Evening star., 1909-02-25
STORIES ABOUT KNOX
characteristics of the Next
Secretary of State.
HAS REMARKABLE MEMORY
Credited With Giving Up a $3.50, 900
Law Practice.
CONFLICTS WITH CONSTITUTION
Immortal Instrument Generally Gets
the Worst Of It When It's in a
Statesman's Way.
CONFLICTS WITH CONSTITUTION
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
| You will notice that when a states
man collides with the Constitution Of the
United States the Constitution always
gets the worst of it, or as Senator
Vest once said, the Constitution is often
the victim of circumstances.
This epigram was provoked by an Incl
dent which occurred in the Senate some
years ago. when Mr.. Vest was a member
of that distinguished body. He was one
OF the most vigorous and eloquent de-
tenders of the Constitution we have ever
had in Congress, and the remark quoted
was in explanation of a lapse from virtue.
When Thomas w. Palmer was elected
to the United States Senate from Michi-
gan he received the unanimous support
Of the prohibitionists of that state be-
cause Of his attitude on the temperance
question, but when he gave his first
reception to Washington society cham
pagne was more plentiful than water.
The Michigan prohibitionists we're greatly
surprised and grieved. and One of the
leaders OF that party game down to
When he questioned Senator Palmer he
was frankly told that wine had been
served at the reception and that it was
of the very best qualhy-eleven full cases
and part OF of tweth-and when the & good
shall I tell our people in Michigan?''
Senator Palmer answered: "Tell 'em that
another good Qlan has gone wrong
senat tor Vests Defense.
And that was the trouble with Vest
Senator Coke, who was also a stalwart
dnfo 4f off
an amendment to the agriculturaa ap-
ance Of $4,000 to be expended in Texas
under the direction Of the Secretary of
Agriculture in suppressing the foot and
mouth disease, which had broken out
among the cattle Of that state. Senator
Vest denounced such diversion of pub
lie money to local purposes as gross
violation of the spirit and letter of the
Constitution and an act of paternalism
that was repugnant to the teachings of
the fathers and an invasion Of the SOW
eretgn rights of the states. 1t required
Senator Vest more than an hour to ex-
plain the reasons why federal money
could not lawfully be used in curing a
cattle disease in Texas. and he was never
more serious or eloquent in his life. The
very frescoes of the Senate chamber Sob
bed with sympathetic emotion as he
warned his colleagues in the Senate of
because of such perversion of public
funds and such violation of the sanctity
of constitutional law
When Senator Vest resumed his seat
Mr.. Coke did not attempt to reply, but
explained In a practical manner the stu
alton in his state with regard to the foot
and mouth disease, and while he was
still talking page handed telegram
to Senator Vest
When the gentleman from Texas had
finished Senator Vest, to the astonishment
of everybody. moved to amend the para
graph by increasing the amount Of the
appropriation to $4,000 and applying it to
the state of Missouri as we'll as the state
of Texas. He explained that he had just
received a telegram from the Governor of
Missouri announcing that the foot and
mouth disease had broken out In that
state and that both houses of the legis-
lature had unanimously passed a Joint
resolution asking for an appropriation
from Congress to suppress it.
Senator Spooner arose and innocently
inquired what had become of the constitu-
tional prohibition which the senator from
Missouri had so eloquently pointed out a
few moments before.
"In this case, as In many Others" re-
torted Senator Vest, ''the Constitution is
victim of circumstances"
Big Fees as Lawyer.
Fortunately Senator Knox does not need
the $4,000 that has been cut off the salary
of the Secretary of State, or at least he
will be able to get along without 1t, be-