Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Amasa Pierce Thornton
Subject(s): Canada, Child labor--Law and legislation--U.S. states, East Asia, Europe, Judicial review--U.S. states, Logic, New York (State). Court of Appeals, Political parties--Platforms, Sweatshops--Prevention, Women employees, Workers' compensation--Law and legislation--U.S. states
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Theodore Roosevelt refutes Amasa Pierce Thornton’s statement that Roosevelt’s platform is “abandoning civilization” by explaining that all of his proposals for judicial review were made in favor of obtaining justice for the “plain people” of the United States. He writes that he would have gladly supported someone else who made a similar, practical proposal that would allow the people to review the decisions of the New York Court of Appeals regarding the Workman’s Compensation Act, the Bake Shop Case, the prevention of child labor or over-working of women, and the elimination of the sweatshop. Roosevelt ends his argument by stating that the U.S. is the only civilized country in the world where courts are able to review acts passed by the legislature and that Thornton should call Canada and countries in Europe and the Pacific uncivilized if he really believes Roosevelt is in the wrong.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1912-06-10
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Thornton, Amasa Pierce, 1854-1917
Language
English
Period
Progressive Party Candidate (1911-1912)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
1
Production Method
Record Type
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 Amasa Pierce Thornton. [June 10, 1912]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285407. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Amasa Pierce Thornton. [10 Jun. 1912]. Image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 1, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285407.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.: , [1912, June 10]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Amasa Pierce Thornton. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285407.
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. December 1, 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.
