The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-09-09

The vigorous, OlLLeT, 0J year ONt campaigner against all that he be- lieved was wrong in the nations political and moral life, had re- ceived hundreds of threats against his life. He received some only a month ago. He laughed them off. Robins 35 years as coal miner, gold digger in the Klondyke, a writer, on the lecture platform where he was what the middle westerners called stem winding spell binder" had brought him into contact with hundreds of un- derworld characters.
 He feared none of them, his friends said.
 And because he feared none, and because he was known to his fellow crusaders as Hone WolE' who often followed the trail of what he believed to be corruption alone, some friends professed to believe he would show up un- harmed.
 Dr Fred B. Smith of the World Alliance for International Friend ship was one of these. Smith talked to Walter Newton, one of the presidents secretaries, and re- ported that MT Hoover was quite worried" s > f|
 pr Smith said Robins often dropped out of sight when he began an investigation he wanted kept secret. For that reason" he said at White Plains, "I think Mrs Robins may be a bit over anxious. Threats never feaze him. He is an old campaigner. l went around the world with him once and he got a threatening letter every few days. He just laughed at them.
 Five weeks ago he was here, going from Florida to Maine. He talked about some new threats in Florida where he has home and has been quite active in a local political campaign, but he laughed about those threats.
 "I think he probably has gone off to investigate some lead he has-but it does seem unusual that he would break an engage ment with the president" Mrs Robins. however, said that tho persistence of the threats had led the colonel lately to prepare for disposition of his property in case of death. Tt is something we nave to IdCe, ,SlIc Stllu llc lOiu The missing mans wife, herself Q prominent social worker, the former Margaret Dreier of Brook lyn, feared he was murdered. She cited threats he received because of his political activity near Brooksville, Fla, their home, and the scene of severaltrecent politi- cal or liquor killings. The colonel left their summer some at Southwest Harbor, Maine, she said, on August 30. He stayed with o. Levinson of Chicago at Kennebunk beach the night of August 31, then came to New York. He was here Saturday when he conferred with several friends. Among them were Dr Smith, H. Edward Dreier, his brother in law; Alexander Gumberg and Dr Daniel A. Polling, chairman of the allied | forces for prohibition.
 He told them he.expected to talk with MT Hoover about his own | plans for a speaking tour in Maine and New England. Robins checked out of his room at City club Saturday afternoon. | He left his baggage in the check
 
 leaving for few minutes, would return, then leave for Washing ton where the Dodge hotel would be his forwarding address. He walked out of the club, and never returned. Neither did he show up at the Dodge hotel.
 An investigation of Robins fail ure to keep his White House ap- pointment was kept secret at first. but yesterday it was learned by the | United Press that search was under way.
 Department of justice agents asked cooperation of the New York police in checking every known gangster hangout, and in checking hospitals and morgues. Acting Captain John Ayers. head of the missing persons bureau, said. "I can't talk about the case" Secret Service men and Robins brother in law visited him during the day.
 Police Commissioner Edward P Mulrooney sent out q confidential report on the disappearance. An all night check by 1000 detectives failed to produce a single clue.
 Robins probably was best known for his stand with Theodore Roose- welt as n bull mooser in tho 1912 campaign. and his militant advo. cacy of prohibition. He was head of the American Red Cross mission to Russia in 1917 and 1918 which brought him Into contact with Lenin. Trotzky Kerenssy and others. and inspired some sympathy for their purposes although he did not accept the bol. shevik philosophy.
 Gumberg. the friend with whom he conferred here Saturday, va Robins secretary in RuHsla.
 That Red Cross work aisf J brought Robins and President