Letter from Joseph L. Bristow to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Business and politics, Civil service reform, Dixon, Joseph M. (Joseph Moore), 1867-1934, Initiative, Right of, Judges--Election, Judges--Selection and appointment, Party affiliation, Patronage, Political, Political parties--Platforms, Progressivism (United States politics), Recall, Referendum, Sherman Act (United States), Third parties (United States politics)
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At the suggestion of Senator Dixon, Senator Bristow provides observations on trusts, the judiciary, and the civil service that he would like to see incorporated into the platform of Theodore Roosevelt’s new party. He suggests amending the Sherman Act and advocates for widespread adoption of the initiative, referendum, and recall. Bristow would like to reorganize the federal courts to make them more responsive to modern conditions and public opinion. He would like the civil service to be based on an elective system to remove patronage and free the president to focus more on general public welfare as opposed to appointments. Bristow concludes by suggesting that the party only be referred to as the “progressive party” as this is more positive then the new or third party.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1912-07-15
Creator(s)
Bristow, Joseph L. (Joseph Little), 1861-1944
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
Progressive Party Candidate (1911-1912)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
6
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 Joseph L. Bristow to Theodore Roosevelt. [July 15, 1912]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o87425. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Bristow, Joseph L. (Joseph Little), 1861-1944. Letter from Joseph L. Bristow to Theodore Roosevelt. [15 Jul. 1912]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o87425.
APA:
Bristow, Joseph L. (Joseph Little), 1861-1944., [1912, July 15]. Letter from Joseph L. Bristow to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o87425.
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. March 13, 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.
