Changes

From the outset, Robinson delivered well-crafted speeches and mastered the complicated rules and practices of the Senate. He arrived at the Senate early, left late, and studied legislation in his [[Washington, D.C.]], apartment. He championed the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act and the regulation of [[railroad]]s and other industries. He led the Senate to arm merchant ships and voted to declare war on [[Germany]]. He also led the unsuccessful effort in the Senate to ratify the failed [[Treaty of Versailles]] of 1919.<ref name=ency>{{cite web|url=http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=121 |title=Joseph Taylor Robinson (1872–1937) |publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref>

From the outset, Robinson delivered well-crafted speeches and mastered the complicated rules and practices of the Senate. He arrived at the Senate early, left late, and studied legislation in his [[Washington, D.C.]], apartment. He championed the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act and the regulation of [[railroad]]s and other industries. He led the Senate to arm merchant ships and voted to declare war on [[Germany]]. He also led the unsuccessful effort in the Senate to ratify the failed [[Treaty of Versailles]] of 1919.<ref name=ency>{{cite web|url=http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=121 |title=Joseph Taylor Robinson (1872–1937) |publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref>

Robinson gained influence in the Senate and later was the chairman of the 1920 Democratic National Convention. Robinson was re-elected to the Senate in 1918, 1924, 1930, and 1936.  In 1923, the Senate Democratic floor leader, Oscar Wilder Underwood (1862-1929) of [[Alabama]], resigned because of illness.<ref name=senate/>  Senior Democratic Senator Furnifold McLendel Simmons (1854-1940) of  [[North Carolina]] was expected to succeed Underwood but withdrew from consideration after Robinson challenged him.<ref name=opqiz /> By unanimous acclamation, Robinson became the Democratic leader, a position he would hold until his death in 1937.<ref name=senate/>

Robinson gained influence in the Senate and later was the chairman of the 1920 Democratic National Convention. Robinson was re-elected to the Senate in 1918, 1924, 1930, and 1936.  In 1923, the Senate Democratic floor leader, Oscar Wilder Underwood (1862-1929) of [[Alabama]], resigned because of illness.<ref name=senate/>  Senior Democratic Senator Furnifold McLendel Simmons (1854-1940) of  [[North Carolina]] was expected to succeed Underwood but withdrew from consideration after Robinson challenged him.<ref name=senate/> By unanimous acclamation, Robinson became the Democratic leader, a position he would hold until his death in 1937.<ref name=senate/>

As minority leader, Robinson took over the distribution of patronage appointments and reformed the committee assignment process, decreeing that no senator could chair or be the ranking member of more than one important committee. A Capitol Hill resident, he never strayed far from the Senate chamber but kept a constant watch over the proceedings in order to capitalize on any dissension within the Republican ranks.<ref name=senate/> Known as a "horse trader," he worked quietly to reach compromises with the three Republican presidents of the 1920s.<ref name=senate/>

As minority leader, Robinson took over the distribution of patronage appointments and reformed the committee assignment process, decreeing that no senator could chair or be the ranking member of more than one important committee. A Capitol Hill resident, he never strayed far from the Senate chamber but kept a constant watch over the proceedings in order to capitalize on any dissension within the Republican ranks.<ref name=senate/> Known as a "horse trader," he worked quietly to reach compromises with the three Republican presidents of the 1920s.<ref name=senate/>