The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-04-02
and lodging.

In the fall OF 1894 Armstrong, at that
time just of age, went to Des MOines
and solicited subscriptions for the Daily
Leader The paper was believed to be
in it's last stages, and the solicitor found
some difficulty in interesting people in
his proposition. One day the young man
dug UP good news story, and for the
first time climbed up to the editorial
room, where he found H. r. Jones, the
managing telegraph-cit editor, who
happened to be graduate of the Iowa
state college. Jones read the story and
asked Armstrong why he did not come
upstairs. An arrangement was made
by which he wrote at Sc, although he
had been getting So as solicitor.
Armstrong remained with the Leader
until the low ebb point was reached,
and the counting room demanded that
cut be made in the force, and the new
man had to walk. However UP to this
time his Sc stipend had been paid in
due bills and orders on restaurants;
he rarely saw dollar.
Des Moines Experience.
The reporter applied to another Des
Monies paper for a job and was sent
on the road soliciting subscriptions at
So per week. Returning from the first
trip he found the old Leader had been
reorganized and went back to the paper
at the SIS salary. Later Mr.. Armstrong
became city editor of another Des
Moines paper at a salary that seemed
princely to him-$15 per week. In the
fall of 1895 the Northwestern railroad
put on an experimental fast mail train
and Armstrong, with an artist, went
to Chicago to write the story of the first
run. While in Chicago Mr. Armstrong
called upon Victor l. Lawson, publisher
of the Chicago News. Mr.. Armstrong
told the editor that he was an Iowa
newspaper man, and that if he at any
time required the services of an Iowa
representative he desired Mr.. Lawson
to keep him in mind
The Northwestern railroad accorded
the newspaper men every courtesy, but
drew the line on riding on the engine;
there were so reporters; there could be
no favoritism. However, Mr. Armstrong
got into the good graces of the con-
ductOr between Chicago and Clinton,
and as the train pulled out of Clinton,
and Armstrong climbed upon the loco
motive, he was not ordered off,
From Clinton to Ames, nearly 200
miles, Armstrong had stood in the cab,
with one hand holding his watch and
the other time card, while the train
dashed off miles in from fifty to sixty
seconds. Armstrong and the artist
reached Des Moines at 4 in the morn
ing, and wrote three and a half COL
umns and made pictures before going
10 BED. The paper was the only one in
the city to have line concerning the
sensational run. Copies of the paper
were sent to Chicago, and within a few
days Mr. Armstrong received a letter
from Mr.. Lawson's paper, saying the
paper had no need for an additional
Iowa man, but that there was a position
Tor him In Chicago whenever he cared
to report. Mr.. Armstrong finished his
contract With his paper and in Nav.
1896, went to the Chicago Record. With
in six months he was doing the local
politics for the paper.
To New York For Newspaper
In December, 1896, Mr.. Armstrong
returned to Des Moines and was mar
ried to Miss Blanche Hogan. In 1897 he
was sent to Iowa to handle the Iowa
gubernatorial campaign for the Chi
cago Record, the campaign in which the
present secretary of the treasury first
came into public prominence. In Jan
uary, 1898, he again went to Iowa to
report the Inauguration of Governor
Shaw, returning to take charge of Chi
cago politics for the Chicago Record
In August, 1898, Mr.. Armstrong was
chosen from staff of forty men, with
out previous hint, to go to New York
and assume charge of all eastern news
and editorial matter for the Record. At
that time the New York office was
sending from 500 to 1000 words each
night. Mr.. Armstrong remained until
the sale of the paper in 1901 At that
time he had five men in the New York
office and was sending 81 900 words each
night.
Following the sale of the Record, Mr..
and Mrs. Armstrong went abroad re-
turning in May, 1901. Mr. Armstrong
went to the New York Herald as chief
Of the Chicago bureau, retaining that
position until April Is, 1902 when, at
the personal request Of Secretary Shaw,
he became private secretary to the Sec
rotary.
General O. l.. Spaulding, assistant
secretary, in charge of the bureau of
customs, having determined to resign
last summer on account of advancing
years and impaired health. Secretary