Memorandum on the report of Hon. Alford W. Cooley, assistant attorney-general
Subject(s): Actions and defenses, Cooley, Alford Warriner, 1873-1913, Garfield, James Rudolph, 1865-1950, Governors, Hagerman, Herbert J. (Herbert James), 1871-1935, New Mexico, Public land records, Resignation from office, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
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A legal analysis of Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley’s report to President Roosevelt regarding the sale of public lands by New Mexico Governor Herbert J. Hagerman, leading to Roosevelt’s demand for Hagerman’s resignation. The author argues that Cooley’s report should not have been given as much weight in Roosevelt’s decision as it was for three reasons: the report was preliminary; the report was based on unspecified documents; Hagerman was unable to respond to said unspecified documents. The author says Cooley’s report reaches three conclusions regarding Hagerman’s actions: that the sale of more than one quarter of territorial lands to a single entity is illegal; that Hagerman presided over just such a sale; and that this action illegally usurped the power of the Territorial Commissioner of Lands. The author performs a detailed legal analysis of each point.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-06-18
Creator(s)
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
21
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:
Memorandum on the report of Hon. Alford W. Cooley, assistant attorney-general. [June 18, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o56280. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Unknown. Memorandum on the report of Hon. Alford W. Cooley, assistant attorney-general. [18 Jun. 1907]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o56280.
APA:
Unknown., [1907, June 18]. Memorandum on the report of Hon. Alford W. Cooley, assistant attorney-general.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o56280.
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. February 6, 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.
