will leave
vacant the Cabinet portfolio which Mr..
| Cortelyou would most prefer as the rich
reward OF a successful campaign manager.
The selection OF Mr.. Cortelyou to I'LL
the place of chairman, held at various
| times by former Senator Thomas Carter.
Senator Quay and Senator Hanna, came
first as a surprise to Washington.
When Mr.. Cortclyou's qualities Of wide
acquaintanceship. highly developed tact
and tho possession OF the confidence of
business interests more strongly devoted
to President Mckinley than to President
Roosevelt were considered. 1t was we'll re-
ceived.
The Post-ofice Department always plays
an important part in presidential cam
paigns. Two or three hard fights for
postmasterships have been known to lose
State. President Roosevelt put Mt.
Payne. vice chairman OF the National
Committee. at the head OF the Post Office
/ Department because of its great political
importance.
IL .r "a, a LII,
In which Mr.. Cortelyou's executive ability
and grasp OF detail are much needed for
purposes OF reorganization. he would he
the man above all others best informed OF
the political obligations of the party. The
great bulk Of these are paid through the
Post-ofice Department in the form Of
poStmasierships.
PLAY FOR WALL. STREET MONEY.
The present inquiry into Post-onice af
fairs will have been completed after the
election. II will doubtless call for sweep
ing reforms in the method of doing busi-
ness and for the abolition OF an ancient
system full OF Ioopholes for corruption.
Mr.. Cortelyou has now put the Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor on is feet.
Although much was said about the Bureau
OF Corporations. IL has not done any
trust busting and 1t is believed hat
Mr. Ccrtelyou can get more money in
New York for campaign purposes than
any other man who has been associated
with the Roosevelt administration. unless
It be Elihu Root.
Political gossips hail JarIes z. Garfield.
CHIEF OF the Bureau OF Corporations. as
Mr.. Cortelyou's logical successor. He is
yoGEg, but enjoys the confidence of the
President TO a large degrees. and has been
thoroughly in sympathy with the lines on
which Mr.. Cortelyou mas organized the
department.
President Roosevelt will take an active
part in the direction of the campaign He
and Mr.. Cortelyou have been closely as
sociated since the death OF Mckinley. Mr..
Cortelvor will have his headquarters in
New York, within an hours ride OF Oyster
Bay. where the President will spend a part
of the summer. and within five hours or
Washington.
Former Governor Murray Crane OF Mas
sachUsetts has been suggested as a possi-
bic successor of Secretary Cortelyou. He
vas once offered the Treasury portfolio,
but was ineligible for appointment because
the paper manufacturing company of
which he is the president has an immense
contract to furnish the Treasury Depart
ment with bank-nots parchment. Mr..
Moody. Secretary Of the Navy. will retire
at the end OF this administration. leaving
the Cabinet without n member from New
England.