Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-29
SANS LEGAL GUIDE
Character Sketch Of Philander Chase Knox,
Attorney General.
HIS INCOME AS A PRAcTlcINe LAWYER
Notable Features of the Career Of the
Present Cabinet MInister-A TIRE
less Worker with = Re-
markabIe Memory.

WASHINGTON. June 2S.-When Philander
Chase Knox, who as attorney general of the
United States is conducting the prosecution
against the Beef trust. entered the cabinet
he relinquished a private law practice Of
5000, 900 a year. The firm Of Knox G. Reed
always demanded and received large fees
for their professional services.
The story Of the indianapolis street rail-
way case, the last great argument made
by Mr.. Knox before he came to Washington,
is illustrative. He was anxious to go to
Europe for a rest when the pressure upon
him to argue this case before the supreme
court became so strong that. to rid himself
of further Importantly. he named a fee to
the company which he believed would be
prohibitive. To his surprise 1t was ac-
cepted instantly; he argued the case in con-
junction with the late ex-President Benjs-
min Harrison. and won.
General Harrison evidently regarded P.
Q. Knox as a secondary consideration in
the presentation of the case, though the
consensus Of the opinion was that Knox
had carried the court irresistibly by the
masterful character Of his argument. Some
time later Harrison and Knox met on the
board walk OF Atlantic City, and after an
exchange OF civilities, the ex-president, In
. manner that was not altogether free from
q patronizing air, said:
"By the way, Knox, how did you come
out in the settlement OF your account with
the indianapolis Street Railway company?
1 got $25, 900 out Of them for my services"
II am very glad to hear 1t, general" re-
piled Knox pleasantly. Then in a modestly
deferential way he continued: II got S125,-
O00."
What" blurted the ex-president, over
Whelmed with establishment. Then, appre-
Chatting the embarrassment Of the situation
he wheeled and continued his walk without
another word.
Knox n Country Son.
Phil Knox, as he was known then and as
he is known today among his intimates in
western Pennsylvania, was 16 years OF age
when he left home to attend Mount Union
college. Ohio. He was born In Brownsville
Fayette county. Pa, May 6. 1853. His father
was a country banker. a boyhood friend OF
James G. Blaine. who sent his son to the
public schools until he was ready for col
lege. He was graduated In 1872 and i'm
mediately registered as a law student ir
the Office of H. Butcher Swope, Pittsburg
No two natures were more dissimilar thar
preceptor and pupil. Swope, then United
States district attorney for the western dis
trict Of Pennsylvania, was nervous, fiery
AAhBEAhOhoH oaa 80 " 49,
greatest vocabulary of ~vitriolic adjective'
that was ever exhibited in a district cour
room. At all times, however, his dictlor
was polished, and in this respect his pupi
owes much to the master, though the for
mer was Swope's antithesis, cool, ~self-re'
strained, a natural logician and a rhetori
clan whose command Of language is still
charmingly exact.
p. C. Knox was admitted to the bar II
1875 and in 1877 formed a partnership will
James H. Reed, another young lawyer, thu
son of & Pittsburg physician. The career
OF these young men for the first few year
gave no hint of phenomenal success. The!
were chaperoned by no advantageous cir
cumstances; they had no influential friend
In the background; they were general:
regarded as an energetic pair who pos
sessed no advantages above other JUNO,
members OF the bar.
He "Grew Up" with Pittsburg.
But P~ittsburg was then heading for in
ternationsl fame. Conditions were shap
ing themselves for the men who had wi
and wisdom to mount the crest OF waitini
advantage. In the same class with Phil
Knox and Jim Reed in point Of brain
and energy, and equally as unknown, wer
Henry Clay Frick, subsequently presiden
VI Nho VA . NbAAbahyp
John Dalzell; James NJ. Guffey. tn
phenomenally successful oil producer an
millionaire, national committeeman froi
Pennsylvania and head OF the Democrat
party in that state; George T. Oliver, the
a small owner, now a multi-millional
and director OF a great syndicate Of Pitts
burg newspapers. and John T. Chamber
the largest individual glass producer 1
the United States. at that period a partne
in a struggling concern on the South Sid
Pittsburg.
During his career in Pittsburg phil
Knox was known as a tireless worker. H
frequently appeared at the office in ii
morning before any Of the others had al
rived. when his sole companion was III
ONCE boy. This was particularly trr
when he mad a great case on hand. for
was his unvarying rule never to leave ar
OF the preparation of a great action to
subordinate or junior member. Every do
ument. letter, reference or scrap Of il
formation on evidence was examined /
himself. II was no uncommon thing Il
him to spend eighteen or twenty hours