Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

William Jennings Bryan returns President Roosevelt’s attention to a topic on which they had previously had a cursory discussion: civil service appointments. Bryan contrasts the bipartisan principle of civil service appointments with the non-partisan one because he feels that civil service employees are currently afraid to have political opinions, especially those contrary to the present administration. He suggests that the government should instead encourage political activity among civil servants as it does with all citizens. Bryan urges that this issue will become even more important as cities move toward municipal ownership and that it will be “absolutely necessary” in the event that railroads become publicly owned.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-04

Creator(s)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

William Jennings Bryan would be pleased to see a “meeting of the parliaments of the world in the United States.” He hopes that the ratification of the arbitration treaties now pending will lead to more treaties to cement the “bonds of peace.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-13

Creator(s)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

William Jennings Bryan has read Theodore Roosevelt’s editorial on the arbitration treaty and supports the idea of an investigatory commission. Bryan believes the treaty can be passed with such an amendment and offers to act as peacemaker between the two sides. Bryan also urges Roosevelt to publicly support the direct election of senators.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-04

Creator(s)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

William Jennings Bryan responds to President Roosevelt’s letter by defending Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell’s record as a politician, and by critiquing the past campaign contributions for Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Bryan compares the Democratic and Republican party platforms, the attitudes of trust leaders towards the presidential candidates, and the publicity and funding for the two opposing campaigns. Ethically, Bryan believes it is wrong for Roosevelt to use his position as president to influence the choosing of his successor instead of letting the candidate achieve success on merit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-26

Creator(s)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

William Jennings Bryan responds to President Roosevelt’s accusations against Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell and the Democratic party itself for connection with the trusts, in political support and in campaign donations. Bryan questions Roosevelt’s actions in letting a steel trust absorb a rival and refutes his statements on contributions during the 1896 campaign. Challenging Roosevelt’s opposition to the publication of campaign contributions before the election, Bryan argues that the voters have a right to know if William H. Taft has been supported by financiers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-29

Creator(s)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

William Jennings Bryan accepts President Roosevelt’s invitation to attend the conference on the conservation of natural resources. It is a cause he believes in and he thinks the conference will be a success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-16

Creator(s)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-03

Creator(s)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

Language

English

Period

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

In this article for Ladies’ Home Journal, William Jennings Bryan explains why he continues to give public lectures despite his governmental position as the Secretary of State.

Collection

America

Creation Date

1915-04

Creator(s)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

William Jennings Bryan thanks President Roosevelt for his letter to Leonard Wood and the courteous treatment Wood provided while Bryan was in Cuba.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-29

Creator(s)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925