The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-08-05
GIVES COMPETITORS SOME RAP:
Does Not Mlnee Words AZ Defiance
10 Flung at His Foes-Exposes FaL
aey Of the biggest Show on
Earth" Claim.

! brought laSLluS Idn1e anu fortune VC
the family name. Thus, three gener.
atoms OF circus experience has result
cd in an inbred genius for the bust
ness which is visible in the skillful
Management of this great exhibition.
A few years ago several of the big
shows of the country entered into q
combine, or trust, and sought to OBJ
tain control of the circus business
in America, with the object Of advanc-
ing the prices of admission, reducing
the size and expenses, dispensing
with the street parade, etc. Had they
entirely succeeded this most popular
of American entertainment would
have become an expensive luxury. Eff
forts were made to induce the John
Robinson shows to come into the COM
bine, but without avail The John
Robinson name was too well known to
be merged with an trust, and the Rob
insons were too proud of their eighty
odd years OF unsullied reputation, too
Independent in character and finan.
cial resources to submit to any die
tation from others.
After all efforts had failed, an un.
paralelled campaign of underhand OPP
position and vfllification was inau-
gurated by the trust with view If
forcing the show into the combine,
but all their efforts were met with
defiance, and to the John Robinson
grit and ability alone can be given the
credit for saving the peoples most
loved form of amusement from the
blight and domination of a greedy
trust.
In an interview, a reporter found
John G. Robinson, young man OF
great intelligence and force of char
acter, college graduate and the best
representative of the modern circus
manager Mr.. Robinson talked of the
the struggle was forced to go through
with the trust men, at the very outset
of his career as a manager, and Row
he had won, and he did not minco his
words as he flung defiance at his enc
mics. And it can safely be predicted
that he will hold his own. The John
Robinson shows will be the only big,
circus and menagerio in
the country for many years to come.
In speaking of the changes which |
have taken place in the circus bust
ness Mr.. Robinson said THE old
time show was rough affair, but it |
was suited to the times and was what |
the people wanted. In the old hey !
rube' days, circus day was a time for
rough house license, free for all fights
and general depravity. From this the
circus people received bad reputa-
ion notwithstanding the fact that the
lighting drunkenness and depravity
vas nearly all among the citizens, and
lot among the circus men. From this
hey have not even yet entirely recov-
red, and the older people still think
hat the circus man is social outcast.
The facts are, that in on other bust
less or profession, is there greater
obriety or general morality than
mong the circus people, outside I
he lower laboring attaches Compe- 4
emit labor is one of the greatest prob
ems that the circus proprietor has
> contend with, and almost
ny man that asks for job is set to
-ork, for he is always needed.
In speaking of his competitors Mr..
Johnson: Each of the trust SHOWS
lain to be the greatest show on
arth.' without mentioning the ana
hornism of these claims, / will only
all attention to the fact which can
sadily be verified by consulting the
abroad contracts and reports, that
le tonnage of my show is greater than
lat Of any show now travelling on :
merican rails This biggest show
n earth proposition, at the best, 1t
quality, not quantity, which counts
the pleasure and satisfaction that
affords for its patrons. One real
Ugh class act is worth more than
ozen cheap ones. My father and
rand father were known for their
ne Judgment in selecting and secur-
e the best in the profession, and
think that I have inherited a little
their keenness in this line. At any
tie personally investigate every
NV act Of an artist that comes into