Evening star., 1937-07-14
R0B|NSON'S DEATH
SHOCKS ARKANSAS
zone Of Brightest Boys
Ever Saw" His First Law
Partner Said.
Ry the Associated Press

Lile llltlc
nifty of Lonoke, "a miles east Of Little
Rock. where he was born and reared
recall the STRIPPING lawyer, just of
age. who moved juries in court room
debate in the same way he was to
sway the Senate and shape the coun-
trys and the Democratic party'S des-
tlnies 40 years later.
Eventually his powerful voice was
heard outside the community, and the
rise that followed was literally meteor
F. He became a State legislator at
~. United States Representative at
30. Governor and Senator at 40, Demo-
cratic vice presidential nominee at 56.
Natural Born Politician
He was one of the brightest boys l
ever saw when he came into my Office
to read law" the late Judge T. C.
Trimble of Lonoke, his first profess
kional associate, once commented. He
was ambitious and determined, and
nothing could keep him from being
successful. l think he was a natural
born politician"
More than tWoscore years in the
political arena gave Robinson unique
place in Arkansas public affairs. Nee
essarlly absent from the State most
of the time, he still dominated the
scene back home through sheer power
OF prestige
No professional glad -hander or
backslipper, Robinson again and
again won reelection by smashing
ma aiorities. rejecting public follow
ing which all lesser public figures in
this State recognized. Few cared to
make long g-term political plans with
out inquiring what Joe T.'s" attitude
would be.
Remembered First Names.
In his early transforming cam
paign days it was said of him that
he learned and remembered the first
names of more ArkanSans than any
other man of his day, and the early
court room forensics stood him in
good stead on the stump.
In later years. however, it was AL
ways as statesman, not 4 barn
stormer. that he came back to the
home folks to retain his Senate seat.
Reserve and dignity became his
forte and they sat we'll on his massive
frame and broad, square face. FIRE.
ouently lion in the Senate, he was
among his constituents consistently
quiet, gracious, thoughtful in speech
ano gesture. In crowd, cane in
hand. he moved slowly and with dig
nity nodding to acquaintances,
ho l.;
term last year, Robinson did not even
bother to make a formal campaien
although four candidates announced
against him in the primary and two
stayed on the ballot. When the BAL
1ots were counted, the senior Senator
from Arkansas had better than a
loo,o00-vote majority over the COM
bned opposition.
Wed LOnoke Girl.
He was married on December IS
1896. TO Miss Ewilda Gertrude Miller
OF Lonoke, who became-accordinp 10
her mother, Mrs. Jesse Miller-"as
good politician as Joe"
A keen student of government she
WAS an active participant in planning
and managing every campaign Of her
husband since the turn of the CEN
tury.
When Robinson came back home
In 1928 to receive formal notification
OF MS nomination for the vice presi-
oency. the Statewide demonstrations
were admittedly in honor of both.
Unremitting drive, tireless energy. a
genius for dominating conference
rooms were the instruments with
which Robinson carved out his place
Except for his unsuccessful campaign
with AL Smith in 1928, he never suf-
fered a defeat at the polls.
Liked to Fish and Golf.
Work came first with Joe T." but
he always found time to play. Fishing,
hunting, golf were his chief recrea-
tlons. in that order. For pure relaxa-
tlon he turned to detective stories. of
which he owned an impressive collec-
ton.
Down in the Southeast Arkansas
river bottoms, where manv boat
house dweller called him Joe" he
fTlnd his favorite sport. An expert
easter, he still-fshed on occasion
some times sitting for hours in an
open skiff without a nibble
In the seclusion of a woodland snot
among his cronies. the usually i'm
maculate senior Senator from Ar
kansas got down to his shirt sleeves
and a pair of baggy pants and
stretched out on creek bank for
nap
But in sport, as in politics, Robin
son played to win. His intimates say
be refused to come in from a day of
f1shing without respectable catch,
that be wouldn't abandon the hunt
until his bag showed a kill
Election Within l20 Days.
Gov. Carl E. Bailey, advised Of the
death OF Senator Robinson, said it
was "a tragic loss to the Nation, the
State and the party"
IT'S simply another Of those situa-
tions in which man literally gave his
life to his work." he added.
Under Arkansas law Gov. Bailey
must call = special election not less
than so nor more than 12O days hence
to I'LL the vacancy. Pending the elec-
ton. he might make temporary ap-
pointment
Recent political discussion based on
the theory that Senator Robinson
would be appointed to the Supreme
Court brought the name of Gov. Bailey
to the front as a possible senatorial
candidate. At ~ he is starting the
seventh month of his first term His
election came after one term as at
torney general