He joined the Klondike gold rush in 1897, where he made some money, converted to Christianity, and became pastor for a Congregational church in Nome, Alaska.
[citation needed] In 1905 Robins married Margaret Dreier, an independently wealthy labor activist who was president of the Women's Trade Union League.
[2] In 1909, Robins attended a Labor Day parade in St. Louis, Missouri, after which he was interviewed by reporter and writer Marguerite Martyn.
'"[3] Robins served also as social service expert for the Men and Religion Forward Movement, in 1911–12, and made a world tour in its interests in 1913.
In 1914, he was candidate for United States Senator from Illinois for that party, and was temporary and permanent chairman of the Progressive National Convention in 1916.
Although not philosophically sympathetic with the outcome of the Russian Revolution of 1917, he felt it was popular, and counter-revolutionary efforts were counter productive.