The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-15
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY Is, 1918.
NOE TLNfTL.TY

Another young man hud college graduate
comes to the front with the selection by Presi-
seutelect Wilson Of Joseph Patrick Tumulty
Ms private secretary 10 the president
Tunulty is graduate of st. Peters college,
Jesuit institution Unlike McC0mbs, OF whom
nue thinks instiuctiyely when Wilson's cam
paign for the presidential nomination Is men,
toned. and who together with Tumuty and
another young man. William McAdoo, had much
to do with the success Of that campaign, the next
White House secretary is not thought of as an
example of the college graduate in politics.
Moreover. he is not new in politics as were
McCombs, McAdoo and other "noyicos" who
surprised the politicians. Nevertheless Tumulty
hcannss in that same category and shares with
the others the honors which so TO the small
coteria OF young collegiate embryo politicians
who helped another collegian make himself,
/ Tumulty made his start an Organization"
poittieian-ward politician. if you win, Joseph
Patrick tells that much, An Irishman could
scarcely be anything else. lie was sent to the
New Jersey assembly, by the late bob" Davis,
Democratic boss OF the old Fifth ward Of Jersey
City. Possessing the Irish gift o CAB" young.
energetic and a vote getter, he was picked by
Boss Davis for his own. Here Davis made a
mistake. Tumulty never broke with the organi-
xafion, always keeping his regularity, but Tumul-
ty was Tumulty's man and not Davis. He was
one OF those peculiar politicians who have
constituency, after well as before election He
voted as he pleased and his pleasure was not
always that of the Fifth ward boss. Everett
colby, the young New Jersey Progressive, now
leader of the State Bull Moose herd, was in the
assembly at the same time and he and Tumulty
were often found working together Tumulty
was a Democrat, and an organization Democrat,
bat he did not vote for all the measures bearing
the organization brand Quite frequently he
kicked over the traces as becomes a of a
county Cavan Irishman. 1t at the funeral OF
Aoss Davis that he met Mr.. Wilson ana 1t was
shortly thereafter that he became the secretary
OF the governor who had watched his career in
the State assembly.
Now at the age Of thirty-three he has been
appointed to a place of Importance second only
to cabinet office, If not equal to it. The private
secretary to the president is d much more i'm
pcrtant Office than the name-whicn, by the way,
IL naisnoma-implies. The presidents secre-
tary is his private representative ana il is
through him that the chief executive is known
to the public. An unfortunate mistake in select
ing secretary-and Taft made three OF them
may prove fatal. Taft has received the blame
Cor much that was the fault of Carpenter, Nor
ton and Hilles the last of whom was his cam
pafgn manager in the recent presidential cam
oaign and who exhibited an aptitude for nothing
more than writing attractive advertisements for
.he magazines. Cortelyou and Loeb inval-
uable to Roosevelt and both have proven their
value In other and, to the public, more important
positions.
These two men are no exceptions. Other nri-
vate secretaries TO the president have earned
names for themselves after the retirement of
their chiefs. The first of these, Tobias Lear, SER
Rotary to Washington, a diplomat of more
than ordinary ability and held important posts
In the State department. Lamont became
member Of Cleveland's cabinet and John Hay was
once secretary to the president. Others nave
held less important positions result of their
work 80 private secretary.
Tumu1ty has proven his value TO his chief.
Loyalty. frankness and shrewdnes sof Judgment
are said TO be his chief characteristics unless
one of them be capacity for hard work. These
qualities are essential and IL is freely predicted
that the former ward politician win prove in
variable TO his chief and will later adorn Offices
more highly estimated If not more important