The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-06-15
RAYMOND ROBINS IN BEREA

addresses of Raymond Robins in the
College Chapel cannot but feel that
they have listened to one Of the great
souls of the present generation. Per-
hans many do not know the life Of
hardship and adventure thru which
Mr.. Robins has come. The following
is a telegraphic account Of his won.
derful career.
He was a newsboy on the city
streets and cashboy in a department
store-farmer on a Florida planta-
ton and orange grove-deputy post
master and clerk in a general store
prospector and miner--clcrk in law
Office and student Of law-gold-miner
in the Klondyke and religious worker
In Alaska-civic worker in Chicago
Observation-Disclosures Of unem-
ployment and superintendent Of
Chicago Municipal Lodging House
member of Chicago Board Of Educa-
ton and Chicago Charter Conven-
tion-industrial expert and strike ar.
biter-social service expert for the
Men and Religion Forward Movement
"A founder Of the Progressive Party
and its candidate for the u. s. SEN
ate in Illinois-social service mis-
sions to Canadian provinces and
world tour with Fred B. Smith
chairman Illinois Progressive State
Committee-temporary and perma-
nent chairman Of the last Progress
sive National Convention-leader of
social evangelistic student campaign
in the colleges and universities of
North America-Lieut. Col. u. S. A.,
Commissioner commanding American
Red Cross Mission in Russia and
special UNOFFICIAL representative of
the American government for COM
munication with officials of Soviet
government in Russia, l9l7-1S-
member of the executive committee
Of the National Republican Commit
tee presidential campaign, 1920.
Such is the extraordinary record
of work and experience, in labor and
life, of this student and man of &C.
ton, who is now in Berea interpret
ing social conditions-moral ana
recommendations and international
and calling students and citizens
to larger life.
While Raymond Robins life has
been marked by many thrilling cpl
sodes, and he has delighted in the
stress of the firing line; neither the
Alaskan trail, the widest days in
Nome, the stirring political cleanup
of a Chicago river ward, nor indus
trial wars in the steel, garment and
hat industries can compare with his
battle to delay the Brest-Litovsk
peace and prevent the shipment OF
raw materials from Russia to Ger.
many in the first months of the Boil
shevick regime. Bitterly censored
as he has been in some quarters for
his early and repeated assurance of
the strength in Russia of the Soviet
Government, his view has been final
ly endorsed by Great Britain and its
historic vindication is well set forth
in an editorial in the Metropolitan
Magazine for October, 1920. In the
course of a comprehensive discussion
Of the Russian problem the editor
says.
For nearly two years anyone who
suggested that the BOlshevists could
last another three months was de-
nounced as being himself pro-Bolshe-
visit just as during the great war
anyone who attempted to appraise
the news without letting his sympa-
thies influence his judgment incurred
suspicion. Raymond Robins told the
exact truth about Russia. Not only
did he describe events exactly as they
happened in Russia, but he forstold
the future with considerable accur.
acy. For two years so-called intel
hgent people said Robins was a Boil
shevist, simply because he told the
truth. He said the Bolshevist theory
was economically unsound and NOR
ally crime. But he said, the
Soviet rules Russia today; it's the
only thing which takes the place of
the church and the Gear. The Soviet
is going to rule Russia for some
time to come. II anyone tries to
persuade you that there is any power
or force or belief in Russia at pres
ent that is not based on the Soviet,
don't believe him. Did our State
Department thank Robins for telling
the truth? Our State Department
tried to discredit Robins in every
way simply because he told the
truth. He had an embarrassing
habit of being right and of present.
ing perfectlv clean-cut nolicx