Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1900-11-26

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1900-06-21

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

Paul Morton forwards President Roosevelt a photographic proof from James Bryant Lindley in South Africa, and expects that it will kindle in Roosevelt the desire to go big game hunting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-18

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Paul Morton thinks that President Roosevelt’s Arbor Day proclamation was admirable and an excellent precedent. Morton inquires after Roosevelt since he has been under stress lately and assures him that “the principles and practices you contend for will prevail.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-15

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Paul Morton notes that things in New York are critical, and he urges President Roosevelt to send Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou to meet with leading financiers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-23

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

James Speyer will visit with President Roosevelt on the railroad question and agrees with him on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-12

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Paul Morton requests President Roosevelt to inform Congressman Ernest Mark Pollard that Morton will “straighten out” Frank E. Helvey and bring about better relations between Pollard and Helvey.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-02

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Paul Morton returns the page from Boston’s Evening Transcript with feedback. Morton believes the main reason that railroad service has deteriorated is because of the large volume of traffic they are forced to move. Morton also thinks that shippers are using railroads cars for storage instead of the transportation of goods. According to Morton, labor unions play a part in the inefficiency in the railroad service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-05

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Paul Morton, President of Equitable Life Insurance, does not want President Roosevelt’s position on the railroad to be misunderstood. Morton explains that railroad officials are being threatened by legislators who want their special privileges to continue. Morton clarifies that at the end of the letter he did mean the Harriman investigation, but Roosevelt knows the best course of action to pursue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-25

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Paul Morton expresses concern about the possibility of the Interstate Commerce Commission being negatively influenced by “public clamor” and carrying its investigation beyond legal limits. Morton argues what is needed now is not further exposure, but the opportunity for the business community to adjust to new business methods and practices. Otherwise, Morton fears that financiers will become so worried over the danger of their private affairs being exposed, that it will be difficult to finance the needs of the railroads, which will retard the growth of American commerce and the development of the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-21

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Paul Morton, President of Equitable Life Insurance, clarifies E. P. Ripley’s stance on President Theodore Roosevelt and the railroads. Morton points out the false information Roosevelt has received regarding the prosecution of the Standard Oil corporation. Railroads are seeing an increase in expenses and a decrease in net earnings. Morton hopes that Roosevelt approves of his letter to Ripley.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-04

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Paul Morton sends President Roosevelt a copy of his reply to E. P. Ripley. Morton thinks there are many people in the country who misunderstand Roosevelt’s position and believes that the oftener Roosevelt repeats it, and the clearer he makes it, the better it will be for everybody.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-03

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Paul Morton sends President Roosevelt an extract of a letter from Edward Payson Ripley, the President of the Atchison Railroad. Ripley believes that Roosevelt may have contributed to the country’s false idea of “the aims and methods of the railroads.” Ripley believes the “Socialistic tendency” will become more bitter when prosperity ends and hopes that Roosevelt can do something to “stop the clamor he has raised.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-31

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Paul Morton believes President Roosevelt’s position is that neither labor nor capital should dominate the White House, but both should be treated with “exact justice.” Morton assures E. P. Ripley that Roosevelt is not against anyone who happens to be rich, but he does believe that many large fortunes in the country have been achieved in unfair ways and that a rich man should not be able to dodge responsibilities or be given special privileges because of his wealth.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-31

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Now that he has retired as Secretary of the Navy, Paul Morton makes a statement concerning the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company and Colorado Fuel and Iron Company rebate case. Morton outlines the agreement between the parties and his own involvement in securing injunctions against the companies. Morton stresses his long history as a railroad man and his commitment to transparency and fairness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-05

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Secretary of the Navy Morton writes to President Roosevelt concerning the efforts to have the steamship Shawmut docked at Puget Sound Yard. Morton notes that he has consulted with Assistant Secretary of the Navy Charles Hial Darling regarding this docking situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-24

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Secretary of the Navy Morton returns a letter to William Loeb. The letter is from former Iowa Railroad Commissioner Frank T. Campbell, whom Morton describes as an impractical railroad official.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-22

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Secretary of the Navy Morton encloses a letter from one of the most prominent merchants of Chicago about the consolidation of Arizona and New Mexico into one state. Morton agrees with what the writer says and thinks it will be a big mistake.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-19

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Secretary of the Navy Morton returns an Interstate Commerce Commission report that reviews ownership of railroad cars.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-15

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Secretary of the Navy Morton forwards to President Roosevelt a telegram from Rear Admiral Caspar F. Goodrich. The captain of the Russian warship Lena has requested that the crew and officers be sent home and there has been difficulty in enforcing parole on the crew. Morton has responded to Goodrich to inform him it has been referred to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-17

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911