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President Roosevelt follows up on several issues with Attorney General Bonaparte, including United States District Attorney Marsden C. Burch’s devotion to United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick, hiring Tracy C. Becker at the Department of Justice, the appointments of David J. Leahy and Ira A. Abbott, and the situation in Oklahoma.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on matters regarding United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick, the prosecution of the International Harvester Company, and affairs in Oklahoma. He is greatly concerned about reports of Secretary of State Elihu Root’s health. Territorial Governor of New Mexico George Curry intends to appoint David J. Leahy as assistant attorney general of the territory. Bonaparte feels obligated to inform Roosevelt of this appointment as Leahy is possibly “one of the persons about whom there has been complaint by the Interior Department.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
President Roosevelt describes to Mark Sullivan the considerations that have gone into his selections for federal judgeships. Roosevelt reviews his appointments in detail, noting that some were made at the request of the local organization and some against their wishes. The goal in each case was to appoint someone “of the high character, the good sense, the trained legal ability, and the necessary broad-mindedness of spirit…essential to a good judge.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-13
Herbert J. Hagerman refers to his letter of September 12, 1906, concerning the reapportionment of the Territory of New Mexico for legislative purposes. In this letter, he mentioned that the reapportionment had almost universal support and those counties who opposed it enjoyed a much greater share of representation in the Territorial Legislature. As Hagerman anticipated, Thomas Benton Catron initiated legal proceedings to test the legality of the reapportionment in an attempt to retain his share of representation. The case was heard before Honorable Ira A. Abbott, who sustained the legality of the new apportionment in every respect.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-18
A newspaper article providing the full judicial opinion of Justice of the Supreme Court of the Territory of New Mexico Ira A. Abbot. Abbott “sustains the action of Governor Herbert J. Hagerman in making a reapportionment of the territory for legislative representation.” Mayor of Santa Fe Thomas Benton Catron, plaintiff, opposed the reapportionment as it diminished his share of representation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-16