Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1911 — SNAPSHOTS AT ELEBRITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SNAPSHOTS AT ELEBRITIES

Martin A. Knapp, Head of the Commerce Court.

Martin A. Knapp, presiding justice of the new commerce court, is recognized as one of the highest authorities in this country on corporation and commercial law. The commerce court was created June 18, 1910, by act of congress and has jurisdiction in all cases relating to commerce, especially matters arising from the decisions promulgated by the interstate commerce commission. Judge Knapp is a native of New York state and a graduate of Wesleyan and of the law school of Syracuse university. He began the practice of his profession at Syracuse about forty years ago and for sevehil years was corporation counsel of that city. In 1891 President Harrison made him a member of the interstate commerce commission, and he was reappointed by Harrison’s successors. Since 1898 he has been chairman of that body.

Kammerstein's Sarcasm. Oscar Hammers:ein at the farewell dinner in New York that preceded bis departure for the operatic pastures of London made an amusing speech on music./ ■ Mr. Hammerstein in the course of this speech praised Richard Strauss, Leoncavallo, Puccini and Debussy. Then he mentioned with scorn a half dozen composers of comic opera. “Those fellows,” he said, “may be divided into two broad classes—first, j those who plagiarize from the street pianos and, second, those who write for them.” Uncle Sam’s Solicitor General. Frederick W. Lehmann of St. Louis, who succeeded the late Lloyd W. Bowers as solicitor general of the , United States, is regarded as .one of I the great lawyers of the middle west. Not that his fame .is confined to any l section, however, for Mr. Lehmann is well known to lawyers throughout the nation and has been honored by the j American Bar association by being elected president of that body. Solicitor General Lehmann is a native of Prussia and fifty-eight years old. He came to this country when a

child and was educated in the public schools oft Ohio and Indiana and in Tabor college, la., from which he was graduated in 1873. For some years Mr. Lehmann practiced law in Des Mpines, but In 1890 went to St. Louis as attorney for-the Wabash railroad Later he established a law firm there Mr. Lehmann was a government dele gate at the universal congress of lawyers and jurists in St. Louis in, 1904 and at the time of his appointment as solicitor general was chairman of the board of freeholders of St. , Louis. ; V . F ; N When Ochiltree Failed. i Senator Depew at a dinner in Washington said apropos of- Christmas cheer: ( - . “The famous Tom Ochiltree made a Christmas punch that was the wonder of New York and Washington. A diplomat once asked him for the punch’s recipe. He answered, with his droll smile: ■ " “ "The ingredients entering into this highly refreshing Christmas beverage are champagne, ice, cognac, lemon and aerated water. But in consequence of advancing years J always forget the aerated water.’

FREDERICK W LEHMANN.