Editors of the Outlook

President Roosevelt addresses the entire editorial board of The Outlook, as he is unsure which particular editor “had his mind all turned askew” by the writings of William J. Long. Roosevelt appreciates The Outlook’s coverage of topics such as the Brownsville Incident, race relations in San Francisco, and railroad rate legislation, but he takes strong exception to The Outlook describing his distaste for Long’s writing a “controversy.” Roosevelt condems Long’s writings and describes him as a “cheap imposter” who does not observe nature but fabricates nature stories that could not possibly happen. Roosevelt takes issue with The Oulook’s assertions about his comments on Long’s writing, and discusses in detail the “mechanical”—not “mathematical”—impossibility of a wolf killing a caribou with a single bite as Long describes. Roosevelt suggests several naturalists in New York the editors can consult in matters of “nature fakers,” and offers to go page by page through one of Long’s books with The Outlook special nature editor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-03

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-04-17

Creator(s)

Griffin, Julia Decker Pratt, 1887-1943

Recipient

Editors of the Outlook

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-23

Creator(s)

Stout, John B.

Recipient

Editors of the Outlook

J. M. Cole recently read an article in Everybody’s magazine arraigning Theodore Roosevelt for his attitude towards Mormons and polygamy, particularly during the investigation of Senator Reed Smoot. If the editors of The Outlook allow such articles to go unanswered, Cole says, he and others will stop reading Roosevelt’s reform articles in The Outlook. Cole is suspicious of Roosevelt’s links to Mormons, and wonders why he does not speak out against them more.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-06

Edward L. Morse is surprised The Outlook published his letter regarding the “‘race suicide question.'” He intended it as a request to present the other side of the argument, if possible. He now asks for a personal reply for any books on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-12

M. F. Emerson criticizes Theodore Roosevelt’s article “Race Decadence,” published in The Outlook, arguing that “morality” is not the only factor contributing to declining birth rates. Emerson addresses points of immigration, issues of living conditions, the increased economic independence of women, and differences in familial circumstances.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-11

Mary E. Drew critiques Theodore Roosevelt’s article “Race Decadence,” published in The Outlook. She argues that finances are a primary factor in deciding how many children a couple can raise, an aspect that his “being of old stock,” prevents him from recognizing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-10

Elva E. Miller responds to Theodore Roosevelt’s “Race Decadence” article in The Outlook by comparing it to Jack London’s “The Human Drift.” Both pieces attempt to forecast the “comparative population of the various countries” within the next century. Miller contends that such questions are purely academic. Instead of focusing on potential future issues related to decreased birth rates, Miller asserts that reducing the present infant death rate is of far greater consequence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-06

In response to a recent article (likely authored by Theodore Roosevelt), Edgar Campbell sends the editors of The Outlook an extract from The Ascent of Man discussing how most forms of natural life produce large amounts of offspring as compared to the low numbers produced by mammals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-06

W. M. West tells the editors of The Outlook that Theodore Roosevelt’s article “Christmas in Mid-Africa” renews his faith in Roosevelt’s character.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-04

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-06-15

Creator(s)

Churchill, Winston, 1871-1947

Recipient

Editors of the Outlook

Reverend Stuhlmüller enthusiastically greets the editors of The Outlook, wishes them a merry Christmas and happy New Year, and expresses his hope that Theodore Roosevelt returns home safely from Africa. He asks them to let him know when Roosevelt is back in the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-12-19