Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-04
cORTELYOU AIMS HIGH.
Dominant Traits of the New RepubIi-
can Chairman.

bookkeeper a mechanic, a salesman, a
wagon driver? Make up your mind
that you are going to be the best clerk.
or the best stenoSrapher, or the
best bookkeeper, or the best in
whatever line you are. there is in the
shop That is the road to success.
That is the road George Bruce Cor
telyou travelled. Ten years ago-and
that is a mighty short time-Cortelyou
was stenOgrapher and confidential man
to Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gener-
al Maxwell at Washington. Wheh
Maxwell came into Office he found Cor
telyou there. Maxwell was Il Demo-
crat and Il Democrat who believes that
to the victors belong the spells. Cor
telyou was Il Republican. and expected
to be flred-that is, to be transferred
back to a mere clerk silip, as he was
under the protection of the civil service
rules. In fact, he had arranged ms
transfer, and Maxwell had picked out
the Democrat he intended putting IN
CortelyOus place. 1t CHANGED that TINS
Democrat was not then in Washington
and could not get there for couple Oh
weeks. SO COrtelyou worked on with
Maxwell. Before the fortnight was
over Maxwell turned to CortclyOu one
day and said:
Would you like to stay here. with me
indefinitely"
"Of course would
"Well, you stay. The fact is. Cor
telyou. l don't know how could get
along without you"
And COftelyOu stayed.
AS the mhnths rolled by Maxwell was
so much delighted with the quiet, skill
full, rapid work of his secretary that he
fell into the habit of boasting about the
department that lie had the best stem
ogra pher in the shop. He cracked up
Cortelyou to his brother officials and to
Bissell the postmaster general. Final
ly Bissel tried to get COrtelyOu into his
own Office. but Maxwell raised such a
row about it that he was forced to drop
the idea.
One day. not long afterward. Bissell
was at the White House. President
Cleveland remarked that he needed an
other stenographer and that he wanted
a good one. Could Bissell help him
ont?
The fat postmaster general laughed.
Mr.. Cleveland asked him what he was
laughing about.
Why said Bissell. Il was just
thinking what a good joke it would be
on Maxwell. He has stenoSrapher,
he's always Dragging about-says he's
the best in Washington and won't let
anybody take him away. OF course,
Il.
man.
whats his name?"
"COrtelyou."
"Send him down to the White House
tomorrow"
And Bissell went away, smiling over
the joke he had played on Maxwell.
When Cortelyou started in at the
White House it was as a stenographer
to President Cleveland. He wrote the
Presidents letters. After day or two
Cortelycu thought it best to offer a lit
tie explanation to the man whose con-
fitential work he was doing, and so he
SAID:
Mr.. President, perhaps you tnink
am a Democrat. But think it no more
than right l should tell you / am Re-
publican"
Il don't care damn what your poll
tics are" replied Mr.. Cleveland. las
long as you do your work we'll and are
loyal to your chief"
Cortelyou was such a good stenogra-
pher and man so Jealous and trust
worthy in all his work that President
Cleveland kept him and liked him.
When Mckinley came in COrtelyOu was
there and became assistant to Secre-
tary Porter. He was the best stenog-
rapher and man of business on the
White House staff, and when POrter's
health broke down it was the most
natural thing in the world that he
should be promoted to the secretary
ship.
Seven or eight weeks ago one of the
Presidents personal and unofficial
friends was at the White House at lun-
cheOn. This friend knew the trouble
the President was having in finding
Just the right man for chairman of the
national committee. Two or three men
he wanted he could not get, for one
reason or another, and certain corpora
tions and politicians We're trying to
thrust upon him men he did not want.
Mr.. President" said this friend, II
have a national chairman for you-a
man who belongs to no factions, who is
not the choice of any corporation. who
has the confidence of all Republicans,
who was close to Mckinley and Hanna.
and is close to you, who is honest, able,
strong"
"Who is he-who is he?" asked the
President.
Cnrfalx-n,y
The President thought that a sugges-
ton worth thinking about. 1t was n
new idea. No one had suggested Cor
teiyou before. CortelyOu had not been
thought of in that connection. In look
ing for man for a certain task we are
all prone to hunt far away and to over
look the man at our elbow. The Presi-
dent did think about Cortelyou. He
consulted his advisers. In n week Cor
telyOu's name was on the slate.
1t pays to be the best stenographer in
the office, the best salesman in the
store. the best bookkeeper in the count
ing room, the best workman in the
shop, the best hostler in the stable.
FIn To H. Oh