The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-12
SECRETARY TO
THE PRESIDENT
Is AS Important as Place in the
Cabinet
How the Place Was Made Politically
Important-Some of the Men who
Became Famous Presidents
Private Secretary
BY RoDERICK CLIFFORD


Washington, June n.-(Special.) THE
"on trial" appointment of Charles ID.
Norton of Chicago as secretary to the
| President recalls the fact that prior to
| Cleveland's first term the private sec
rotary to the President, as the office was
then designated, did not "cut much ice. >
Indeed the position was not regarded or
looked upon as one of large influence or
Importance; but when Mr.. Cleveland
brought with him TO the White House in
March. 1856, Daniel Lamont. and appoint
ed him private secretary. a prominence
Was at once attached to the position that
has since grown until 1t is now of ma
tonal Importance, and the office fills as
large place in the public eye as does
seat at the cabinet table.
1t was Mr.. Cleveland who really
brought the office of private secretary
into the lmelight by giving Lamont au-
thcrity to handle the news for the cor
respondents. The fact that Lamont had
been a trained newspaper man at AL
bany, \. Y, and had a knowledge Of
national politics won him a warm spot in
the hearts of the Washington CORE
spondents. He knew what the hoys
wanted, and he knew how to tip Off
story; hence almost at the beginning
of Cleyelands administration Lamont 9
name figured daily in the Washington
news, and he was regarded by the ma
tional lawmakers as the one official to
cultivate. So it followed as a matter of
course that the office of private secretary
to the President assumed proportions
of large magnitude.
When President Harrison came in
March, 1889, he named for his private
secretary Elijah Halford, also a news
paper man. Mr.. Halford did not make
the office quite so prominent as did La
mont, nor did he figure so much in the
public eye. This, also may be said of
Thurber. who was private secretary to
Mr.. Cleveland during his second term.
It was not until President Mckinley
entered the White House in 1907, however
that the office of private secretary was
dignihed by changing the title to ''secre-
tary to the President" This is the little
story that explains the change In title
John Addison Porter. proprietor of a
Hartford, Conn.,, paper, and a leading
New England republican, who is finan-
cially strong, espoused the candidacy of
Mckinley months before the meeting of
the national convention which nominal
ed him. 1t was believed early In Decem-
Der, 1896, that Porter would be mem
Der of the cabinet. However, circum
stances over which Mckinley had no
control took Porter's name of the states.
and the office of private secretary to the
President was rendered, with the assur-
ance that II he would accept. the title
would be changed to secretary to the
President" with corresponding increase
In salary Mr.. Porter was told that with
change of title the dignity of the Of
fee would be equal to that of a cabinet
| minister.
| Mr.. Porter accepted, but he did not
make the success in the office expected.
He had political ambitions; desired to be
governor of his state; so in the spring
of 1900 he resigned to make the race for
the gubernatorial nomination. His
friends claim to this day that he won.
but that the machine gold bricked'
him 1t was terrible blow, and he did
not long survive 1t.
While Porter filed the office Of secre-
tary to the President with impressive
ing the work of assistant secretary and
keeping in touch with the newspaper
correspondents. This was Cortelyous
strong point, and when Porter resigned
President Mckinley promoted Cortelyou,
1t was a happy appointment and was
commended not alone by the newspaper
correspondents, but by members and sem
ators alike. Cortelyou knew the ropes
| and made a national reputation that has
| never been equaled. When Mr.. Roose-
Welt succeeded to the presidency he re-
tanned Cortelyou until Congress created
| the department of commerce and labor.
and then appointed him secretary of the
new department. thus making way for
| William A. Loeb.
| As secretary TO the President Loeb
made high reputation. He had been
Rooseyelt's confidential stenographer
and secretary at Albany, N. Y, when
Roosevelt was governor and his relations
with the President were of the closest
| character. Loebs newspaper experience
proved most valuable to Roosevelt and
| during his term of office never day
went by that Loeb did not make good
| reading and space" for the CORE
spondents.
Mr. Carpenter, who recently retired
| from the office of secretary to the Pres
ident, is q dignifed young gentleman ant
well liked by all who have come In con
tact with him: but he has not had {
newspaper training, and therefore doei
not understand the art of tipping on
/ a story to place the administration In tn
limelight. The office of secretary to thu
| President is one that more than an.
| other at the Presidents disposal, cal
helm make or mar the success Of his ad
ministration.
II would be a great surprise should As
sociate Justice Moody of the suprem
court of the United States resign. Flo
more than a year he has been laid u
with rheumatism. and the report Is tina
he is not getting any better. As rul
members of the supreme court do not re
sign, but there Is q precedent which MI
Justice Moody could follow II he de
sired. 1t is that of David Davis of I'LL
rois President Lincoln appointed hii
Justice of the supreme court OF tn
t United States in October, 1862. He serN
ed until March, 1877, when he resigned
take a seat in the Senate as the sue
cessor of John A. Logan.
Mr.. Justice Moody might prove to b
; the dark horse in the senatorial contes
now waxing warm In Massachusetts
but his health. it is believed. makes th
e improbable Senator Lodge faces 81
) rious outlook for reelection, with Rel
: rcsenta.ive Butler Ames gaining ever
. day. II Senator Lodge sees he cannt
win he might throw his strength
Jrstice Moody President Taft woul
l like to have the Standard Oil, tobacc
and corporation tax cases argued befol
; the tull court. but this seems impossib
IN view of the continued illness of Jul
? tiee Moody, and hence the growing b.
u lief that he will resign from the benc
0 In time to enable the President to al
: noint a successor to sit In the cases r