Evening star., 1909-01-25

[ Sdl. StCCCSSluI tISdllllClIl lIIS
cent stamps to pay cost OF m;
passengers and employees; obtained de-
ciSion from the Supreme Court prohibit
| ing the Interstate traffic in lottery tickets,
and another sustaining the constitution
alty Of the OleomaVgerine law: the pos
| tai frauds of 1904 were prosecuted and
| the offenders We're punished: the great
| land fraud cases in the northwest were
begun and vigorously pursued.
! Perhaps the most important accom-
plshment of Mr. knox's administration
of the Department of Justice and the one
entaiHng most beneficial effects was his
| victory in the Northern Securities case.
The Northern Securities Company was a
corporation with an authorized capital
of s40o. .ooo,o 900. organized for the purpose
of taking over the capital stock OF the
| Northern Pacific and Great Northern
railroads, two competing lines. and In
effect merging them. The promoters be-
Heved that by means Of this holding
company they could accomplish what the
law forbids. a combination Of two COM
peting interstate railroads in restraint
Of trade.
Knox caused suit to be filed for the
purpose of dissolving the merger. The
government won its case in the United
States circuit court. and under the old
order Of things the defendants could have
appealed and postponed final hearing
indefinitely, but Mr.. Knox had secured
| sixty days in which to take an appeal
to the United States Supreme Court, and
also providing tlfat in cases CT this char
acter. where the puolic interest il great
decision speedily reached. The case was
argued before the Supreme Court for the
government by Mr.. Knox personally, and
on March "A. 1904. the court handed
down !te opinion. sustaining the conten-
tions of the government in every partic
ular.
The Purchase OF the Panama canal by
payment Of $5000O.O0O in cash (s40O0O.-
600 to the French company and $f0,
900. 600 to the republic Of Panama. but it
also included delicate diplomatic compli-
cations. President Roosevelt placed in
the hands Of Attorney General Knox all
the business connected with the deal and
relied upon his judgment implicitly. Knox
went personally to Paris. examined all
the records and papers, informed himself
as TO the pending litigation there, and
then came home and reported to the
President that he had completed all ar
rangements for the transfer Of the prop
erty and the payments of the money In
accordance with his arrangements the
over without hitch Of any kind This
was done for less than $4,000 including
the travelling expenses OF the Attorney
General and his assistants to Paris. IT
the deal had been put through by a law
yer in private practice fee Of $500.OO0
would not have been considered unrea-
sOnable.
eXtradition Of Benjamin n. Greene and
John +. Gaynor, who were indicted and
afterward convicted at Savannah for
swindling the government out Of several
doll In, Art fN,,~
charges for river and harbor work in col
lusion with Capt Oberln Carter of the
United States Army. They fed to Can
ada. forfeiting their bail of $4,000 each,
and for several years resisted extradition
by every means known to the law. Their
case was carried up TO the privy council
OF England. Senator Knox fought
great legal duel with Sir Edward Clark.
the leader of the British bar. and was
victorious. He determined that these
criminals should not escape the penalties
they deserved. and they are now serving
terms in the penitentiary.
Mr.. Henry NJ. Hoyt, who has been So
licitor general for several years, says:
The asons for Senator knoX's success
at the bar are not far TO seek. He is
very alert minded, quick and keen in his
insight, but thorough and deliberate in
all his mental operations. He has a natu
Of the law. II is because OF these quail
ties that he is steadily developing now
before the country as a great constitu-
tional lawyer The same qualities al
ways stood him in good stead, and, Joined
with rare courage. physical and moral.
with great fertility OF resource and bold
ness Of execution. with sound common
sense and generous judgment Of others,
candor and companionability. 1t is not
strange that he extracted many clients
and made devoted friends among his
clients. He is very clear. brief and in
cisive as an advocate, and presents his
cases with an admirable conversational
method Of address,
Mr. Knox renamed in the cabinet Of
President Roosevelt until June so. 1904.
the United States Senate made vacant
by the death Of Senator Quay. and his
career there, although comparatively
brief. has been brilliant. Since the re-
tirement Of Senator Spooner he has been
recognized as the highest legal authority
In the chamber. His intellectual honesty
and his moral courage were illustrated
by his defense of Senator Smoot of Utah.
and his learning and grasp Of legal ques-
tions we're demonstrated during the dis
cussion on the rate bill
Twice has Senator Knox been honoted
by the offer of a seat on the supreme
bench, and twice has he declined it, be-
cause he preferred a more active life.
Last wear he was the candidate of Penn
sylyania for the presidential nomination,
and while he never had the slightest
chance Of Success his fitness for the Of
Ace was never disputed.