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Hon-Philander Chase Knox

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Hon-Philander Chase Knox Hon- Philander Chase Knox 45 HON. PHILANDER CHASE KNOX. On Thursday, October 13, 1921, the people of this community, as well as those of Pennsylvania and the rest of the United States, were shocked to read in the morn- ing newspapers of the death the evening before, of United States Senator Philander Chase Knox. InPittsburgh Senator Knox's death was felt as a personal bereavement. Only the morning before the daily papers had told of his re- turn from a brief vacation in Europe, much refreshed in body and mind. The people were therefore entirely unpre- pared for his sudden demise. Senator Knox was unquestionably one of the most emi- nent men sent into public life from Pittsburgh; and the city has produced a number of able public men. Albert Gallatin, next to Alexander Hamilton, the greatest Secretary of the Treasury that the United States has ever had, was the representative in Congress from the dis- trict of which Allegheny County was part. Henry Baldwin made a remarkable contest for a protective tariff in Con- gress. Walter Forward was a member of Congress, and be- came Secretary of the Treasury under President Harrison. William Wilkins was a member of Congress, United States Senator, Minister to Russia and Secretary of War in Presi- dent Tyler's cabinet. Edwin M.Stanton had been President Buchanan's Attorney General and was Lincoln's great Secretary of War. Senator Knox was peer of them all. He was in a class with Albert Gallatin and Edwin M. Stanton. In some respects Senator Knox's career resembles that of Stanton, in that both men were Attorney Generals of the United States before entering upon their larger careers. Senator Knox stepped directly into the At- torney General's chair from the office of one of the most prominent law firms in Pennsylvania, in which he was the senior partner, and which he left at a great personal sacrifice. While Attorney General, both in the cabinet of President Mc- Kinley and in that of President Roosevelt, he conducted some of the most important litigation in which the United 46 tion- Philander Chase Knox States has ever engaged. As Secretary of State in Presi- dent Taft's cabinet he not only brought the South American countries into closer relationship with the United States, but also negotiated treaties with Great Britain and France which were for a better understanding between those coun- tries and the United States. But it is his work in the United States Senate which willmake the most lasting impression on the country. The United States was dazzled by the result of the war against Germany, and the Treaty of Versailles with its League of Nations attachment, as brought home by President Wilson, would have been easily ratified, and that without examina- tion, had itnot been for the decided stand of Senator Knox. He displayed unusual courage in going counter to public opinion; he made the fight of his life, awakened inter- est and aroused sentiment both in the Senate and among the people. At first the result was doubtful, then the public view changed, and after an arduous struggle the fight was won, and the country was saved from dangerous Euro- pean entanglements. May Pennsylvania ever have public servants as efficient and courageous as Senator Knox..
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