Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-26
ARMSTRONG'S WORK
Assistant Secretary of Treasury
Secured Plimley's Withdrawal
WORK OF IOWAN is COMPLlMENTED

WORK OF l0WAN Is COMPLlMENTED
Saw That Major Plimley Was Not
Right Man for Post at New York
and Took Immediate Steps to Bring
About His Withdrawal.
Citizens of Ottumwa, who have
watched closely the incidents connect
ed with the appointment of Robert
Armstrong to the office of assistant
secretary of the treasury OF the Unit
ed States, will be interested in the ac-
count of the manner in which the
lowan in heading off the confirmation
OF Major Plimley of New York, as as
sistant treasurer of the United States.
Concerning this move of Secretary
Armstrong Washington dispatch
says:
1t is one thing to secure the appoint
ment OF friend, and quite another
one to bring about the withdrawal of
the appointment of a man whose nom.
nation has gone to the senate, the said
individual having the political backing
OF Senator Platt of New York. the
easy boss This is the very thing
that Mr.. Armstrong did.
Not Right Man.
Shortly Following the nomination of
Major Plimley as assistant treasurer.
the information came to the attention
nj MIR hot Jo;o
was not the man for that sort of a lob.
me senate was but two days from adj
Journment; the nomination might be
confirmed at any moment. Assistant
Secretary Armstrong jumped upon a
tram for New York, worked unceas-
1ngly for fifteen hours, returned to
Washington, reaching here early in
the morning, At $50 he was at the
White House and laid the facts before
the President, A couple of hours lat
er Mr.. Armstrong was before the sen
ate committee on finance, laying the
same facts before that body.
OF course, Senator Plat had not
been asleep. He knew what was be-
ing done and fought Mr. Armstrong
with all the great power at his dispos-
al, but Senator Platt was unable to
meet the facts presented by Mr.. Arm
strong.
The senate committee on finance
was favorable to the withdrawal of
the nomination of Major Plimley. Mr..
Armstrong had another conference
with the President the result of which
was the President asked the senate to
return the nomination of Major Plim-
ley, and this was done.
The entire job was accomplished
without the writing of a letter or use
Iof scratch of writing of any sort.
The facts presented by Assistant
Secretary Armstrong were oral, both
| to the president aud the finance COM
lmittee.
Wisdom in His appointment.
The shrewdnes and wisdom of Sec
Rotary Shaw in selecting Mr. Arm
strong, a trained newspaper man, for
| his private secretary and afterwards
promoting him to be assistant secre-
tary. was demonstrated in the out
come of this little game of politics.
Mr.. Armstrong; newspaper expert
ence and aptitude in following certain
Heads, alone enabled him to secure the
information that prevented the con-
| firmation of Major Plimley and termi-
mated in the withdrawal of his nomi-
nation. Mr. Armstrong knew precisely
what to do from the start and what
faction to take a very urn in the New
York investigation and without this
newspaper knowledge the facts could
probably not have been obtained in
| time to prevent confirmation by the
senate.
| 1t is somewhat remarkable that the
one senator, Mr.. Aldrich, who opposed
at the outset the appointment of Mr..
| Armstrong to be assistant secretary,
perhaps now realizes better than any
other man his own error at the out.
Iset. and the good Judgment of Secre-
Itary Shaw in the matter of the an,
pointment of Mr.. Armstrong. Senator
Aldrich has very high opinion of Mr..
Arm strong and congratulated him
warmly upon the excellent work he
performed in the Plimley matter.
Washington, March 25.-During the
year 1902 only four Iowa postmasters
of the presidential class resigned, on
ly one was removed, two died. l2S
commissions expired.
OF fourth class offices the resigna-
lions were 215 in Iowa; removable at
expiration of four years, 49, remov.
ais without reference to time, III;
deaths, 10; new offices established, II;
offices discontinued, 1877; reduced from
presidential, none.
Total number of presidential of
fees in Iowa. 265 an increase of Is
over previous year; first class, 8; sec.
ond class, 45; third class, 211.
Number of fourth class offices, 1862;
money order offices, 1890; offices dis.
continued during year 1877; establish.
ed, II; advanced to presidential, 15;
decrease over 1901, 1875.
In number of presidential postoffices