Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 13.pdf/316

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Attorney General Knox.

283

court the law and the facts in a case in the he bestows upon the affairs of his clients. most convincing and effective manner. In Indeed Mr. Knox brings angling and the deed, his argument, only twenty-five minutes law into very close relationship, for books in delivery, in the Indianapolis traction rail and papers are often taken into the woods, ways cases has been cited as a model of what and many important legal problems have a legal argument should be. He has the legal been worked out beside a trout stream. Fishing, however, is not the only sport at instinct which enables him to grasp the es sential point in a case, to weigh the relative which Mr. Knox is adept. He is fond of sev importance of its various elements, and, with eral kinds of out-door exercise, and he is a a true sense of proportion, to see clearly the good walker and an expert golfer. But bearing of one part of a case upon another. driving is the sport which divides with fish In the case just referred to Mr. Knox was ing the first place in his affections. With associated with the late President Harrison. the same spirit of thoroughness in his recrea The case grew out of an attempt to annul an tion as in the work of his profession he has ordinance by which valuable rights and fran become, by careful study, an excellent judge chises had been granted the street railway "of a horse; and it may be an open question companies. It is said that, at first, Mr. Har whether Mr. Knox takes more satisfaction in rison favored a different line of defense from the successful outcome of some important that supported by Mr. Knox, and, for a time, case, than he derived some time ago from felt unwilling to adopt the suggestions of a driving a pair of his horses a mile in time younger man. Mr. Knox was so convincing, which broke, by two seconds, the world's however, in support of his view of the case pole record for gentlemen drivers. The generally accepted belief seems to be that Mr. Harrison yielded, and the. suit was argued, and won, on the lines urged by Mr. that four years ago the President had serious Knox. The strong friendship between these thought of offering the Attorney Generalship to Mr. Knox, but that the latters close re two great lawyers dated from that case. lations with the Pittsburg corporations, es In personal appearance Mr. Knox im presses one as a strong man physically and pecially in view of the bitter feeling roused mentally. He is of medium height, well-knit by the then recent Homestead strike, made and muscular in build. .His eyes are dark; the appointment seem inadvisable at that his forehead is high, and his brown hair is moment. It is said also, that at that time Mr. turning gray. His smooth face shows a Knox did not feel justified in putting aside his large practice. Fortunately both of these strong, resolute mouth, and the whole ex pression of the face stamps him as a man objections had lost, by this time, much of their weight,with the result that we have, as self-confident, self-controlled, with great re our new Attorney General, a thoroughly serve force, and of high intellectual powers. It will strike a responsive chord in the equipped and able lawyer, a tireless worker, hearts of many of his professional brethren to a man of perseverance and courage, and, withal, a gentleman who, by nature and by find that the new Attorney General is an en thusiastic fisherman, and to know that he training, is fitted to maintain the high stand brings to the pursuit of the gentle sport that ards and fulfill the arduous requirements of same alertness, skill and perseverance that his high office.