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

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1900-11

Creator(s)

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

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Secretary of War Taft tells President Roosevelt that they may have been mistaken in removing T. H. Pardo de Tavera from a commission in the Philippines, and sends him several letters which suggest this. He suggests that it is worth discussing the matter with several people, and that they can still reverse course on the matter if necessary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-07

Secretary of War Taft forwards President Roosevelt a document that he received from Representative Richard Wayne Parker on the Panama Canal that Taft believes Roosevelt will be interested in.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-07

Secretary of War Taft reports that President Roosevelt has heard “severe criticism” of the Igorrote and “wild tribe” exhibit about the Philippines at the St. Louis World’s Fair. Roosevelt does not want to give the impression that the government is making “the savageness and barbarism of the wild tribes” prominent, and suggests that they wear more clothing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-22

President-Elect Taft tells President Roosevelt that he did not approve including money to buy two ships in the appropriation bill, and was surprised to find that provision in the bill. Taft approved the resolution passed by the Senate, which directed that everything being carried to Panama should be transported in American bottoms. The later form of the provision was passed during Taft’s absence, and he assumed that Congress intended to buy the two ships. Taft believes that Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s recollection of the matter may be better than his own.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-24

Secretary of War Taft thinks that it would be wise to wait until the report from the Army’s Board on Church Claims in the Philippines is completed before taking any further action.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-10

Secretary of War Taft returns the letter from Senator Eugene Hale.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-08

Secretary of War Taft encloses a letter from William Nelson Cromwell regarding the Chicago Chronicle article that President Roosevelt sent.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-01

Secretary of War Taft issues instructions on the salaries of the members of the Isthmian Canal Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-03

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a report from the engineering committee of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and will give it to the Associated Press for publication after Roosevelt reads it. Taft also sends a statement from General George W. Davis to be considered with the letter from Ambassador John Barrett.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-25

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a letter from Filipino students in Nashville, Tennessee. To prevent further “soul suffering,” Taft wants to send the students to the North but wishes to discuss the matter with Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-11

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt various papers in response to Roosevelt’s question regarding what actions the War Department has taken to develop a system of floating mines. He asks Roosevelt to return the items after he is finished with them for retention in the Department’s records.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-11

Secretary of War Taft will investigate the Japanese labor issues in Hawaii on his way to the Philippines during the summer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-11

Secretary of War Taft does not believe it is necessary nor desirable to appoint Father Edward J. Vattmann to assist William A. Sutherland in the matter of the Filipino students.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-11

While Secretary of War Taft finds nothing to criticize in President Roosevelt’s letter to Senator Shelby M. Cullom, he offers an editing suggestion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-11

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a letter from Percy G. McDonnell, a member of the Municipal Board at Manila and correspondent for the Sun, and who sent the important interview with Archbishop J. J. Harty. Taft hopes Roosevelt will find the time to read the letter, and then return it to him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-10

Secretary of War Taft thinks it unwise to build new ships for the Panama Canal Company. He lists several potential alternatives for President Roosevelt, including a new contract with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. While future action requires discussion, Taft is certain about terminating the current contract with Pacific Mail and not contracting the construction of any vessels.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-10

Secretary of War Taft returns several items related to Cuba to President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-10

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt a letter from Archbishop John Ireland and a confidential telegram from Governor General of the Philippines Luke E. Wright. Taft asks Roosevelt to return Ireland’s letter after he reads it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-04

William H. Taft more fully explains to President Roosevelt the issue of the Southern railways.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-26