The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-29

Joe has used that formula to keep himself in office during 37 years out of the 65 years which have elapsed since he saw the light of day in Lonoke, Arkansas. And judging by his harrel-like chest, his appetite and his eager ness to make 75 years the age limit for justices, Joe will live to use the formula many years more.
 To date he has used 1t to serve ten years in the House of Representatives, 25 years in the Senate, two years as a state. legislator and g. few weeks as governor.
 In addition to all this, Joe has been democratic floor leader IA years-longer than anyone else in the history of the senate; three times Permanent Chairman of the Democratic National Committee; an American delegate to the Lon- don Naval Conference; three times Permanent Chairman of Demo- cratic national conventions; and in 1928 was vice presidential can- didate on Al Smiths ill-fated ticket.
 Plenty of Precedent
 No wonder that one of his senatorial colleagues slyly re- marked:
 "Joe won't bring much legal eruditiOn or experience to the court, but he will certainly know all the political answers"
 The senator from Arkansas, however, will have plenty of prec- edent. Justice Van Devanter, whom he will succeed, spent years as republican leader of Wyoming and received his first judicial job as a reward for such services.
 Justice Sutherland also elevated himself to the highest bench by years of faithful and unbrilliant plodding as republican national committeeman from Utah, repub- licarl senator and ghost writer for Harding.
 Farm Boy
 Joe RobinSotl'S life story is that the farm boy who climbs the lad der to fame and fortune. He was the youngest of the children, the son of an upstate New Yorker who drifted to Arkansas and prac- tised medicine when he wasn't busy farming.
 The Robinson family was not poor, but Joe worked his way through college by part time teaching. While still in knee brooches he gained local fame as a boy orator, and at IS won a de- batting contest. By the time he put on his first long pants, Joe was knee deep in politics.
 Joe never went to law school. He read Blackstone in the law office of local judge who was a friend of the family, and hung out his shingle as soon as he reached the voting age.
 Criminal Lawyer
 Shortly thereafter Joe skyrock- eted into legal fame when seven negroes, accused of murder, had difficulty getting a lawyer Finai- ly they appealed to young Robin son, offering him $l00. He took the case and so successfully harangued the jury that, much to the astonishment of everyone in toWn-including the jury-the seven were acquitted. That was Jos'S start.
 Next year, being only P, he was elected to the Legislature, but got fed up after one term, and returned to his jury plead ing.
 One instance of the latter still is legal epic in Arkansas. Three prominent local feudists waylaid two other feudists and killed them. Joe defended the slay- CTS and so persuasively that they were acquitted on the ground that the shooting was "justifiable homicide" since pistols had been found in the pockets of the vic- tims.
 With his reputation as stump spieler, it was inevitable that Joe should run for Congress. In 1902 he did so at the age of 29, and won.
 Joe served 10 years in the House. He was no Whirlwind, but, as now, dependable. hard working and destined for bigger things. In 19le he started after them.
 He ran for governor, won easily, and few weeks later saw a chance to go to the senate. Sena- tor Jeff Davis, of Arkansas. died suddenly. Joe resigned from the governorship and had himself appointed to Davis seat.
 Majority Leader
 Joe has been an important fig