Helen Ring Robinson: Colorado Senator and Suffragist

2. Path to Victory

10 O r i g i n s Artists’ Club, which may have been how they met.56 However, Denver in those days was a small enough town that they could have met in many social settings. When Ewing met Helen, he was probably still living with his daughter, Alcyon, and Nellie B. Graham, his first wife’s sister, in a house he owned at 2535 Vine Street.57 Alcyon, whose birthday was March 15, would have been almost six years old when Helen and Ewing were married in 1902. ThefloweryarticlesabouttheFebruary13,1902,weddingpraised Ewing: “Mr. Robinson is a lawyer, who has been in the practice of his profession in this city for some years where he has many admirers and friends,” though his role in Helen’s life remains somewhat of a mystery. The description of Helen was even more embellished: “Mrs. Robinson is a woman of splendid mental achievements, a deep thinker, a profound and thoughtful student, and a companion who cannot fail to prove an inspiration along intellectual lines to the man who was fortunate enough to gain her for his bride.”58 The marriage was consecrated by the Episcopalian Reverend Frederick W. Oakes, the director of Oakes Home for tubercular patients,59 in the home of Owen and Eva LeFevre, who were also the witnessesonthemarriagecertificate.OwenEdgarLeFevrewaselected district judge in 1894 with American Protective Association (APA) support. The APA was an anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic Republican group, according to Phil Goodstein and Robert Riegel.60 The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. Judson Ring, who apparently came west for the wedding.61 According to the newspaper, the couple “went to housekeeping” at 912 13th Avenue. By the following year, Helen had apparently persuaded her husband to become an Episcopalian, even though Ewing’s previous marriage had been presided over by a minister of Central Presbyterian Church. He was confirmed at the old St. John’s Cathedral on April 5, 1903.62 Ewing Robinson remains something of a mystery because Helen seldom mentions him in her writing and the newspapers do not report onhisactivities.Hehadtohavebeenafairlyprogressivemantoaccept, 11 O r i g i n s some years later, the idea of his wife becoming a legislator. Ewing’s daughter, Alcyon, whom Helen treated as her own, was referred to frequently in articles, and Helen dedicated her children’s version of Uncle Tom’s Cabin to her.63 Helen’s influence on her stepdaughter is clear in Alcyon’s career path. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in journalism. At some time she worked for her stepmother when Helen had an appointment from President Woodrow Wilson at the League of Nations. Their close relationship is also suggested by the fact that Helen went to stay with her in California during her final illness, and, when Helen died, she left most of her household goods to Alcyon.64 One of the few references to Ewing in the newspapers, other than his obituary, reported the unhappy news that ethics charges had been filed against him by the Colorado Bar Association.65 What a shock it must have been to the newlyweds just a year after their marriage to have Ewing accused of taking all of a client’s property and selling it. In his defense Robinson claimed he had to sell it to secure bonds for his client, Peter Johnston.66 The attorneys for the relator were Mr. N. C. Miller, attorney general, and Mr. George L. Hodges. For the respondent Robinson they were Mr. O. E. LeFevre, Mr. H. B. Babb, and Messrs. Morrison and DeSoto. The court did not find grounds for disbarment, though it did not entirely approve of Robinson’s actions. This is a summary of the findings in regard to Johnston and two other clients: 1. The fact that an attorney owes balance of account when disputed is not grounds for disbarment. (This refers to a different client, Mrs. Buffington.) 2. Failing to return an abstract of title is not grounds when evidence suggests all her papers were returned. (Mrs. Buffington.) 3. Raising the amount of a note must be clearly proven. (Client, Mr. Ames.) 4. A misstatement to a client is not grounds if the attorney is not defrauding or deceiving. (Mr. Ames.) 12 O r i g i n s 5. Assisting a client to avoid attachment is all right if it is reasonable to assume the client innocent...