The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-08
Attorney General Visits Presi-
dent at Oyster Bay.
Tells About Row in Atlantic
City Restaurant.
T WAS A PLENTY.
What He Did to Man Who
Insulted Him.
Thinks One Of the Cramps Was
in the Party.

Oyster Bay, N. Y, Aug. S.-President
Roosevelt was exceptionally busy for
several hours today disposing of an
accumulation of public business. By
luncheon tine he had cleared away
the mass of official correspondence and
was ready to receive the attorney gen.
eral and Mrs. Knox, who arrived from
New York about noon. They will be
the guests of the president and Mrs.
Roosevelt until tomorrow.
1t is understood that Attorney Cen
eral Knox will sail shortly for Europe,
where in France he will devote some
personal attention to the Panama canal
question. 1t is quite probable now that
the proceedings looking to determine
ton of the ability of the New Panama
Canal company to pass a clear title of
the property to the United States will
be conducted in the French courts.
While the adminisra ton is anxious to
have the matter passed upon as soon
as possible, the question of time will be
secondary to that of certainty that the
United States will have no trouble with
the stockholders Of the old Panama
rights of the new company should be
acquired by this country under the
SpOoner act The president, upon whom
the responsibility rests, will take no
chances upon the results of extended
litigation in which the United States
must become involved if the property
of the New Panama Canal company
We're purchased before it had been de-
possessed the absolute right to convey a
clear title to this country.
THAT ATLANTIC CITY AFFAIR.
To representative of the Associated
Press Mr.. Knox confirmed the report
that he had a personal difficulty with a
party of men in Atlantic City last We'd
nesday night.
TT was one of those disagreeable in
cidents,'' said he, that some times oc-
cur in a restaurant or other public
place. Accompanied by Mrs. Knox, my
daughter and two or three friends, in
Guiding District Attorney Youngs of
Pittsburg, 1 was dining in the restaurant
of the Gardener hotel. A party of men,
| none of whom I knew, seated them
selves at an adjoining table. Their con-
duct was unseemly and boisterous. They
talked loudly, and their comments upon
members of my party and upon me were
insulting, to put it very mildly. In the
circumstances, accompanied as / was
by ladies, I could not resent their ac-
tions or their words at that time. They
evidently were seeking trouble so with
out attracting any more attention than
| possible I got my party out of the res
| taurant.
''Then I returned" continued Mr..
Knox with a smile, "to see if the men
| really were looking for me. I think they
| were, for scarcely had I approached
| them when they sprang up. One of them
| aimed a blow at my stomach. but il
! failed to reach me. I have no idea who
Le WAS. w Hdt happened TO MIN am
not prepared to say. Those things occur
| very quickly. I am quite satisfied, how
ever, that he does not feel as well today
as 1 do. You will note that am look
| ing first rate"
You don't know who were in the par
| ty of your assailants?' the attorney
| general was asked.
| Not positively. I understand that
Charles T. Schoen of Philadelphia ano
! one of the Cramps, also of Philadelphia
were in the party. but even of that
| am not all positive.
| What actuated them don't know
| newspaper of today said that it ha6
something to do with my attitude or
| the. trust question, but that seems to bt
! entirely unlikely. As they sat at the table
| in the restaurant they made no refer.
ence to the action which, as attorney
general, I had taken against certain so
called trusts. Their remarks were per
sonal to me and to my family and were
| of such a nature that / could do nothing
| but resent them.
"I understand that after I left tn,
restaurant at the conclusion of the diff
Guilty the walters suppressed the crowt
with some energy
! The attorney general evidently was no
| in the least injured by his assailants ant
as he chatted about the trouble did no
seem to regard 1t Very SeriOuSly