Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. Frank Watson and Herbert S. Huson
Subject(s): Armed Forces--Officers--Promotions, Root, Elihu, 1845-1937, Sharpe, Henry G. (Henry Granville), 1858-1947, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
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President Roosevelt warns J. Frank Watson and Herbert S. Huson against writing dispatches such as the one they wrote to him, offering political backing for Colonel Allison if he was promoted. Advancement of officers based on political considerations would lead to a decline in patriotism in the Army. Roosevelt assures them that General Henry G. Sharpe was the best man for the position, and was promoted solely on merit, rather than political consequence.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1905-10-16
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Watson, J. Frank (Joseph Franklin), 1849-1922; Huson, Herbert S. (Herbert Sherman), 1852-1927
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
2
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
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 Theodore Roosevelt to J. Frank Watson and Herbert S. Huson. [October 16, 1905]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o192936. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. Frank Watson and Herbert S. Huson. [16 Oct. 1905]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 16, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o192936.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1905, October 16]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. Frank Watson and Herbert S. Huson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o192936.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
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 Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 16, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
