Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-04-07
IMPORTANCE OF pRoMpTNEsS.
Illustrated In n General Way by the
Failure of Young Man 60 Get
q Good Position.

"There's q shorthand writer In the
Washington department service at the
present time who came pretty close to
mailing the job that gave George Cortel-
you his start toward seat In the cabi-
net" said q government official the 9TH
er day, according to the New Washing
ION Post. 1T isn't at all probable, OF
course, that the other fellow would have
attained the high position reached by
Mr.. Cortelyou. but the story Is worth
telling merely as illustrating the way
these things happen in the government
employ.
II have for the moment forgotten the
exact nature of the shuttle in the eXecu-
tive mansion that caused Mr.. Cleveland
to be deprived of the services Of per-
sonal stenographer during his second
administration. But when this came
about Mr.. Cleveland said to Mr.. Thur
Der, his private secretary:
Henry, want you to look around
and get me q good shorthand man. You
know the kind of man want, and so
I'll leave 1t to YOU
'Mr. Thurber happened to think OF a
bright young chap. then in the depart
mental service here, from his own city.
Detroit. This young fellow was crack
erjack stenographer and was thoroughly
competent in all other respects. It
wasn't, however, until couple of days
after Mr.. Cleveland had spoken to him
about the matter that Mr.. Thurber sent
for this young chap to call at the white
house.
But In the meantime. on the day be-
fore, Mr.. Cleveland. forgetting that he
had left the matter Of selecting per-
sonal stenographer in the hands of his
private secretary. said to Postmaster
General Bissell at a cabinet meeting:
90 am looking for clean, close
mouthed, able young fellow to act as my
stenographer. Have you got such chap
down at your place."
1--we got my eye on just the man You
want was the quick reply of the post
master general. He's young man
named Cortelyou, the shorthand man
now for Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Maxwell. He's such an all
around capable fellow that I've been
wondering for some time what could Go
to send him along toward better billet.
I'll send him to you to look over as soon
as reach my Office
"Mr Bissell, however forgot about the
matter until the next day. when he sud-
denly recalled the premise he had made
to the president. and he Immediately
sent for Mr.. Cortelyou and told him 10
go up to the white house and let the presi-
dent take look az him. The result was
that Mr.. Cortelyou and the young De-
troiter. who had been sent for by Mr..
Thurber. both reached the white house
at virtually the same time. Mr.. Cortel-
you was the first to stand the presidents
however, and he went
through the ordeal in canter. while the
Detroiter was still waiting his chance.
Mr.. Thurber found out Immediately
after Mr.. Cortelyou's departure how the
thing had come about-the president
apologetically and laughingly owning
10 his forgetfulness in the matter-and
the young Detroiter had to be sent away
when he was just on the verge of snag-
ying out the fine billet-there is hardly |
my doubt at all that he would have |
gained the prize had he reached the
White house just little sooner. There
S little likelihood, as I say. that he
would. had he got the job, have sped |
long to the hight scaled by Mr.. Cortel-
'ou. a man Of unusual ability. but II is a
'ood deal of cinch that he would have
cen nursing a swagger shorthand job
own to the present time"
Enlightened Turkey.