The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-11-07
now To GET A BETTER JOB.

George B. Cortelyou's career is one
that should be 40 inspiration to every
American boy. 1t has become a NOR.
bid habit nowadays to croak forbid
dinghy OF public Office as a mere pur.
c asable position to which any one
with money or ''pull' may legitimate.
ly aspire regardless of other and
more substantial qualifications. Pol
itics is too often used as a synonym
for graft and ward "~heeling," and,
as Mr.. Hughes, Of New York, said
the other day, sit Is we'll once in q
while to take q look at the bright side
of things"
The career of Mr.. Cortelyou is a
good thing to think about in this day
and generation, for it serves to pre-
serve in use the old-fashioned idea
that virtue is its own reward" says
the Kansas City journal. The old
copybook admonitions to work hard,
be honest and frugal, have been re-
legated too far back. Mr.. Cortelyou
has demonstrated that they still hold
good. He has risen from comparative
%obscurity to q cabinet position and is
slated for the Office of secretary of the
treasury-an Office only q few degrees
lower than the presidency itself. And
C%ortelyou is still a young man with
bright prospects of further recognition
and advancement.
The rise o. George Bruce Cortelyou
is remarkable and interesting. He
was born In New York July 26, 1862.
Educated in the public schools and
afterward graduated from Columbia,
he began his active career as a teacher
in the New York public schools and
studied s~tenography, becoming a law
reporter. His ability in this direc-
ton gained him positions of private
secretary to various public officials in
his native city. He went to Wash
ington as ste%nographer for the fourth
assistant postmaster general. 1t was
there that his work attracted the at.
tention Of President Mckinley and he
was transferred to the white house as
stenographer, later serving success
sively as executive clerk, assistant
secretary and secretary. When Presi-
dent Mckinley fell at the hands Of an
assassin in Buffalo, Cortelyou dis.
played SO much tact, energy and ex'
e~cutive ability that President l;oose.
welt retained him in his position
Wien the department of commerce
and labor was created Cortelyou was
appointed as its first head. In 1901
he was elected chairman of the repub'
lican national committee. At the con
clusion of this successful campaign
President Roosevelt appointed hin
postmaster general. Within a few
months he will be secretary OF thu
treasury.
Such is the record of one American
boy who began life humbly and ha'
won success along a precarious path
way without special influence or wha
the world calls "pull." There wa
no precedent for Cortelyou. H
blazed his own way and pressed for
ward by his own ability. 1t was be
cause he was thorough. When h
studied to be q stenographer he de
termined to be a good steuographer
and this prepared him for the neS
opening. He did not complain ths
he was not being appreciated or this
others were being advanced ahead {
him. He just pegged away, consciou
that when the time came he would &.
his reward. 1t is just such men the
the world is looking for. Cortelyo
is not a brilliant statesman nor q pr
litical genius. He has simply mad
the most Of his opportunities an
when the call has come he has Away
been able to answer ''ready.'