Evening star., 1936-06-12


~ tic path to national fame.
Az a young reporter, he won promi-
hence as a fighter of crime and Spe-
eial privilege.
As a. volunteer soldier in Cuba and
IN France, he demonstrated military
proficiency as warrior for right.
AS an outstanding publisher and
editor, he became q leading political
figure, waging spectacular battle
against the New Deal
Like a good soldier and unselflsh
citizen, he refused to join in the stop
Lsndon" movement-although he had
been prominently mentioned as a can
didste hinself-snd readily agreed TO
second place on the G. o. r. ticket.
Followed Bull Moose.
Landon and Knox have campaigned
under the same banner before. Both
holted the regular Republican ranks
in 1912 10 support their idol, Theo-
dore Roosevelt, in his Bull Moose
drive for the presidency. Both are
known as progressive crusaders.
His varied newspaper career carried
him from Michigan, to New Hamp-
shire, TO Massachusetts, and finally to
Illinois, where, as publisher of the
Chicago Daily News, he Skyrocketed
TO national prominence as a critic OF
the Roosevelt administration.
He has run for public Office but
once in the past. That was in 1924,
when he lost in a race for Governor
o. New Hampshire.
He is not without considerable po-
liTicsl experience, however In fact,
he has taken An active interest in
affairs of the Republican party
throughout his newspaper career.
During Theodore Roosevelts pro-
gressiVe campaign in 1912, he was
manager of the Bull Moose western
drive He returned to regular ranks
of the G. o. P thereafter and has
been an ardent supporter of Republi-
can policies ever since.
Shortened Name.
Born in Boston on January J. 1874,
Knox was given the name of William
Franklin by his parents, who had re-
Gently come to Boston from ST. Johns,
N. 3. AS boy he shortened his
name TO plain Frank and has signed
his name that way ever since.
While still young boy his parents
moved 10 Grand Rapids, Mich, where
his father had obtained employment
With a fTm manufacturing plumbing
equipment After graduating from
high school in Grand Rapids, young
Knox decided TO enter the world of
business as a salesman, but times were
hard and he gave up selling. He
enrolled at Alma College and worked
his way BY doing odd jobs about the
campus.
With the outbreak of the Spanish
American War and the spread OF war
fever throughout the land, Knox vol
unteered for service in Cuba.
Joining the Rough Riders as a pri-
vate in 1898, he was with Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelt in the charge up San
Juan Hill. The intense heat and poor
sanitation had their effect on his
health and, like many of his col
leagues, he fell a victim to fever and
dysentery He was invaded back TO
the United States not long before the
war ended.
Enlisted for World War.
When the Worlo War called men to
the coIors 20 years later, Knox, at 43,
deserted newspapers he was publish
ing in Manchester. N. H. and enlisted
In the 1st New Hampshire Infantry.
Because of his previous war expert
ence, he was assigned to an officers
training school and on graduation
was given commission as captain
with the 18th Division.
Going overseas with the 18th Di-
vision, Knox was promoted TO major
and assigned to the l53rd Artillery
with the division He remained on
active duty with that unit until Feb
ruary 10, 1919, when he was honor
ably discharged with the rank Of lieu
tenant colonel He later was COM
miSsioned in that rank with the 365th
Field Artillery Reserve, and still re-
tAinS this commission.
1t was upon his recovery from i'll
hess contracted during the Spanish
American War that Knox EMBARKED
on his journalistic career.
Landing job as reporter on the
Grand Rapids Telegram, Knox soon
gained acclaim of his superiors as
crusader against rackets, monopolies
in business and other evils He wrote
many stories exposing crime and po-
htical corruption in Grand Rapids
and throughout the State.
Shifts Scene Of Crusade.
Transferring his talents to the
esult Ste. Marie News, he launched
out anew with series of articles de-
mand1ng cleanup" of underworld
conditions prevailing there. AS CO.
proprietor of the News, he investigat-
ed graft and protection" in the op-
Grafton Of Wide-open saloons and
dives in that lumber and lake Sec
ton.
Detying underworld threats. Knox
st one time accepted a challenge of
saloon keeper to meet him "on the
corner at 10 O'Clock" and get his
""hesd knocked Off" Knox showed up
Mt the appointed time-but the chal-
lenger did not
On another occasion, Knox retail
ated with his fists when a bartender
attacked him, and knocked his as
sailant down the stairs.
A volley OF shots was fired through
the windows OF his Office during one
Of his early campaigns against vice
but Knox continued to expose con-
ditions as he found them.
He won the friendship of the lum-
beriacks and lake workers and their
wives by revealing system by which
these rough-and-ready workers were
enticed into gambling resorts and
swindled OF robbed of their wages.
Intrigued by Politics.
As his newspaper work progressed,
he deVelODed a. deem interest in DOli-