The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-04-29
SENATOR KNOX IS
PEnaSlLV CHlls

WASHINGTON April 20 That
part Philander Chase Knox VIII play
lin$ the latest comedy drama .rrrihS e
Race for the White House, . is today
the sub ect Of much comment among
the solons of the national capital.
That Senator. Knox win receive { the
Endorsement Of the Pennsylvania
State Republican convention In Hars.
rtsburg to-day and will go to Chicago
with the entire strength of the
Quaker State delegation behind him
Is certainty. AS to whether this
will make him strong factor Is i
matter regarding which there is much
difference of opinion. Fellow; sen,.
tors there are who firmly believe TINT
Knox has at least an equal .opportun-
ity OF securing the nomination 81 for
which 80 many would, be candidates
are now striving 80 vigorously. 9th.
ers look upon Knox's candidacy some.
what in the' irht of Joke. declaring
has less chance OF receiving
the nomination than any other man
prominently mentioned and that he
could not possible be elected IL noml.
mated.
Senator Philander Chase Knox Is
still comparatively young man. He
Will celebrate his 55th birthday =
week from to-day. having been born
In Brownsville, Pa. on Muy 6. 1855.
He has been well described as n
small, bullet-headed. round faced
man. with long upper lip. straight
Jaw and heavy, square chin; dark blue
eyes. by turn twinkling or cold and
penetrating: a figure so short, com.
pact and symmetrical. SO faultlessly
clothed. so depper. as to seem boyish.J
passionfess mind absorbed in the
practical business of life. with slim.
pered domesticity. golf and trotting
horses as his recreation"
"a sawcd-on cherub." is still
briefer description supplied by Presi.
dent Roosevelt. Others have referred
to him as n-"Napoleon OF statecraft."
All agree that he is an able man.
Born in 1853. in tic quiet town OF
Brownsville. Fhyette county, Pa.
which has now some 1900 inhabit-
ants. his father. a respected rural.
banker. desired him to adopt his
own vocation. The boys bent. how.
ever. was to the law, and to the law
he went. He flrst attended the pub.
Tic school OF the village. He humor.
ously declines TO say nowadays Just
how many times he played hockey
or got sick upon "borrowed" green
apples. but X Is plausible tradition
OF the MononEnheln Valley that he
frequently fished In the river with
others of his age and that he some
tives even hunted pollywogs'' along
Dunlop's creek near Mlllers Mills.
Later he was not sent. like many
sons of well-to-do men of western
Pennsylvania. TO a famous Eastern
institution. hut to the modest Mount
Union College. at Alliance, O., fact
which had its Hateful effect upon the
current OF his life. There he was
study-mate OF William Mckinley.
whose mother was poor widow anil
who had himself served rs mulebov
on an Ohio canal. Mckinley and
Knox formed friendship which grew
IN intimacy with the years. and when
the former became President OF the
United States he induced the latter to
accept place in his Cabinet. Knox
was graduated at the age OF 10 and
was already resolved upon the career
of Law. 1t was with McKinley's ur.
gent approval that he entered the
law Office OF H. B. Swone. then the
United States District Attorney for
western Pennsylvania.
Three years later he was admitted
to the bar, and with rema rkable ra-
nidity he rose to distinction. His
success in pleading before 1uries was
almost UNMARRIED. His manner was
colloquial. direct and intimate. Hs
had the faculty OF making each Juror
feel that he alone was being address.
ed. thus gaining an ample sympa:
thetic reinforcement OF his areu.
ments. While still in his COS he be-
came District Attorney of Pittsburr.,
but soon relinquished the office for
private practice.
Mr.. knox's practice OF the Law
brought him a rich competence in
comparatively few years.
A month after Mr.. Mckinley was
inauEurated as President MT. Knox
entered Upon the duties OF Attorney
General OF the United States. After
the assassination of the President,
toward the end OF the year 1901, Mr..
Knox. as well as the other Cabine.
remained in Office at Mr..