Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from Cecil Andrew Lyon to William H. Taft

Cecil Andrew Lyon, chairman of the Texas Republican Committee, wishes to know if Secretary of War Taft will be able to speak at the State Convention in El Paso on August 14. Lyon would appreciate Taft responding by telegram. He would also appreciate Taft not telling others of the invitation should he decline, as Lyon does not want hurt feelings from a second choice speaker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-12

Letter from L. V. McKesson to William H. Taft

L. V. McKesson thanks Secretary of War Taft for President Roosevelt’s review of his letter. McKesson discusses the political situation in Toledo, Ohio, and states a political appointment for his friend was not the true purpose of the letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-30

Telegram from Henry C. Ide to William H. Taft

U.S. Governor-General of the Philippines Ide writes to Secretary of War Taft regarding a religious case that involves the Philippine Commissioner of Commerce and Police Forbes, the Archbishop of Manila Harty, and Noble. Ide mentions that Noble faced charges and had to make a testimony due to his alleged actions against the Church. Harty, Noble, and others were questioned about the situation by Forbes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-13

Letter from Lebbeus R. Wilfley to William H. Taft

Attorney General for the Philippines Wilfley discusses two court cases. The first is related to the killing of two Filipino boys by a United States solider. The second case involves a Filipino man who was tried and executed for murder by military authorities. In addition to the court cases, Wilfley discusses court personnel and the conditions in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-15

Letter from Modesto Reyes to William H. Taft

Modesto Reyes writes to Secretary of War Taft about a tariff reduction on goods from the Philippines. Reyes goes on to discuss some of the difficulties facing agriculture and the market for Filipino goods; such as China including goods from the Philippines in their boycott of American goods and the hostility of the American market. Reyes hopes Taft has success in obtaining “justice for the Philippines in the question of the tariff.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-16

Letter from Theodore P. Shonts to William H. Taft

Chairman Shonts of the Isthmian Canal Commission sends Secretary of War Taft proposals for securing alternative sources of labor for the construction of the Panama Canal. He recommends Spanish or Chinese laborers, and outlines the costs for either group. He asks Taft for his input on the proposals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-16

Telegram from Beekman Winthrop to William H. Taft

Beekman Winthrop states he is returning to Washington, D.C., and asks William H. Taft to wait on appointing a successor for the United States District Judge of Puerto Rico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-21

Letter from Beekman Winthrop to William H. Taft

Beekman Winthrop is coming to Washington, D.C., to speak with Secretary of War Taft and President Theodore Roosevelt about the potential vacancy of the United States District Court Judge of Puerto Rico. Winthrop states the court has influence over the Puerto Rican lawyers and needs a younger judge to fill the role.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-21

Draft of a letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of War Taft to pass along his thanks to the United States Army on behalf of the nation. Roosevelt compliments the Army’s swift actions during the recent earthquakes and fires in San Francisco. He also states that the Army was instrumental in responding to the Mississippi River floods, the Galveston hurricane, and the crisis in Alaska, and that the best men compose its ranks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-28

Letter from Richard Wayne Parker to William H. Taft

Congressman Parker asks Secretary of War Taft to look at the enclosed. Parker showed the Panama report to Mack Parker, his cousin and an engineer with experience with building bridges and the tropics, and asked him for his views. Mack Parker’s views are expressed very strongly and Parker believes they are a valuable contribution to the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-01

Letter from James Allen to William H. Taft

James Allen writes to Secretary of War Taft about a letter written by James Alexander Scrymser, President of the Central and South American Cable Company. Allen reports to Taft the details of Scrymser’s letter including contracts for cableships and contracts for laying the cable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-02

Letter from Benito Legarda to William H. Taft

Benito Legarda writes to Secretary of War Taft in reference to the resignation of T. H. Pardo de Tavera from the Philippines commission. Legarda adds an afterword about his investments in a coconut oil company.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-02

Letter from James Allen to William H. Taft

James Allen writes to Secretary of War Taft to report on a letter from William Emlen Roosevelt which forwards correspondence from James Alexander Scrymser. The letter details expenses in relation to the laying of cable. The issue of military and government cable in competition with commercial cable is discussed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-03

Letter from Jeremiah J. Harty to William H. Taft

Archbishop Harty writes to Secretary of War Taft to inform him of the situation in the Philippines. It is implied that the United States Government should not continue to take over the charitable endeavors that the Catholic Church in Manila has traditionally undertaken. Harty specifically mentions the orphans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-05

Telegram from Beekman Winthrop to William H. Taft

Governor Winthrop writes to Secretary of War Taft, most likely in regards to the appropriations in Congress to purchase a wedding present for Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-09

Letter from Henry Clark Corbin to William H. Taft

Henry Clark Corbin, Commander of the Philippines Division, writes to Secretary of War Taft regarding the papal delegate and financial issues with the church in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-16

Memorandum from W. F. Waltz to William H. Taft

Major W. F. Waltz writes to Secretary of War William H. Taft regarding a report from John J. Pershing at the American Legation at Tokyo. The report discusses the Russo-Japanese War as well as sickness statistics of the army in Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-11

Letter from Henry Clark Corbin to William H. Taft

General Corbin writes to Secretary of War William H. Taft, regarding his preference to be appointed commander of the Atlantic Division. Corbin has been hesitant to ask because he does not want to inconvenience General James Franklin Wade. Corbin will accept any assignment where he may be most useful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-03

Telegram from Charles E. Magoon to William H. Taft

Charles Edward Magoon, Military Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, writes to Secretary of War Taft regarding budget and salary cuts for medical officers. Because of the present conditions in the isthmus, Magoon believes it to be unwise to reduce salaries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-05

Letter from Clarence Ransom Edwards to William H. Taft

Clarence Ransom Edwards writes to William H. Taft regarding a document Taft would want in his possession.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-05