The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-23
A GREAT JOURNALISTIC TRIO
LOOMS, wYNNE AND ARMSTRONG
ARE LOOMING LARGE
All Did Good Work ns Newsgatherers
Other Members Of Uncle Sans stan
from the same school.

years to seleer newspaper men for respon-
sible posltiC II the big executive DEPART
rnents. Nor than score of correspond
ents and reporters who in times gone by
led the strenuous life In the newspaper
field are holding good places in the service
OF the government. Most OF them have
made good
Three journalists who deserted the pro-
fession to go to work for Uncle Sam have
recently been prominent I'm the public eye.
One of them is Francis 3. Loomis. assistant
secretary of State: another is Robert ].
Wynne, first assistant tmaster-general,
and the third. Robert y. Armstrong. is as
sistant secretary of the treasury. Messrs.
wynne and Loomis formerly chron-
icIers OF public events in the National Cap
ital. while Mr. Armstrong got his news
paper training in Chicago and New York.
Bob wynne was little known outside
OF Washington a few years ago. Now he is
national character. and his friends assert
that he is good vice presidential timber.
Francis B. Loomis. prominent for years as
a newspaper man. Is an accomplished dip
lomat Bob Armstrong until recently
an unknown" He was discovered by Leslie
M. Shaw, secretary Of the treasury.
As assistant secretary of state. Mr..
LOOMS is the responsible head OF the de-
parsment in the absence of Secretary John
Hay. Mr.. Loomis began his career in the
foreign service OF the United States in 1890,
when he became consul at st. Etienne.
France. After three years at that post he
returned to this country. and again
gaged.in Journalism. quitting 1t in 1897 when
he was appointed United States minister to
Venezuela. There IL was that he made
name for himself. the service he performed
at Caracas resulting ultimately in his pro-
motion to the department in Washington.
Venezuela had granted concessions to
New York company to work valuable as
phaltum deposits. the government exacting
q generous royalty. President Castro was
inspired by a rival organization to break
faith with the New York concern, but OBJ
stacles were placed in his way by the
courts M appeal was taken TO a higher
tribunal corresponding to the United States
Supreme Court. and when Castro discov-
cred that the chief justice was about to
hand down decision favorable to the
grantee re promptly removed him. Castro
was embarrassed for a time by his inabil-
ity to secure Judge who would do as he
was told. He finally succeeded. however
The stand taken by the American minister
on account OF the high handed proceedings
OF Castro incensed the latter. as a result
and Mr. I.oomis became persona non grata
to the Venezuelan government. Castro was
very insulting In his exchanges with this
government at the time and IL 1t had not
been Tor the fact that the United States
was then engaged I'm a war with Spain the
South American republic would have been
severely brought to task by the administra-
lf~
in connection with this incident When re-
lieved from his duties at Caracas, he was
transferred to European post. and later
to Washington as assistant secretary OF
state
Mr.. LOOMS has been unusually success
full in his present position. He was of
great assistance TO Secretary Hay in the
nesot atoms following the blockade of
venezueia by the European allies. and also
demonstrated his worth as a diplomat i'm
the troubles with Russia growing out of
the Kishinen outrages. He 1t was who
issued the statement on behalf of the ad-
01nistration dragging the Manchurian ques-
uon into prominence when Russia mani
tested such an ugly feeling over the Jew
ish petition. This act created great as
constituent ut first but il afterwards de-
proceeded in accordance with instructions
from the President. the text of the state
ment having been prepared at Oyster Bay.
telegraphed TO LOOMS. and by him given
publicity. This move bold one, and
undoubtedly had a great deal to do with
bringing the troubles between this country
and Russia to a head. Mr.. Loomis has a
great future before him in the diplomatic
field.
Robert J. wvnne entered the newspaper
neld I'm Washington when big things were
the order OF the day. He passed through
the stirring times of the great Star route
frauds. and Is now a central figure in the
biggest scandal in the history of the Post
once Department. wynne led a peaceful
existence for many years before he ac-
eepted the place first assistant post
master general He represented one of
the leading newspapers in New York and
was president OF the Washington brain
trust" Ii has been said that Mr. Wynne
suspicious OF Machep. Beavers and
other postal officials long before he be-
came identified with the Postoffice Depart
ment. But he denies this. His relations
with Mschen and Beavers. both of whom
were directly under him. were cordial and
ordinates got unruiy, and started in TO
run their divisions without regard to the
first assistant. Then the trouble began.
The warfare between the hostile camps
was conducted without any attempt at
secrecy. Mschen and Beavers are now
under Indictment. and Wynne is first as
sistant postmaster general. wynne is OF
Scotch-Irish ancestry. pugnacious and de-
termined. lie was associated for years
with Gen. Henry V. Boynton. an old Wash
5ngton correspondent who is still one OF
the ''scrappiest'' men in public life.
That man Wynne Is OF the most
suspicious individuals l ever met" said
Machen. recently. II believe that he Is
suspicious OF himself sometimes" Machen
veil described the lighting first assis-
tant-" Reared In the early days OF Wash
ington when IL was not considered out OF
the ordinary for a man. In public places
10 make the most OF his opportunities
Wynne was on the lookout for grating -
and that Is why he made a fight on the