The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-25


and put into effect the plans for progress
and reform that he may have formulated
or have in mind. Consequently, if Presi-
dent Roosevelt continues in office soswilI
Mr.. Morton, and with the natural ambition
Of young and vigorous man of his type,
he hopes TO leave an impress upon the
Navy Department and the naval service
that will remain long after he has returned
to his temporarily interrupted lifework
and become a railroad man again.
Almost every high official of the Navy
Department has some little story to tell o
the secretary's lghtninglike decisions and
conclusions. He usually supplements his
first impressions on any subject by a system
OF Interrogation that is calculated to make
the former Chinese Minister to the United
States who had a reputation as cross
examiner-seem like a bashful school boy.
Why is his great question. He meets
all statements with this extremely simple
but very effective interrogation, and as a
high navy officer remarked the other day
After the Secretary had fired twenty-one
whys?' at me in rapid succession didn't
know whether l was talking about battle
ships or submarines. He seemed to I'M
derstand, though, SO / guess it was all
right"
A little incident that occurred at the
Navy Department the other day is good
evidence of the way Mr.. Morton exercises
his almost womanly intuition Samuel w.
Began, the son of well known physician
of Washington. called at the Navy De-
partment and asked to see Mr.. Morton.
The young man had absolutely no political
influence and he had been trying for three
years to get commission in the Marine
Corps. The Secretary granted him an
interview.
mir. Norton" said the young man,
"I've been trying to get in the Marine Corps
for almost four years. l can't get any
body to back me up, but l am very much
in love with the service and I would try
mighty hard to make a good officer and
serve the United States we'll"
The Secretary looked the young appli-
cant over from head to foot--Bogan after
ward said he felt az IL somebody had turned
an X-ray apparatus on him-and asked;
Were you ever designated before?'
"No, sir" said Began.
-I'll designate you tomorrow y said the
Secretary. laconically AS he turned to his
| desk again
Later in the day visitor called to see
the Secretary and happened to remark
that he was pleased with Bogan's designa-
, ton.
What kind of a boy is he?" asked the
Secretary.
"Clean-cut, intelligent and as good as
they come" he was told.
Knew IL when ! looked at him. said
Mr.. Morton. Didn't have any political
influence, but then we need good men in
the Marine Corps just the same"
Although 1t was announced only few
months ago that Mr., Morton had allied
himself with the Republican party, as a
matter OF fact he has not been identified
with the Democrats since the second Cleve-
land administration, in which his father,
the late j. Sterling Morton, was Secretary
OF Ag4 -,.ture. Paul Morton was never a
politician in any sense of the word but
when the Bryan campaign was inaupu-
rated he followed his father and other lead-
ing men Of the party In bolt against free
silver. Since that time Mr.. Morton has not
supported the Democratic ticket and has
had no leanings in that direction. As a
personal friend OF the new Secretary once
remarked
MIR. Morton is too active a man to be
allied with a passive party, and he long
ago came to the conclusion that he wanted
to get into party that does things"
When Mr.. Morton was elected an alter
nate to the Republican national conven-
tion, the fact was generally accepted as the