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President Roosevelt explains to John Byrne that he does not want to ask anything of Congress that he knows it will not concede, and at this point in Congress and the public there is “literally not one particle of active interest” in financial legislation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-12
President Roosevelt accepts John Byrne’s proposal to come to Washington, D.C., to discuss the business aspects of the Panama Canal, but will wait until after his upcoming inauguration. Roosevelt has some candidates for the Isthmian Canal Commission for Byne to consider.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-18
President Roosevelt asks John Byrne if he accepts the Isthmian Canal commissionership.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-02
President Roosevelt tells Mayor Byrne that he will take up all the subjects and hopes something can be done, although he does not expect complete success in any of them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-15
President Roosevelt was pleased to receive John Byrne’s letter, and is glad that Byrne approves of his action. Regardless of whether he wins or loses the upcoming election, Roosevelt felt that he could not stay silent in light of the “infamous slanders” of Democratic candidate Alton B. Parker.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-07
Booker T. Washington is doing his best to educate blacks in the South and President Roosevelt believes his efforts are ideal for everyone. There are fanatics who are doing all they can to re-introduce slavery for blacks, which shows “extreme crookedness” of mind and morals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-17
President Roosevelt replies with interest to Major Byrne, explaining, in confidence, his position on race relations in the South. Roosevelt cites the Indianola post office affair, when African American postmistress Minnie M. Geddings Cox was driven out of town by a white mob, as an example of the “policy of retrogression” in the South. Roosevelt says, “On the one hand I wish by my action to avoid stirring up any bitterness; on the other hand, I must not act in a cowardly manner and make the apostles of lawlessness and of brutal disregard of the rights of the black man feel encouraged in their indignity. As always in life, I have to face conditions, not as I would like to have them, but as they actually are, and every course I take is beset with difficulties.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-14
President Roosevelt tells Major Byrne that tax revision cannot be undertaken by people who think that the tariff is unconstitutional “robbery.” He acknowledges a shared belief with Byrne that there are “grave inequalities” in the tariff, but he will not make promises he is unable to keep. Roosevelt cares too much about the “color problem” issue to make it a partisan battle, and holds up Democrats and ex-Confederates as examples to this end.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-31
President Roosevelt thanks Major Byrne for his letter of the 11th and believes he can get what he wants from the draft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-12
President Roosevelt explains to John Byrne his reluctance to say anything until the financial people can come to an agreement. Roosevelt believes Congress would act if the bankers and business men could “agree on any one scheme.” Roosevelt invites Byrne to see him in either Washington or Oyster Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-27
President Roosevelt invites John Byrne to lunch in order to discuss campaign matters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-17
President Roosevelt has decided not to appoint an unofficial committee to investigate the financial question. However, he has not abandoned hope of persuading Congress to take some action that will help secure an agreement at the beginning of the second session.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-29
President Roosevelt will go over John Byrne’s letter with Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw and then meet with Byrne to go over the matter at length.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-15
President Roosevelt is looking into potential financial legislation and would like John Byrne to write what should be done in his opinion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-24