The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-12-10
KNOCKING KNOX
Anti Trust People Bring Sc
rious Charges Against
Him.
Very Animated Session of the
Senate Judiciary Com
mittee.

From The journal Bureau, Room 80 Post
Building, Warrington.
Washington, Dec. l0.-A conference Of
two hours duration was held to-day be-
tween Senator Hoar, chairman Of the judi
one side and representatives Of the Ma
tional Antitrust League on the other. The
subject for discussion was Attorney Gen
eral Knox, whose confirmation the anti
trust people have held up for a week and
which they are anxious to defeat.
The arguments to-day were to con-
vince Senator Hoar that Knox's nomina-
tion, which Is now on the table in the
senate, should be referred back to the
committee in order that there may be a
full inquiry into the question of Mr..
Knox's fitness to be the government S
highest legal adviser. The committee rep
resenting the antitrust people was COM
posed Of B. M. Martin, national secre-
Of the Antitrust League; F. E. Steb-
bins and r. S. Tharin, legal advisers of
the committee, and w. L. Demont, secre-
tary of the district assembly knights of
Labor.
After the discussion had gone far
enough for Senator Hoar to Sc what was
in the air, he asked for short stay that
he might send for democratic senator to
be present with them and hear the argu-
ments. Senator Pettus responded to this
call and the two listened patiently and
with great interest to all the delegation
had to say.
1t was developed that there is a differ
ence of opinion between Mr.. Knox and
the delegation as to certain things which
are alleged to have taken place last sum-
mer, when the antitrust people were try
ing to secure the cooperation of the de-
partment of justice in movements against
the trusts, and this difference of opinion
was so Emphasized by the degeation to-
day as to leave no room for daubt that
somebody had been lying. Senator HoaI
was much interested in this phase of the
case.
Last summer the antitrust people wrote
Mr.. Knox a letter, which he ignored
| asking his help in an effort to bring the
steel trust into court. Mr.. Knox, a few
days ago, told Senator Hoar that he had
not ignored the nti4trust committee. On
| ter the assembling of congress he would
gladly take up their case and cooperate
in any way possible. The delegatiCS pre-
sented a signed statement to Mr.. Hoar to
the effect that Mr. Knox had made no such
proposition, and that he had even de-
cltned to acknowledge receipt of its let
ter. After the discussion to-day had pro-
ceeded for some time Mr.. Hoar said:
Once / defended man who was accused
of cOunfarfpitinU ms I'm NV ipd ,o,
he should not be convicted contrary to law
and what could honorably be done for him
did. 1t would have been an entirely different
matter If had aided my client in his counter
feiting work. Do I understand that youl
delegation is ready to prove that Mr.. Knox
as counsel for certain great corporations
actually aided and abetted in the organiza-
tion Of certain combinations that you know
and claim are in violation of law?
Mr.. Martin replied:
That is ust what we are prepared to prove,
and all we want is an opportunity. We claim
that Mr.. Knox. because of his past business
athllations, is not a proper person to be at
torney general of the United States at time
when the trust issue is becoming prominent
and when the general government is at any
moment likely to be called on to prosecute
trusts. The men who were Mr.. Knox's en-
ployerS few years ago are the men who
subsequently organized the Northern Securi-
ties company, and the governors of several
northwestern states, Minnesota particularly,
are about to call special sessions of their
legislatures for the purpose OF framing laws
to resist the progress of this corporation.
Senators Hoar and Pettus asked many
questions as the discussion proceeded, and
their attitude towards the delegation was
very cordial. This week Senator Hoar will
decide whether to recommend to the judi
ciary committee that the Knox appoint
ment be taken from the table and referred
back for a public inquiry.
1t is almost too muc hto hope that this
will be done, for many powerful influences
in the senate are united against such a
course. The antitrust people, however
think they have accomplished a great deal
in securing as favorable a hearing from
Senator Hoar as that of to-day.
w. w. Jermane.