Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft
Subject(s): Alien labor, Alien labor, Chinese, Alien labor, West Indian, Canals, Interoceanic--Design and construction, Contracts--Government, Foreign workers, Foreign workers, Chinese, Foreign workers, West Indian, Panama--Panama Canal, Pepperman, W. Leon (Walter Leon), 1876-, Shonts, Theodore P. (Theodore Perry), 1856-1919, Stevens, John F. (John Frank), 1853-1943
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President Roosevelt has received the letters from both Secretary of War Taft and W. Leon Pepperman of the Office of Administration of Isthmian Canal Affairs regarding the use of Chinese labor for the construction of the canal. Roosevelt emphasizes that his primary belief is that the canal must be constructed, and that therefore that means getting whatever laborers necessary, limited only by “the law of the land and the requirements of morality.” Roosevelt believes this first contract for Chinese laborers does not need to be bid on, as it is only for a small number of laborers and is “in the nature of an experiment,” but if there need to be further contracts then such contracts should be advertised for bids.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-07-27
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
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 William H. Taft. [July 27, 1906]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o196178. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft. [27 Jul. 1906]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 12, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o196178.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1906, July 27]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o196178.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. 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. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 12, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
