Bourne, Jonathan, 1855-1940

Senator Bourne is pleased that Theodore Roosevelt is interested in the organization of the National Progressive Republican League but regrets that Roosevelt will not be joining the movement. Bourne defends the league’s plans for implementing the initiative, referendum, and recall. There will be no effort to force the acceptance of these reforms and Bourne does not expect efforts for national acceptance for many years.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-11

Senator Bourne sends Theodore Roosevelt a constitution and declaration of principles compiled by him and several senators and congressmen who believe in advancing popular government. Copies have been sent to friends supportive of the principles with the request they sign it and return it to Bourne or Senator Robert M. La Follette. They hope to be organized in time for the convening of state legislatures in January. Bourne requests Roosevelt sign it and keep the matter confidential.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-27

Senator Bourne is glad Theodore Roosevelt met William Simon U’Ren and that he is reconsidering the initiative and referendum. He believes general welfare has to be the motive of popular government under the Oregon system.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-11-30

Senator Bourne corrects Theodore Roosevelt’s interpretation of Oregon’s elections. Instead of losing, Bourne beat his enemies “to a frazzle.” He discusses his fight against the Assembly, a revival of the convention system despite the Oregon Primary Law. His other primary objection in the election was the adoption of his initiative bill. Therefore, he achieved his two main goals during the campaign. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-11-26

Senator Bourne sends Theodore Roosevelt a box of Comice pears and provides instructions for proper storage. He encloses a clipping of his interview on the present political situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-11-13

Senator Bourne suggests Theodore Roosevelt speak on the initiative and referendum in his address in Peoria, Illinois. Both the Republican and Democratic parties endorsed these principles during their state conventions as a means of attaining governmental reforms and overthrowing political bosses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-10-12

Senator Bourne is sending an important letter to Theodore Roosevelt care of The Outlook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-10-12

Senator Bourne asks the Outlook whether Theodore Roosevelt or Lawrence F. Abbott will be in New York on August 9 or 10.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-08-04

Senator Bourne asks Theodore Roosevelt to return his article on the evolution of popular government because he does not wish to publish it at present.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-07-15

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-07-14

Creator(s)

Bourne, Jonathan, 1855-1940

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-07-13

Creator(s)

Bourne, Jonathan, 1855-1940

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-07-05

Creator(s)

Bourne, Jonathan, 1855-1940

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-06-23

Creator(s)

Bourne, Jonathan, 1855-1940

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-05-14

Creator(s)

Bourne, Jonathan, 1855-1940

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Even though Senator Bourne cannot send President Roosevelt an “olive branch” during these strenuous times, Bourne hopes Roosevelt and Edith will enjoy his gift of Ehman California olives and Elwood Cooper olive oil. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-30

Senator Bourne argues that President Roosevelt must run for another term as President, using excerpts of letters, newspaper clipping, and his own strong opinion on the matter to convince Roosevelt not to leave office at this critical point in history.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-07

Jonathan Bourne asks President Roosevelt if he thinks they should try to get Congress to pass a federal incorporation bill. Bourne is in favor of the idea, and asks Roosevelt who he thinks would be the best person to introduce the bill. He suggests that Roosevelt ask Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte to prepare a bill, which could then be moved through Congress. John D. Archbold will have D. T. Watson prepare a bill when he returns from Europe. Bourne has been working very hard, and is thinking about taking a vacation soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-06

Jonathan Bourne believes that a settlement of the Standard Oil matter will be made through the executives—President Roosevelt, Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte, and John D. Archbold—and not through the attorneys for the government and the company. Bourne agrees that working through him is inadvisable at this point, but he takes credit for having started negotiations and for convincing Archbold and others that Roosevelt would be fair to both labor and capital.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-07

Senator Bourne sends President Roosevelt a coded telegram on the status of the Republican National Convention. The translated message says that Bourne thinks that there is a great deal of bad blood at the convention, and says that if Taft is nominated, he will be defeated at the polls. He has been informed that Senator Henry Cabot Lodge has authorization from Roosevelt to state that Roosevelt will not accept the nomination under any circumstances, and will read a letter to that effect. There is still a chance that the convention will nominate Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-16

Washington State Representative Bourne asks President Roosevelt to make a favorable mention of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, to be held in Seattle in 1909, in his message to Congress when it opens in December. Due to the financial failure of the Jamestown Exhibition, Bourne anticipates it will be difficult to secure funding.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-31