The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-03
..THE OIL CAN OF THE ADMINS
TRIATION."
(By James Creelman.)

"Cortelyou is the oil can of the
Roosevelt administration, said q
friend of the Secretary of Commerce
and Labor. He makes the machin-
cry run smoothly"
There is no better illustration of the
value of attention to the little things
of life than the career of the soft
spoken. tactful young Cabinet officer,
who, in his forty-second year, has
been selected by President Roosevelt
TO be the managing head of the great
Republican party.
1t was to make his son a human
oil-can that the shrewd old Earl of
Chesterfield wrote so many letters on
the Importance of cultivating the
minor virtues of manners and CONVEX
sation.
Eight years ago Mr.. Cortelyou was
an obscure clerk earning a small sal
airy. Today he directs one of the de-
partments of the Government and has
been named as Chairman of the Re-
publican National Committee. His
progress to power has been as even
and noiseless as a sunrise. The griz-
zled captains of politics hardly know
whether to laugh or swear at the adj
vent of Mr.. Roosevelts young private
secretary in chief place of party au-
thority. Ping-pong is not more deli
cate than the play by which Mr.. Cor
teiyou has won his honors 1t cost
Mr.. Hanna a large part of his great
private fortune to become Chairman
of the Republican National Commit
tee. Mr.. Cortelyou has reached that
eminence without spending dollar in
politics.
1t is not always necessary to have
genius to succeed even in the sordid
and cynical world of politics. Men
have eaten their hearts out in the
vain attempt to rise by heroic strug-
giles With great problems, while others
have achieved fame and fortune by
industry in small things and delicate
strokes of amiable politeness. TIE OIL
can is as necessary as the lever.
Mr.. Cortelyou is a man if singular
~ graceful personality. Everybody
likes him. Everybody is glad to see
him. He makes no enemies. Accord
ing to his theory of life, d man can
not afford to have an enemy, even an
humble enemy. The shabby fellow
who storms your office today may be
a power in the community next year.
Therefore, speak to him gently, send
him away with a smile. Never af-
feet q cOntemptuous manner. That
is the way of the fool. In the day
of small things plan patiently for the
day of great things. y polite word
costs nothing. 1t may turn out to be
a good investment. AS spark of fire
may turn a city into ashes, so an i'm
patient gesture or IRRITABLE word may
kindle a hatred great enough to de-
Stroy a career.
There is much in the life OF Mr.
Cortelyou that is worth studying. He
started out as a boy to be a musician,
and with that idea in view entered
the New England Conservatory of
Music at Boston. In 1888 he studied
stenography. in 1884 he was steno-
graphar and private secretary to the
Appraise~ Of the Port Of New York.
Presently he was principal in a col
lege preparatory school in New York,
IN 1891 he again became private sec
rotary to the Appraiser of the Port.
Then he was employed as private sec
rotary to the Fourth Assistant Post
master General in Washington.
Most men in such positions lose
hope early in life and settle down into
the routine, irretrievably soured. Not
so with Mr.. CortelYou. Always smil-
ing. always courteous. always ready
to assume the little responsibilities OF
life. modest industrious and patient,
he attracted the attention of the big.
numbering PoStm 1ster General and
when President Cleveland asked for
confidential stenographer in the White
House. Mr. Cortelyou was sent to him
rs the pleasantest and most willing
young man in Washington. Later on
he was made assistant private seCre-
tary to President Mckinley.
Mr. McKinley's secretary was man
who felt himself to be too large for the
petty details of his position. Persstent
visitors to the White House annoyed
him. The small-fry congressman and
his sightseeing constituents, the coun-
try politician full of inconsequential
secrets for the Presidential ear, the
widow seeking department clerkshlp
these and others like them who
thronged the corridor were inpatient
Nv turned over to his assistant.
While the secretary dreamed of Sc