Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-18

backed Pettisrew for certain stocks he told
him to buy. 80 the story goes, and I'm.
who knows a thing or two, told Pettigrew
to sell the stock when Il reached a certain
figure. The figure Was reached and Petit
grew sold. $4,000 better on than when he
bought. short time after he received
lacouic telegram from Mr.. Hin saying,
Don't buy any more stocks" And Frank
Pettigrew has remained out Of the market
ever since
other examples Of men who have quit
public life to ind in private business re-
compense for their abilities are found in
Frank vanderlip, Leslie NJ. Shaw, r. b.
Armstrong and Milton e. Allies. all con-
nected with the Treasury department. And
they are doing well on the outside.
Herkes' story of Harrison.
John w. Yerkes Of Kentucky, commits
sioner OF internal revenue. one OF the most
popular men in the Roosevelt adminlstra-
ton. popular for his excellent qualities OF
human spirit as well as his ability and In
tegrity as a public servant loves a story
with a point and he can relate II himself
with the color and favor Of llfe He has
just contributed something worth while to
the annals of two well known Americans.
He was in group talking about the big
fees paid lawyers OF proved ability nova
days and he narrated this
"A few years after Benjamin Harrison
quit the White House as his official domi-
cile, the noted widener- Egkins syndicate
bought up the traction lines OF his home
town, indianapolis. A local howl went up
over the deal and those opposed to It de-
termined to carry the quarrel into the
They set forth that the lines as sought to
be controlled by the syndicate had no
rights the people were bound to respect:
ergo, the franchises were worthless. II
this plea should not be upheld, It was then
to be insisted that the lines should be re-
CURED to charge not more than cents fare
Either proposition. sustained at that time
would have run the syndicate out Of busi-
ness in 1ndiapolis.
Thus confronted, the syndicate, whose
headquarters we're in Philadelphia, sent for
Philander Chase Knox afterward attorney
general and now United States senator
from Pennsylvania Knox was retained as
their attorney in the case. He went at
once to Indianapolis to investigate the stu
alton. When he returned he reported a
formidable general feeling against the syn
dictate and advised that no better thing
could be done than to retain Mr.. Harrison.
the former president to combat the opposi-
ton with his legal acumen and his political
prestige. 1t was agreed that as Mr. Knox
had been selected to manage the case he
would better do as he pleased about H.
so Mr. Harrison was taken into coun-
sell The case was fought to a finish in
the Indiana courts, and the syndicate won
a complete victory, After 1t was all over,
the late president went to Mr. Knox and
told him that under ordinary conditions
/ he would render his bill for professional
services to Mr.. Knox for his endorsement,
to be transmitted to the syndicate
HnrrisOn's Big Bill.
But in this case said Mr.. Harrison.
| I feel justified in a different course-not
/ through any disposition to be discount
/ eous to you, but to relieve you from pos
sible embarrassment This has been a
very important case. We have saved our
clients a great deal of money I am get
ting far along in years. and 1 propose TO
render bill commensurate with my serv-
ices and with the importance Of the case.
The bill will be large. wish to relieve you
| from any necessity of constraint of senti-
ment that you should endorse an account
which you might conscientiously regard as
| extortionate, and on the other hand l would
avert from you any embarrassment that
! in so doing you might humiliate me in
the event that the account was not al
lowed. Therefore, 1 ask your permission
to present the bill direct
''Such a course, Mr.. Knox replied, would
be to him perfectly satisfactory. Mr.. Knox
thought no more Of II for the time being.
Mr.. Harrison made out a bill for 49, 900 and
sent 1t to the Philadelphia syndicate
Promptly the syndicate responded with a
check for the amount Of the bill and cor
dial letter Of thanks for the efficient serv-
Ice rendered.
Some time thereafter MessTs. Knox and
Harrison met at Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
The former president Of the United States
mentioned the fact that he realized the bill
for $4,000 he had presented to the Phila-
delphia syndicate in the case in which they
were associate counsel was unusually large
but that 1t had been settled promptly and
! without a word of complaint.
why spoke Mr.. Knox, should they
complain? Ny bill was for 10000
thought yours would be not less There wa
no complaint Of mine."
p karat wedding rings. Bdholm. jeweler.