The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1912-03-12
Cortelyou, Former Roosevelt Ad-
wiser, Takes Sides With the
President.
HARD TASK OF THE HEART
Decision to Array Himself Against HIa
Old Chieftain Strains Close Friend
ship-eonaparte Joins Sup.
.st porters Of the Colonel.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

master general and secretary OF the
treasury In the Roosevelt cabinet.
Temperamentally, Mr.. Cortelyou and
Elihu Root, who was Mr.. R0osevelt's
secretary Of state, have been said to
Be much alike. Both Of these men
have been put down as cold" The
word probably may do both OF them
az injustice, for perhaps the word re
served" fits the case better. It is un.
derstood that Mr.. Cortelyou is to sup
port Mr.. Taft, but he has not yet said
the word that will set him in a way
politically at least against his old
chieftain.
Whom Mr.. Cortelyou was appointed
the first secretary OF the department
Of commerce and labor as Repub,
hcan, OF course, some OF the disaf.
fected ones said: ':Cortelyou originally
was Democrat" Now in that saying
there was something of sneer, for it
was known by those who said 1t that
people ordinarily have no great love
for tho man who climbs over the
fence when the field on the other side
appears to hold advantages, while the
field that is left holds only principle.
When this was said OF Cortelyou
some one went back into history and
there found on record this remark OF
Grover Cleveland, president OF the
United States, when Mr.. Cortelyou
was given by him an appointment: Il
don't care rap If you are a Repub-
l1can." So it was left to Democratic
president to set at rest any doubt that
the man who held three jobs, one after
another, in the cabinet Of Repub-
ncan president was ever anything else
than a political adherent OF the Re-
publican party.
viii Support Taft.
Mr.. Cortelyou, as has been said,
probably will support President TAFT
as against Theodore Roosevelt for the
Republican nomination, but 1t will be
personal wrench for him SO to do.
1t is not likely that Mr.. Cortelyou will
get into the field as an active cam.
paign manager, but 'he knows how"
1t must be remembered that at one
time the former cabinet officer was
chairman of the Republican national
committee. When he took hold OF the
work it was said by some people that
he did not know anything about poll
tics. About month after Cortelyou
had taken hold OF the campaign OF
1904 James B. Morrow said: ~.
HE called the members of the Re.
publican national committee together,
| some of whom were old enough to be
his father, and others OF whom had
been notable in politics for genera
| tion and told them that battles were
won by work and not by r1gmarole
and bluster. He put a seal on every
| wagging mouth. There were lamenta.
tions, but the order was obeyed. FL
Here and there a resentful old
buck would say that 'Cortelyou does
not know anyone The next day Cor
telyou would introduce him very like,
! ly to group from Minnesota, dele,
| cation from California or 4 cluster
from Massachusetts, and would call
! every one by name. That was his an.
swer to the sneer. He heard every
thing; he saw everything."
Washington was beginning to won.
dor how Charles Joseph BOnaparte,
who was secretary of the navy and
also attorney general under Theodore
Roosevelt, would stand in the present
campaign for the Republican nomina-
ton. Mr. Bonaparte always has be.
longed in what some people call the
mugwamp class. He has supported
p! Democrats on occasion and Repub.
ncans on occasion. What he was 30
ing to do In the present campaign was
= matter for guess work. He has
come out for Roosevelt e . =
7 49, Donaparte for Roosevelt.
=, Charles Joseph Bonaparte lives In
Baltimore. } He: Is granddaughter OF
! Napoleon Bonaparte. Like several
other American citizens, 1t frequently
an aristocrat. While he was cabinet
oflcer there was real air OF Democ-
racy in his office. It was the easiest
matter in the world to get into tho
inner room to talk with him while no
was secretary of the navy Nothing
ased to keep the stranger and pilgrim
outside save pressure Of public busi-
ness, for when governmental affairs
were not pressing Mr.. Bonaparte gave
orders to his doorman not to be too
particular in, inquiries as to the spe-
cifc business OF the caller.
Over in Baltimore Charles ]. Bona
parte today is living In a sort OF semi
retirement. There is some specula-
tion In Washington as to whether or
not he will remain quiet during the
present campaign for the presidential
nomination. Maryland has a Repub-
tican governor today. The Republicans
think that they may have a chance
to carry it In the national election,
but at this the Democrats scofr. At
any rate, Mr.. Bonaparte's position to-
day In politics furnishes matter Of
1 considerable curiosity to the pol1t1-
clans of both parties He IL to sup
port Roosevelt. but viii be take the
stump? ~
Frohman Knew.
4 It was reported to Charles Froll
man that one Of his most prosperous
male stars was In q fair way Of get
ting married. II don't believe It,