The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-22

A. A. Robinson of Topeka, Builder
Koontz. general freight agent Of the
Santa Fe and told a story on him
he related the event Of Mr.. Koontz 6
name being posted in a town on the
harmony tour a few years ago, as 1.-The
worlds greatest speaker" Mr. Koontz
the famous ''tie story'-or the his
I tory of the first piece of railroad slang
ever used by E. L. Copeland.
Mr.. Koontz plead his case before
the banQueters in an OratOrical man.
ner and reviewed with intelligence
the Santa Fe today and the problems
of yesterday-Or the day of A. A.
Robinson. His talk was coated with
humor and pathos and he closed with:
'"rhe Santa Fee Of today is looked
after by the Irish, the Dutch and an
occasional d-Englishman.
Mr.. Koontz brought out the fact
that the late J. D. M. Hamilton had
been greatly interested in the plans OF
last nights banquet and paid a tribute
to the loyalty and the progressiveness
of the claims attorney who died re-
Gently.
A Gem by Howell Jones.
The gem Of the evenings contribu-
tions was furnished by Howell Jones
on the topic, THE Guest of Honor"
''Mr. Robinson has made his home
location the most attractive in the
city," he said. HE performs all
deeds of kindness and charity with
out ostentation. His hands and his
heart are always open to his friends.
He is man of zeal and application
and loyalty. He is active in his home
town. in the state and the west. His
skill and tact and recognized leader
ship is an inspiration to every one as
ISOLATED with him.
IathrOp on Law Associates.
Gardiner Lathrop of Chicago, gen.
eral solicitor, responded to the toast,
Mr.. Robinson and the Law Depart
ment" He brought out the wonder
full activity of A. A. Robinson. rail-
road builder, in building the line be-
tween Kansas City and Chicago. and
spoke of his loyalty to the Santa Fe
when he was president of the Mexican
Central in leaving his Office in Mex
leo City to settle the differences be-
tween the contractors and the engi-
neers.
He went through his career as an
engineer with less controversy In
court than any other man.
There are two big RS on the
Santa Fe-Robinson and Ripley-the
leaders of yesterday and today.
eff other roads in this country had
been managed like the Santa Fe-to
Nuke returns for the stockholders in
stead of Wall street-we would not
have had the regulations we have to-
day."
President Ripley's Word.
After the regular program had been
completed the crowd yelled for rip
lev" Ripley" and POSTMASTER Cope
+ land called upon the president for a
few words The Santa Fe head talked
only for few minutes. I'VE always
have looked upon Mr.. Robinson s
work as well and good" he said. I'VE
have had occasion many times to see
the wisdom with which it was laid
out Never a word or a suspicion or
breath of scandal has been heard
concerning his engineering feats with
the Santa Fe. When the road gave
I him money to spend it knew that
every dollar of it went into the prop
erty.
/ I'VE all only hope that when we
retire we carry with us the love and
respect that Mr.. Robinson COM
mands."
'He Trained NIe'-Prcsident Nudge
President Nudge of the Rock Island
was not backward in stating that II
was A. A. Robinson who had given
him his start in railway work.
| II was in the service of the Santa
years of that time with Mr.. Robinson
He is not only a builder of railroads
but a builder of men. AS a moulder
of character he surpasses all. If ]
have had any success in the railway
world l credit it to Mr.. Robinson"
Nixon on Robinson.
! w. c. Nixon of st. Louis receiver OF
the Frisco, stated that he had talked
with men who knew, men who were
! n MT with 1n,,
growth of the Santa Fee railway and
has done more to give the Santa Fe
and many of it's employees a start
than any other one man."
+, Robinson Visibly Affected.
+! Mr.. Robinson was called upon te
too heavy for any man after the
! avalanche of words that had been di-
rected at him during the evening.
After having been out of the Santa
Fee fold for 81 years, this reception
go to my heart" he said. IF the Off.
GERS of the Santa Fee today could heal
what 1 have heard about the present
management of the road. their ears
would tingle with pleasure and de-
light
4 Mr.. Robinson spoke brief1y-he wa:
visibly overcome with. the evening:
features. Finally. after look around
the room, a delay in his speech. hi
bowed his head and in a broken voice
said
4 This has been the greatest pleas
ure of my life."
y Funeral Notice.
i Members of Lincoln Post are request
ed to meet at the hall. Friday after
noon at l O'Clock to attend the funera