Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-05
Labor Unions, Once Ready to
Back Cortelyou For President,
Holding Back
WALL STREET AID scAREs
cortelyou's Official Position During
Financial FURRY Causes Labor Lead
ers to Look ADMINISTRATION Taken
on Wall Street Causes His Political
Downfall.

Washington. Nov. 5.-Had the furry
in Wall street and the consequent
uneasy feeling resulting therefrom
been postponed until after tomorrow's
elections a presidential boom for Sec
rotary of the Treasury George B. Cor
telyou would have been launched by
the labor unions of the country
The time was ripe for 1t, and there
had been several conferences Of lead
ing labor leaders during the first part
Of October
1t was deemed best to await the re-
suits of the November elections before
starting the labor movement in Cor
telyous interest, which was Intended
to cause the republican party to do
some thinking.
But pending the declaration by the
unions in behalf Of Mr.. Cortelyou, the
money squeeze came on and Mr.. Corr
telyou left Washington to be in the
midst OIL the exciting eNeAeS "1iSAA
occurred in New York.
His official action In coming to the
prompt relief Of the business interests
of the country, brought forth much
commentator, and it was praise that
came from men and the interests which
they represent who have heretofore
been openly attacked by the labor UNI
ions.
While the acts Of Mr.. Cortelyou as
secretary Of the treasury In going to
the relief of New York financial inter-
ests cannot be fairly considered from a
political standpoint, 1t is fact never
theless that it may affect the situa-
ton in both the great national con-
ventions next year.
Mr.. Cortelyou has never as yet been
considered as an actual candidate for
the presidential nomination, yet 1t is
generally admitted by all who are con-
versant with the republican situation
that he has stood in a position to be-
come the beneficiary Of situation
which might result In protracted bal
loting in the national republican con-
vention.
He has the respect and confidence OF
all elements of the party; is close to
President Roosevelt and is potent in
the cabinet; he has the acquaintance
OF as large number Of the leaders
in the party as any man in official life
today, and is regarded as a practical
and conservative public servant.
In addition he had, as above stated,
the support and backing of the labor
interests for the reason that he has
always been one of their number as a
government stenographer at $50 per
month to place in the cabinet.
AS secretary Of commerce and la
Dor Mr.. Cortelyou placed the labor bu-
reau on its present footing and made
1t an Identical organization, instead
of mere auxiliary.
AS postmaster general he used his
efforts with success to bring about adj
ditional compensation for letter car
riers and rural delivery carriers. He
issued an order cutting down railway
mail pay and said the money so saved
could be better used in the letter car
rier and free rural delivery service.
Hence. Mr. Cortelyou, until very re-
Gently, has stood in position to be-
come the solution of possible dead
lock in the republican national con-
vention.
If it should SO happen that "the
field" and by that is meant the COM
bined opposition to President Roose-
welt, would be able to prevent the
nomination of Secretary Taft, but at
the same time be unable to name
candidate Of thir own, Cortelyou
has been considered as the second
choice of Roosevelt and Taft, and by
that is meant the administration.
But labor leaders are now in a
quandary. They are weakening on
Cortelyou, and it is doubtful if they
openly announce their preference for
him on account of the part he took
in the Wall street troubles.
Since 1896, when organized labor
went pretty strong for Mckinley the
rank and file of the unions have been
with the republican party. They have
man Littlefeld, and few others, but
as a rule their interests have been
thrown with dominating political lead
ers.
Should events so shape themselves
that Mr.. Cortelyou ever becomes a
presidential candidate he would re-
ceive a large percentage Of the labor
vote, but as matters now stand the
unions will not stand sponsor for his
candidacy at the outset.
From best information obtainable
here as to the probabilities of presi-
Dental action it is quite certain that
there will be not nearly so many sticks
of giant powder in the annual message
as was foreshadowed few months
ago.
If those near the president and relied
upon by him in times of great stress
have their way, there will not even be
one dynamite stick. The president
seems to realize that the injection
anew of all these questions, which are
agitating the public now, into the
arena of discussion at the present
time, might produce serious results.
While he does not admit that he has
in any way contributed to the pres
ent financial situation, he has become
convinced that he is very important
factor in it, so far as 1t may be i'm
proved, and the cause for irritation
and excitement removed. That he
is deeply concerned, that the tendency
to unsettle values does not go on, has
impressed on all those who have dis
cussed any of the phases of the mat
ter with him.
One of the most hopeful signs Is
that there has been created already a
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