The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-12-16
LATE KNGx RELATED
JOKE" ON HIMSELF
Senator Told How He Was
Considered Too Pig
Headed


Washington. Dec. 10.--only few
hours before he was fatally stricken
the late Senator Philander Chase
Knox sat with the writer in front of
cheerful log fire In his comfy Of
flee at the capitol
He appeared tired, altho he de-
clared the visit he just paid to Eng
land had afforded him much needed
rest and relaxation. He had no pre-
monition OF the fate that awaited
him upon hts return 90 his residence.
He chatted intimately and infor-
mally, as was his wont with those he
knew and trusted, and he looked for
ward with undiguised anticipation to
the Washington conference, at which
II had been suggested he might be a
member Of the American delegation.
There was much that he said that
even his sudden taking off can not
remove the seal OF confidence from.
but there was one narrative he un-
folded which he later repeated to sew
erai OF his Republican colleagues as
tho he regarded II in the light OF
a good joke on himself, and which
he intimated he thought was too hui
morous TO keep to himself.
"While was In England" Senator
Knox told me, II made up my mind
that | would refuse all Invitations to
wine and dine. and that Mrs. Knox
and / should spend nearly all OF our
time motoring thru the beautiful
English countryside.
''But 1 made one exception TO the
rule l laid down. George Harvey. our
astute ambassador. wheedled me into
first dining and then into spending
two days with him. He told me that
Lloyd George and Lord Curzon we're
insistent that l dine with them, but
had adhered to my rule and declin-
ed their invitation. with the usual
thanks.
IL found that in England they re-
spect man for sticking up for AM
erica when he is an American, as1
some Of us stuck up for America in
the Versailles treaty fight.
well. Harvey told me. as we sat
talking over the possibilities OF the
disarmament conference ossibili-
ties told him frankly was distrust- !
lsl of-that Lloyd George and he had
discussed the makeup OF the Ameri-
can delegation"
Senator Knox laughed.
ut was really too funny for
words" he continued. at seems that
Lloyd George had heard from Wash
ington that / was not to be appoint
cd an American delegate to the con-
ference and that neither was Senator
Borah. He had heard about VINO
were 10 compose the American dele
CATION. and he told Harvey he had
reached the same conclusion that the
white House habitat Knox was
too pig-headed and Borah was TOO
mrch of a fanatic to suit either Pres
ident Harding or Downing street.
senator Knox laughed again.
ut wasn't news to me that the
White House considered me too pig
headed and regarded 1t as fur
Their compliment that the English
government should share the same
view. For by being 'pig-headed II
was OF curse. meant that l was not
pliable enough to be twisted into
altering what considered best for
my country to meet the viewpoint oil
Others"
Senator Knox told the story with
evident relish. Before he left the
capitol on that fatal day-for the
last time--he told 1t to several OF
his Republican colleagues, who nave
since told it to several Of theirs. II
..Poor Knox appreciated that sto- K
nv because he knew that we all knew y
that he was. indeed, too "pig-headed' II
10 agree TO anything savoring Of en-
tangling foreign alliances was the
comment of one of them.