The Washington times., 1903-01-05
TROUBLE AHEAD FOR
ARMSTRONG NOMINATION
TO TREASURY BILLET
Choice AS Assistant Secre-
tary Meets Opposition.
SAID TO BE FAR TOO YOUNG
His High Personal Character not As
sailed-Lack of Experience IN
Business World Set Forth.

The nomination Of Robert B. Arm
strong. now private secretary to secre-
tary Shaw. as First Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury to succeed Mr.. Spauld-
ing is threatened with serious opposi-
| tion in the Senate. The nomination viii
probably be sent to the Senate this af-
/ ternoon OF tomorrow morning.
The opposition to Mr. Armstrong is not
| based upon any personal grounds. for
his character and standing are above
reproaCh, but is founded upon the fac,
that he is yo"ng man, too young. # Is
argued, TO unds rtake the responsibilities
of so important an Office as that Of As
sistant Secretary Of the Treasury. which
has under 1t the Customs Service. the
Bureau Of Navigation, the Saving
Service. the Revenue Cutter Service. and
other large divisions Of the Treasury.
Mr.. Armstrong is not yet thirty years
/ Of age. He looks younger. rather than
older than that and when his selection
as Mr.. spauIding's successor was an
nounced the statement was erroneougIv
made that he was but twentv-sevep
years Of age He IS. IN fact. the young
est man ever called upon TO fill the DO
sition TO which he is to be named bv
the President. Secretary Shaw. who bar
known Mr.. Armstrong from his boybooJ
/ is, however. convinced Of his ability and
earnestly desires that his nomination
/ be confirmed
Senator Aldrich Objects.
3
It is understood that Senator AId-iel
is at the head Of the opposition to Mr.
Armstrong and that his reason for or
posing the nomination is solely because
/ OF Mr.. Armstrong youth and lack OF ex-
perience in the Treasury Department.
He believes that man Of riper years
and longer service should ba made As
sistant Secretary. Several Eother sena-
tors bage made sinilar exs.essions. bur
how far they viii go in opposing Mr.
Armstrong; confirmation against tho
wishes OF Secretary Shaw is indefinite
When Secretary Shaw began congid-
Grafton OF the matter of Mr.. spaulding's
successor he consulted Senator Allison
aud Senator DoIIiver. Of Iowa. as TO the
adTisability Of elevating Mr.. Armstrong
10 the place. Mr Armstrong's home
having been in Iowa, he was personally
known to both the Iowa Senator's and
they gave their approval and indorse-
ment TO the suggestion of his nomina-
tion. Secretary shaw also consulted
Senator's Cullom and Mason. chiefly he
cause of the fact that Mr. Armstrong
had for q number Of years been q resi-
dent Of Chicago. They likewise declared
that il it was the wish of the Secretary
Of the Treasury to have Mr.. Armstrong
made his first assistant they would in
terpose no objection
Partial to Young Men.
The President is somewhat partial 10
the selection of young and active men
for positions Of trust and responsibility
and shared with Secretary Shaw thn
opinion that Mr.. Armstrong was qualified
TO fiji the post. While Mr.. Armstrong'S
service in the department has not been
Of long duration, be has given close an
Plicatiou TO the study of Treasury mat
ters and has been under the tuteIage OF
Secretary Shaw himself
Mr. Armstrong; friends profess to en-
terJain no fear that the opposition to
els nomination viii result in a refusal
of the Senate to confirm him. They de-
clare that youth is no crime. and that
it should not be used as an argument
against him. especially when, in tho
opinion OF the President and the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury, he is qualified To
assume the duties of the nrst assistant.
Should the nomination 90 to the Commit
tee on Finance, its cOnf1rua tfon OF re-
lection Will rest largely with Senator
AIdrich, who IS chairman Of that com
mittee. although Senator Allison, who is
the second member Of the committee
would probably be able to prevent anv
adverse action. It is possible, however.
the domination may 20 to the Committee
on Commerce. of which Senator Frve is
chairman.