New-York tribune., 1921-10-13

inent by Governor Pennypacker as
Matthew Quay. In the Senate his en-
perience as a corporation lawyer and as
Attorney General proved of incalcu-
liable value to that body and to the ma
tion in framing legislation dealing
with railroads and other corporations.
In 1905 he was elected by the Pennsyl-
vania Legislature o succeed himself
for another term, extending to 1911, of
which, however, he was destined to
serve only part.
Theodore Roosevelt, upon succeeding
to the Presidency at McKinley's death.
expressed much qualification at finding
in the Cabinet a man who took the
same views as himself of what were to
be some Of the most important policies
of his Administration, and who had
formed even clearer conceptions of
them and OF their execution than
he himself had been able to do. In
consequence there speedily grew up an
exceptional degree of intimacy and
confidence between the two men.
Mr. Knox had been corporation
lawyer and had m unsurpassed
knowledge Of corporation law; for
which reason he was eminently well
fitted to conduct the great Northern
Securities suit and the other corpora
tion cases which were prosecuted dur
ing that Administration. In that work
he complemented admirably his Presi-
dental chief, being as restrained and
deliberate as the other was impetuouS
and impassioned. and despite an ap-
parent bent toward Incidence he was
an indefatigibc worker md inexorable
in pressing home ever point that could
be made. There is a story that he kept
the secret of the impending Northern
Securities suit so we'll guarded that
the great Wall Street houses Interested
in it got their first information of 1t
from the announcement in the morning
papers that the Attorney General was
about 10 file the bill; and tNa one of
the foremost hnanciers Of Wall Street
called him up on the long distance
telephone to rcproach him for not hav-
ing given a friendly tip in advance,
only to have MIR. Knox reply in icy
tones that there IS no stock ticker III
the Department of Justice"
Mr.. Knox was married in 1880 20
Miss Lii ie Smith daughter Of Andrew
u. Smith, q steel manufacturer OF
PITTSBURGH, who bore him four chill
dren-- Rebekah Page Knox, Hugh Smith
KNNX, Reed Knox and Philander Chase
KnoN jr. He had fine home at Pitts
/
r'orgc, Pa, whore his son, Reed Knox,
has a large farm for horse breeding,
Driving fine horses was his favor te
diversion. He was n member OF the
Union League clubs CT New York and
Philadelphia, and of the Duquesne and
American clubs Of Pitts tsburgh. He re
ceivod the honorarv degree OF LII. d.
from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1905, Yale in 1907 and Villanova in
1903
Served Uncer Taft
William Howard Taft, in making up
his Cabinet in the early part Of 1909.
unhesitatingly selected Mr.. Knox TO
head its roll as Secretary of State, anc
at the beginning OF March Mr.. Knox
resigned his place in the Senate to ac-
cept that Office. Then a curious cir
cumstance appeared, in his technical
inehgibility to the place, During his
service as Senator thore had been en-
actad a bill increasing the salaries OF
Cabinet othce~s. and the Constitution
OF the United States forbade any m.n-
Der of either house of Congress to be
appointed, during the te m for which
he was elected, to any civil office un-
der the Federal government the emolu-
ments whereof had been increased
du ing that term. Congress promptly,
and with universal approval, took the
action which was necessary to enable
him to accept tie Office by reducing the
salary Of the Secretary Of State to its
former figure.
Mr.. Kno:; was born at Brownsville,
Fayotte County, Pennsylvania, on May
9, 1853, the son of David S. and Re
bekah (Page) Knox, his father being
prosperous banker OF that place, and
was named after the famous Bishop Of