The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-12
THE NEW CABINET.
Philander G.. Knox.

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the cabinet after five years in the
United States senate, to which he was
appointed in June, 1904, to fill the va
cancy caused by the death Of Matthew
NJ. Quay. Like most of his colleagues
in the new cabinet, Mr.. Knox is a
lawyer and first came into national
prominence as attorney general in Mr..
MeKinley's first cabinet, when he sue
cessfuIly prosecuted the Northern Sc
curities case. Mr.. Knox is Sc years
old, having been born in Brownsville,
Pa, May 6, 1853. After graduating
from Mount Union college at ALI
anee, O., he began the study Of law
in Pittsburg and three years later was
admitted to the bar in that c1ty.
: When Mr.. Knox was only "a years
of age he was appointed assistant
United States district attorney for
the Western district of Pennsylvania.
After short term in this office, how
ever, he resigned and entered private
practice with James 81. Reed, under
the firm name Of Knox & Reed. The
firm became counsel for many large
Interests and it is said that Mr.. Knox
has received some of the largest fees
ever paid in this country. During the
Homestead riots in 1892 he was eoun-
sci for the Carnegie Steel company
and directed the legal end Of that IA
mous labor disturbance. When in
1901 Mr.. Mckinley appointed him at
torney general, Mr.. Knox's participa-
6on in the Homestead affair caused
some opposition on the part Of labor
ORGANIZATIONS to his confirmation
As attorney general, Mr.. Knox not
only prosecuted to a successful issue
the government s suit against the
Northern Securities company, but
conducted the case against the So
called beef trust, with the result that
that combination was desolved by the
final decree of the United States su-
preme court. Mr.. Knox has been ere
dited also with having prepared and
carried through the Panama canal
purchase in 1903.It was shortly after
the conclusion Of the Panama pur-
chase that Mr.. Knox was appointed to
the United States senate by Gov.
Penngpacker to fill the vacancy caus-
ed by the death Of Senator Quay, and
afterwards he was elected. by the leg
islatune. for the full term expiring in
March, 1911.
It was at Mount Union college that
Mai. Mckinley first became acquaint-
ed with young Knox. Mr.. Mckinley
was at that time prosecuting attorney
of Stark county, and the acquaintance
begun when they were. both young fin
ally rIpened into the friendship of lat
er years, and eliminated in the Pen
nsylvanian's entry into the second
Mckinley cabinet. It has always been
understood that President Mckinley
sought to induce MIR. Knox to accept
the attorney generalship In his first
cabinet, out the offer was declined on
the plea of private interests. MIR.
Knox is entitled to twice write the de-
gree Of LII. D.. after his name, both
the University Of Pennsylvania and
Yale university having conferred that
honor upon him.
Richard A. Ballinger.
Four States may claim. proprle-
tary interest in Richard A. Belinger,
the new secretary Of the interior. He
is a native Of Iowa, having been bern
in Boonsboro in 1859; after practic-
ing law in Illinois for a while he re-
moved to Alabama, and in 1889 he be-
came a resident of Port Townsend in
Washington State: The next year ne
was appointed United States commits
sioner at Port Townsend and later
was elected Judge of tire superior
COURT of Jefferson county. Five years
ago Mr.. Ballinger was elected mayor
of Seattle, and when his term as may
or expired President Roosevelt ap-
pointed him commissioner Of the gen.
eral land Office.
As practitioner at the bar Mr..
Ballinger made a specially of the ad-
miralty and maritime law, and his
position as commissioner of the gen.
eral land office gave him wide know
edge of the land laws and other I'M
portant problems which will fall un-
der his jurisdiction as secretary oil
the interior.
Mr.. Ballinger's father studied law
in the Office Of Abraham Lincoln, and