Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Edward Merriam
Subject(s): Barnes, William, 1866-1930, Beveridge, Albert J. (Albert Jeremiah), 1862-1927, Democratic Party (U.S.), Guggenheim, Simon, Illinois--Chicago, Income tax, Inheritance and transfer tax, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Penrose, Boies, 1860-1921, Perkins, George W. (George Walbridge), 1862-1920, Political campaigns, Political parties--Management, Progressive Party (1912), Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ), Van Valkenburg, Edwin A., 1865-1932
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Theodore Roosevelt thanks Charles Edward Merriam for his work in the campaign and responds to Merriam’s observations about the Progressive Party. While he agrees with Merriam on social and industrial justice programs, the Progressives need to make sure not to “overpaint things” and appear insincere. He thinks the process for making the Progressive Party permanent should be by working with the rank and file of parties rather than with party bosses. Finally, while he does not believe that George W. Perkins should be called the “official and technical spokesman, the philosopher and exponent of progressive principles,” Perkins’ organizing power is a key part of the Progressive Party and their campaign.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1912-11-23
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Merriam, Charles Edward, 1874-1953
Language
English
Period
Progressive Party Candidate (1911-1912)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
4
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 Charles Edward Merriam. [November 23, 1912]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o207215. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Edward Merriam. [23 Nov. 1912]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. July 31, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o207215.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1912, November 23]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Edward Merriam.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o207215.
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. July 31, 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.
