New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-01
". Fl. ROBERTSON HONORED.
rpIR1rrE TO HIS LONG SERVICES AT THE
WESTCHESTER BAR DINNER.
A PORTRAIT OF THE Ex-JUDGE TO HANG IN TIE
WHITE PLAINS COURTHOUSE UNVEILED
-cHAuNCEY Il DEPEw SPEAKS FOR


CHAUNCEY a. DEPEw SPEAKS FOR
THE GUEST or HONOR.
Ex-Judge William II. Robertson was honored last
night by his fellow members OF the WESTMINSTER
bar Besides being the principal guest at sec
ond annual dinner Of the Westcheser Bar Associa-
ton which was held at the Murray Hill Hotei'
recognition was made OF his long and faithful pub
lie serv ces in the by the unwilling OF an OIL
painting Of him. which Will hereafter hang IN 'he
White Plains Courthouse. An illustration Oh the
picture appeared In The Tribune some Gays ago
During his career ex-1udge Robertson has occu-
pied many influential places 50 Ions ago as l'"
he was elected as a Representative to the NL-'h
Congress and took an active part IN the recon-
s,ruct.on legislation regarding the southern STATS
in 1872 he began a term OF service !" INV '
Senate which continued without INTERRUPTION LOT
zen wears He was chairman of the committees on
Commerce and Navigation, Rules. Literature anu
judiciary In 1881 his nomination by President
Garfield for Collector OF the Port OF New-io'H
was bitterly opposed by the Senators from new
York State-one OF whom was Thomas C. fIau-
who demanded the withdrawal Of his nomination
by the President The contest resulted IN the resig-
nation Of the Senators and the confirmation OF OK
Judge Robertson Collector soon afterward.
According to the assertions made by Chauncey NJ
Depew last night at the dinner ex-Judge Robertson
was directly responsible for the nomination VI
Andrew Johnson for the VicePresidency In 1894
and OF Garfield tor the Presidency in 1880 The
nomination Of Johnson rested with the New-fork
delegation at the Baltimore Convention. and Judge
Robertson one Of the delegates. Mr. pepew ex-
planned carried through a campaign when endeo IN
the selection OF Johnson. And In the chicago Con
,,ention o, 1ss0 Mr.. Depew contended. II was
due entirely 10 Judge Robertson's reputation OF
the unit rule and It's defeat that led TO the nomi'a-
iion of Garfield.
Judge Robertson was present at last nights din
ner but II was apparent that he had not YET iu'y
recovered from the severe Illness which anreted
him some time ago. He was unable TO bear the
strain Of personally replying to the many KIND
things which his colleagues NJ the Westchester Bar
said Of him. Mr. Depew replied for him.
Theodore II Silkman. president OF the association
had seated with him at the head table IN addit'oh
10 ex-Judge Robertson and MT Depew' ha!a'u H.
Tyler Jesse johnson. r. G. Whitaker. James
Wood and Justices William W Goodrich. Wilmot NJ
Smith John Woodward. j. O. Dykman. Martin }.
Keogh, Augustus Van Wyck, G. j. Garrettson ana
w D. Dickey. The other tables were hlled ny
nearly two hundred members % the Westchester
Bar. and included many OF the most prominent men
in tire county.
The president in beginning the after-dinner
speaking referred first to the growth OF the as
ISOLATION. Though too young yet TO dictate 10 the
legislature 10 the laws it would be advlsape 10
PASS or to suggest TO the Judges CT the courts
new rules Of procedure, yet the members looked
forward with confident expectation to the near
time in the future when the Westchester associa-
ton would WELD much power as the New-lorK
State and city associations. Then he drew the at
fention Of the members TO the fact that they were
10 pay honor to ex-Judge Robertson. who was the
first president OF the association
The ceremony Of unwilling the painting and or
proposing health If the guest Of honor was as
signed TO James Wood of Mount Kisco. AT some
length he recounted the many offices OF pubic
trust which ex-JudCe Robertson had filed, and SAID
that his public career had been without paraIIel
He cited several Instances wherein enors mad
been made 10 buy Mr.. Robertson's influence by
people interested IN various bills by Offering MIN
large retaining fees legal adviser during MS
Craftsmanship OF the judiciary Committee. but
which Judge Robert son without hesitation refused
Amid prolonged cheering Mr. Wood let faH an
American flag which hung behind the presi-
dent disclosing view the portrait OF the eX,
Judge. The health &C the guest was crunk by all
standing with renewed cheering
Chauncty NJ Depew. in responding for cX-Judge
Robertson. made exceedingly forceful ana at
tractive speech At the outset ne spoke IN a hu-
Yrorous way Of the characteristics of the West
chester courts and bar and Of his own experiences
in the county when young man he began the
practice OF law Since that period he had been
tail he recounted to the extreme interest ot ms
hearers the important part which the ex-JudgH had
taken not only IN the history OF New York state
but that Of the Nation. -.
Justice Edward W Hatch and Justice Van WICK
10