The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

For a good many years now the de-
mand for Philander Chase Knox has
greatly exceeded the visible available sup
ply. M. Knox is five feet i've inches
in height and shares with Elihu Root
the distinction OF being our most highly
finished domestic product. The ineom-
ing. Ike the outgoing. Secretary OF State
has made a speciality of brains The
thing Mr. Knox does best is TO accom-
plish what he sets out to do. L has
become a habit The practice may be
confidently recommended 20 any young
man who desires to achieve fame and
fortune. says Edward q. Lowry in the
New York Post.
As perplexing as anything else in the
history Of 8Ir. Knoxs rise in the world is
the discovery that he has not adhered
rigidly TO the conventional copy book
maxims ard precepts for attaining sue
cess. He did not have the inesunIsble
advantage Of being born Of poor but
honest" parents He has overcome this
disadvantage Of his early youth James
Mcneil Whistler used 10 say, apropos
to his West Point days: IF silicon had
been q gas would have been a soldier"
If typesetting machines had been in
vented in the early '7gs, Philander Chase
Knox might have been q printer lie
learned the trade after he graduated
from college, but he was not tall enough
to set type at ease with ease With
the money he earned at the trade he
studied law Once he got started he
was never headed of.
Wanted at the White HOHse.
Mr. Knox and Mr. Taft have the dis
tincuon Of being the only two men now
living who have twice refused an asso-
ciate justiceship on the Supreme bench.
But Mr.. Knox is the only person in the
entire history OF the United States who
has ever been called away from a matinee
performance Of a musical comedy at a
theater 10 have such an honor thrust
upon him. On sunshiny November aft
ernoon. two years ago. Mr.. Knox re-
solved to do a thing he had not done in
many years-to go 20 a matinee at a
Washington playhouse In the middle OF
the second act an usher came tiptoeing
down the aisle with q whispered message
that Mr. Knox was wanted at the White
House at once. There was nothing 10 do
but obey the summons.
Outside the theater Mr. Knox learned
that President Roosevelt had teen trying
10 find him at the Capitol and at his
residence, and that the messages from
the White House were insistent and
urgent The Senator hastened across
Lafayette Square and into the Presidents
Office There Mr.. Roosevelt told him that
he wanted him TO accept the vacancy
caused by Justice Browns retirement
Mr. Knox declined. as Mr.. Taft had pre-
viously declined, leaving the way open
for Attorney General Moody 10 scale the
dizzy height
A Job He Is Spared.
It IS rather pity that Mr.. Knox is TO
leave the Capitol before the rooms in the
new Office building OF The Senate are.
assigned This win be the duty Of the
chairman OF the Se1eIe Committee on
Rules. post nov aeld by Mr. Knox
No problem that win confront him as
Secretary OF state wiz be more delicate
than would have been the distribution Of
Office space in the new building 10 the
satisfaction Of all the Senators. The
members o. tne upper clasaDer are as
jealous OF one another anG of their rights
and prerogatives as so many prima DON
mas. Had Mr.. Knox succeeded at that
task, on one would dare raise the Ques-
ton, Is be a diplomat7 The solver OF the
problem. whoever he may be, viii al cnce
take rank, IN Washington at least. with
Mettsrnich. Talleyrand. and Richelieu.
Nh Knox has TWO attributes Of gen
"a has 70 81
ity 10 get at the heart OF problem and