New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20

YOHk COLLECTOltSlP EPlSODE-HIS
WORK IN THE STATE SENATE
The friends. neighbors and constituents of ex-
Judge William II. Robertson have taken many
uncertainties to demonstrate their appreciation
a, the man who devoted so much time to their
interests Their last effort in that direction was
made last year when an oil painting Of the ex-
Judge was ordered. The committee which was
appointed 20 carry out the wishes Of the con-
rbutors TO the fund consisted of James Wood.
0, Bedford. Francis NJ. Carpenter Of Mount
Ksco; William L. Ward. OF Port Chester. and
Henry b. Archer and Theodore II. Silkman. Of
Yonkers.
The order for a three-quarter portrait was
oven by Surrogate Silkman to Bayard II. Tyler,
and the work has been completed and is now on
exhibition at the gallery Of William Macbeth. Of
No 81 Fifth-ave.. where it will remain until
April l.
The painting will be presented To Judge Rob
s-,son al the meeting # the WestChester Bar
Association. which will take place on the even
inc Of April 23. at the Murray Hill Hotel II
was the intention Of the artist To show his sub
ject as he looked when he occupied the place Of
chairman Of the judiciary Committee in the
state senate. Il which body he was a member
for nine terms. and those people who knew him
then say that the portrait is q decided success.
Judge Robertson was born in Bedford Octo-
Der 10 lS2:; and there is probably no man in
Wesichesier County who is better known than
be- He was only seventeen years old when
william Henry Harrison ran for President. but
he took an active part in the campaign. ana
from that time 20 the present ne has always
been a worker in the field Of politics. He went
to the Assembly first in leis. and began his
first term as 4 State Senator in lsh} His title
Judge came 10 him in 1850 when he was
chosen County Judge If Westchester. to which
place ne was reelected twice When the war
broke out h. vas Inspector If the old Seventh
Brigade Of the New-York State Militia. and in
1852 he was appointed by Governor Morgan as
chairman Of the committee to raise and or
game troops in the With Senate District
Prior to that he had been a member OF the Eiec-
toal College that elected Abraham Lincoln
President and Hannibal Hamlin Vice-Presi-
dent II the United States.
He was sent to Congress By his constituents
IN 1866 but in 1871 he returned to the state
Senate to which body he Was reelected in 1913.
lS1j 1877 and 1879.
He has been a conspicuous figure at all the
Republican National Conventions. and at one
Of these-in lSSO-t vas by his Efforts that the
unit rule was broken and James a Garheid
was nominated Although Judge Robertson
was well known in the councils Of the party and
his word and opinion were respected as much
in National affairs as In the matters pertaining
to Westminster. he became permanently con-
spicuous when he took sides against Roscoe
conkllng and his friends. and organized he
movement which prevented the nomination q
General Grant for a third term. Notwithstand-
he d.
that the New-York delegation should vote as
unit for General Grant. Judge Robertson pub
ished letter in which ne said that he would
vote on the first rollcan and on each subse-
Quent one for James G. Blaine.
Senator Conkling endeavored to get even"
with the Wes,chester delegate In March. 1881.
when President Garfield named the Judge as
Collector VI Customs Of the Port Of New York,
and. although the nomination vas Endorsed by
the State Senate. which passed resolutions
thanking the President for having made 1t.
Senator's COnkling and Plat opposed the con-
frmation On the ground that they had not been
consulted as 10 the nomination. and that Sena-
torial courtesy demanded that their wishes DE
considered in such matters Fice-PreSident
Arthur Thomas l.. James. who was at mat time
Postmaster General. and other prominent Re-
p0Ohcans Of the Conking faction endeayored
to prevent the confirmation and senator's Conk-
Ing and Plat finally resigned their seats in
Inc United states Senate because President
GARFIELD would not revoke his action. Judge
Robertson was confirmed, though he did not
give up his seat IN the state Senate at once, bat
Remained there while Conkling and Plat en-
ce@yored % De reelected to the places which
they had given up The fight for "vind.cation'
was one ~ the most noteworthy episodes in the
history u New-York politics. The state Of
NeW-Y-LE ~. u.r-L-r.--aul.d ~ Tho Senate and