New Ulm review., 1908-02-26


on sale, decided to surprise him, as
the senator had to leave the city the
day before the auction came off, When
she began bidding on her choice edi-
t1ons, she found one persistent bidder
In the field. After running the prices
up to four or five times what they
should be she was reluctantly forced
to quit the field
"Who got those editions on which |
was bidding?" she asked the auctioneer
after the sale.
Senator knox," was the reply, and
he was surprised to see the lady almost
faint
It was true. Knox had his repre-
sentative at the sale, and Mrs. Knox
In bidding up prices had put him out
OF pocket several hundred dollars.
II never did like surprises" remark
ed the senator when he heard Of it.
Recipient of Big Fees.
Before becoming attorney general
Mr.. Knox was counsel for the Carnegie
company at Pittsburg. He scarcely
ever appeared in court, but earned
enormous fees as consulting attor-
ney. he was retained once in an In
dianapolis street car case and as he
did not wish to appear put his fee at
what he thought would be prohibitive
figure. 1t was paid without a word,
however. The associate counsel in the
case was ex-President Benjamin Har-
rison. Out of sense of courtesy Knox
offered to divide the fee, but Harrison
refused. After winning the case Knox
asked the former president what he
got. TWENTY-FIVE thousand dollars
said Harrison. with some pride what
did they give you?" "One hundred
and twenty-five thousand dollars" an
swered Knox.
At another time Mr.. Knox wished to
make trip to Egypt, but was asked to
take a certain case that would make
the trip impossible Again he placed
the fee at what he thought was a
prohibitive figure, but again his terms
were accepted. A friend who heard
knox's outburst when he found that
his outing to Egypt must be abandoned
said that it was the first time he had
ever heard lawyer swear over receiv-
Ing big fee.
Philander Chase Knox was born at
Brownsville, Pa, in 1853. His father
was warm personal friend of James
G. Blaine, who was also born in
Brownsville. Young Knox received a
college education. studied law and was
admitted to the bar at the age Of
twenty A year later he was made
assistant district attorney of western
Pennsylvania. He next formed the
we'll known firm Of Knox & Reed,
which probably had the largest cor
poration practice in Pittsburg.
One Of E<nox's school friends was
William Mckinley, and this fact doubt
less had much to do with making the
Pennsylvania attorney general in the
summer of 1901. Knox's three great
achievements in that Office were the
dissolution of the Northern Securities
merger, the enjoining of the beef trust
and the clearing up Of the legal title
and purchase Of the Panama canal
In 1904 he was appointed United States
senator to succeed the late Matthew S.
Quay and was afterward elected both
to the short and long terms
Fond of Golf and Driving.
Natty in dress and short in stature,
Senator Knox has boyish appearance,
which Is forgotten on closer acquaint-
ance. The impression he makes in
conversation is that of clean thinker
and man Of intellectual force. His
eyes are blue and almost cold. Knox's
neighbors at Valley Forge, the historic
spot at which he has a beautiful coun-
try home. accuse him of being an aris-
tocrat He certainly Is not effusive.
but Is quietly affable with those whom
he knows. His chief recreations are
golf and driving.
Mrs. Knox says she exists at Wash
ington and lives at Valley Forge. She
was Miss Smith Of Pittsburg and is
of quiet and refined tastes. She is
about the same height as her husband
and has the same youthful appear
ance. The Knoxes have the best pri-
vate library in Washington.
Friends of Senator Knox insist that
he is neither a radical nor a reaction
ary. With some Of the presidents poll
cies he is In full accord, having prac-
tically drafted the rate bill and other
administration measures. With others
of Mr.. Roosevelt's ideas he is in frank
and open disagreement.
One famous expression Of Attorney
General Knox is typical of the man.
It was after the winning of the North
ern Securities case. and to reassure the
frightened f1nanciers Knox crisply e1.
claimed:
The government does not propose to
run amuck."