Letter from William H. Taft to Elihu Root

Subject(s): Smith, James Francis, 1859-1928, Stuntz, Homer C. (Homer Clyde), 1858-1924

William H. Taft defends the opium-farm system recommended by the Philippine Commission in response to an increase in opium smuggling due to high tariffs and increased opium use in the Philippines. Under the proposal, Filipinos would not be permitted to smoke opium, and Chinese in the Philippines would. Taft argues that the proposal will decrease opium usage and increase revenues. Taft suggests sending the study commission to Japan, Burma, Formosa, and Java to investigate various opium policies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-13

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Recipient

Root, Elihu, 1845-1937

Publication Date

2016-06-15

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)

Original Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Papers

Repository

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Page Count

5

Production Method

Typed

Record Type

Multi-image

Resource Type

Letter

Rights

These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.

Citation

Cite this Record

Chicago:

Letter from William H. Taft to Elihu Root. [July 13, 1903?]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o41275. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930. Letter from William H. Taft to Elihu Root. [13 Jul. 1903?]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o41275.

APA:

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930.: , [1903, July 13?]. Letter from William H. Taft to Elihu Root. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o41275.

Cite this Collection

Chicago:

Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.

APA:

Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.