Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Simeon E. Baldwin
Subject(s): Alger, George W. (George William), 1872-1967, Judges, Labor laws and legislation, Letters, Progressivism (United States politics), Speeches, addresses, etc., Workers' compensation
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Theodore Roosevelt has not received Judge Baldwin’s letter, but has seen extracts from it in newspapers and wishes to answer some of Baldwin’s accusations. The quotations Baldwin references were from incorrect transcriptions of Roosevelt’s speech, which Roosevelt corrects by summarizing the main points of his speech. Roosevelt does not believe that people, driven by desperation, cannot be bound to contracts that do not protect them in case of injury. Referencing George W. Alger’s Moral Overstrain, Roosevelt notes that many judges have taken the opposite position and, while he is sure they are legally sound, he believes they are nevertheless retrogressive in this view. As Baldwin agrees with these other judges in his own legal decisions, Roosevelt felt justified in saying he was not progressive.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1910-10
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Baldwin, Simeon E. (Simeon Eben), 1840-1927
Language
English
Period
African Safari (March 1909-1910)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
3
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 Simeon E. Baldwin. [October 1, 1910]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o267062. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Simeon E. Baldwin. [1 Oct. 1910]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. November 26, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o267062.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.: , [1910, October 1]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Simeon E. Baldwin. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o267062.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. 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 Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. November 26, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
