In response to crisp invitations from the New York Electrical League and the Electrical Board of Trade of New York, over 1,000 executives of electrical and public utility corporations sat down to luncheon in Manhattan last week and gazed about at one another expansively.
Great men are drawn to greater. As the luncheon got under way, many a potent executive’s eye wandered to George Bruce Cortelyou, former Secretary of the Treasury (1907-09), President of the Consolidated Gas Co. of New York; and Owen Young, one of the U. S. investigators of the German Budget, and Chairman of the board of both the General Electric Co. and the Radio Corporation of America. Both of these gentlemen were seated prominently at the speaker’s table. While waiting for them to speak, the picturesque career of handsome, well-groomed Mr. Cortelyou was envisioned by many of his intimates to those not so circumstanced.
At 21 he was a court stenographer in Manhattan. At 23 he was acting as principal of a preparatory school. Entering the service of the state through a minor post-office job, he somehow became stenographer to President Cleveland in his 33rd year. President McKinley made him his Assistant Secretary. President Roosevelt appointed him the first Secretary in his newly created Department of Commerce and Labor. Two years later he became Postmaster General, and at the end of another two years he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury. During the latter part of his cabinet career, the great corporations which he now heads recognized his genius as an organizer and eventually drew him into business.
Such a man could not fail to be an interesting orator. Therefore profound regret was expressed when neither Mr. Cortelyou nor Mr. Young spoke.
Others at the speakers’ table: Edwin W. Herr, President of the Westinghouse Co.; Guy E. Tripp, Chairman of the board of the Westinghouse Co.; Charles G. DuBois, President of the Western Electric Co.; J. E. Davidson, President of the National Electric Light Association.
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