The Detroit times., 1909-12-31
KNOX LAUGHS At
CARNEGIE FLIGHT
Secretary Of State Recalls When
Ironmaster Was Chased Out
Of ONCE By Prick.

PIrTSBuRG. Dec. 3i.-Ten years
ago Philander G. Knox. smoking his
after-dlnner cigar and apparently
thinking deeply. suddenly laughed
aloud. The echo OF that laugh has
gone into at least every portion OF the
earth where iron and steel are made
OF used. Asked at the time the cause
OF his mIrth. the now secretary OF
state said:
Il was thinking OF the speed with
which Mr.. Carnegie got out OF the
room Of Mr.. Frick and specializing on
what might have happened II he had
nor found the door promptly"
II was this laugh which marked the
retirement from active business OF An.
drew Carnegie with only paltry
$3.50 900 900 between himself and the
poorhouse. Some one told Mr.. Car
negie that Mr. Knox had "giggled"
when he recalled the flight OF the steel
king from the enraged H. c. Frick
some days before. and from that mo-
ment Mr.. Carnegie began mating Mr..
Knox.
And Il was a recollection OF this
laugh which evidently rose before Mr..
Washington when he took occasion 10
score Mr.. Knox indirectly at dinner
by lauding his predecessor within
hearing OF Knox. and II Us likely tnst
II was the memory OF what Carnegie
had tried 10 do TO his friends ten
years before in Pittsburg that barbed
the tongue OF Knox as he made reply
20 Carnegie In words that burned.
Mr. Carnegie will never forget or
forgive the part he claims Knox had
in helping II. c. Frick force break
ing OF the world-famed ''ironclad
agreement" which Carnegie had with
his partners. and through which he
evidently intended 10 gain individual
control OF the iron and steel business
OF the country.
What Ne 4. Said To Have Planned.
Mr.. Carnegie had carefully laid his
mine. TO be exploded under the bust
ness feet OF Frick. 10 lift him out or
the Carnegie Steel company. limited,
into the hard, cold world. A meeting
Of the board OF directors OF the COM
pany was on. called by Mr.. Carnegie
for the special purpose OF ousting
Prick. whom he had already forced
from the craftsmanship. Mr.. Carnegie
asked the board TO wait few minutes
while he would step into the ofiices
Of Mr.. Frick and demand OF him a
surrender OF his holdings In the Car
merle company. under the "ironclad
agreement" Just what happened In
side the private once OF Mr. FLICK
when Andrew Carnegie entered and
told Frick his life's work was worth
only $4,000. 900 TO the Carnegie Steel
company, limited, that he must take
that amount and get out or take moth
ing will never be know in detail
Neither of the men Is likely to tell.
The outside Office force Of the Fricl
establishment saw M. Carnegie rust
from the doors OF Mr.. Tricks private
dem. with Mr.. Frick few steps be
hind and evidently reaching Tor th'
Laird OF Skibo at every jump. Car
negie won the race to the door ane
out and down the long hall and reach
ed the board room white as snee'
and painting from his fight.
Later the other directors smiled
quietly when they read Mr.. Carnegie
afidavit regarding a suit filed by FricR
that he found Mr. Frick to be man
OF "ungovernable temper"
Supposed Preference Of Knox.
Mr.. Knox. who knew all the inside
workings OF the Carnegie Steel com
pany. limited. is credited here with
having given Frick much more credit
than Carnegie when considering the
success OF the big Carnegie Steel com
! pany. limited. Nor In this was he
alone in Pittsburg. That II. {. Frick
was the principal asset OF Andrew
Carnegie is yet considered as true by