Your TR Source
President Roosevelt “heartily” congratulates attorney Francis J. Heney and United States District Attorney of Oregon William C. Bristol.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-15
President Roosevelt sends Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock a letter from Attorney General William H. Moody regarding the accusations against US District Attorney for Wyoming Timothy F. Burke. He also details plans for aiding in Governor of Oklahoma Territory Frank C. Frantz’s case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-15
President Roosevelt sends Rear Admiral Thomas $100 for the legal suit concerning the exclusion of men from public places for wearing a uniform of the United States’ military. He feels strongly that the uniform is “a badge of honor,” whether worn by an enlisted man or an officer. First page includes handwritten note over the top, “Pages to 2 removed before commencement of this book.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-21
President Roosevelt informs Douglas Robinson that Senator Knox represents western Pennsylvania, and that William Robinson Blair must present his case through him. Roosevelt agrees with Robinson about William Jennings Bryan’s political error. He hopes Robinson can visit soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-13
President Roosevelt follows up with Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock on several cases, in particular that of Governor of Oklahoma Territory Frank C. Frantz.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-06
President Roosevelt tells Attorney General Moody that he does not like the effect that commuting sentences of the post office criminals will have, but if Moody believes that the services George E. Lorenz provided by turning state’s evidence warrant such a commutation, he will grant it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-22
President Roosevelt informs Attorney General Moody that he has extended the time of the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission to the beginning of 1907, by which time their work should be completed. He returns the letter from Senator Charles William Fulton, of Oregon, and suggests that it might be worthwhile to have United States District Attorney William C. Bristol come to Washington, D.C., to discuss the matter. Roosevelt believes that they should not hesitate to indict Fulton if the facts justify it, but that the matter should only be pursued if there is a reasonable chance of success. He feels it would be wise to discuss some facts of the matter with Bristol.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-07
President Roosevelt comments to Attorney General Moody on the state of several cases currently being prosecuted, potentially being brought to trial, or being appealed. He was disturbed by the judgement of Judge George C. Holt that Moody referred to, and feels that while it is inevitable that “even a good judge will go wrong in a percentage of cases,” this was an important case in which Holt missed the larger Governmental questions. Roosevelt would like to prosecute other cases without reference to the one Holt decided, and wishes to use the case as an example to argue for the right of appeal, so long as he can do so without offending Holt. He would be glad if there is reasonable ground to proceed against Standard Oil in antitrust suits, as several special counsels think there is.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-21
President Roosevelt thanks Harry B. Kirtland for calling his attention to the actions of Judge Reynolds R. Kinkade and Prosecutor Lyman W. Wachenheimer. Roosevelt feels that their action in prosecuting wealthy offenders is admirable, and confidentially asks Kirtland if there are any appointments coming up in Ohio, as he would like to give Kinkade a position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt tells Calvin Cobb that he appreciates what Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding is trying to do in trying to bring the murderers of ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg to justice. Roosevelt believes that the Western Federation of Miners has been conducting a reign of terror on many Rocky Mountain states, and recognizes the risk that Gooding is in in trying to prosecute them. While Charles S. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood deserve a fair trial, Roosevelt believes that their “black record of wrong-doing” should get them no sympathy. He hopes, however, that Gooding will act against both the Western Federation of Miners on the one hand and the corporations on the other, and not fall into the errors of former Colorado Governor James Hamilton Peabody.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-16
President Roosevelt tells Idaho Governor Gooding that he had not seen a particular editorial Gooding mentioned. However, he is not surprised that it gave the wrong impression, as he feels that “the editorial writers and the correspondents of Collier’s Weekly write with a reckless ignorance of their subjects.” He will gladly speak to Calvin Cobb, but he is not sure that he can have any effect on the reporting of the eastern press. Both the men accused of the murder of ex-governor of Idaho Frank Steunenberg and the nation as a whole deserve a fair trial and to know the facts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-21
President Roosevelt has received Attorney General Moody’s letter referring to prosecuting the Santa Fe Road under the Elkins law, and directs him to begin taking steps to do this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-21
President Roosevelt thinks that New York Attorney General Mayer should inform William Randolph Hearst that he is willing to begin a suit. Personally, Roosevelt thinks that Mayer should begin the suit whether Hearst wants it or not, although he does not know what the law is.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-16
President Roosevelt is not satisfied with the handling of the case against the people in Kansas who are being prosecuted for illegal fencing. A circular from the Department of the Interior prescribes giving sixty day notice to people who illegally put up fences, but Roosevelt believes that the current cases are being prosecuted without notice having been given. He directs Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock to provide answers to several questions, including whether notice was given, and why legal proceedings started if notice had not been given.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-26
President Roosevelt informs Attorney General Moody that he has sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock, and encloses a copy for Moody to review. He asks Moody to communicate with Kansas District Attorney Harry J. Bone and obtain a statement regarding the prosecution of some men Roosevelt referenced in his letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-26
President Roosevelt calls Attorney General Moody’s attention to the situation in Idaho relating to the trial of Charles H. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood. Roosevelt emphasizes that justice must be done, and the men must be judged related to the particular facts of the case of the assassination of ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg, regardless of the sort of labor agitation they were involved with elsewhere. Roosevelt also does not wish for there to be errors in their favor, however, and asks Moody to look into agitation on their behalf by labor unions, who are unwilling to consider the possible guilt of Moyer or Haywood. Roosevelt highlights some writings of Eugene V. Debs and Thomas W. Rowe which seem to amount “to an incitement to anarchy and chaos.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-26
President Roosevelt does not know anything about the case Pierre Wibaux mentioned, but has forwarded the letter to Attorney General William H. Moody.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-01
President Roosevelt regretfully informs Senator Lodge that Attorney General William H. Moody and Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw believe that the suit regarding “that Ross pulp wood matter” should not be discontinued, even though it is unlikely to be successful.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-09
A recent court ruling in the case against the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company proves that Attorney General Moody and President Roosevelt were correct not to proceed with charges against individual officers of the company. Although former Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton was vice president of the company, Roosevelt clarifies that this would not shield him from prosecution if his actions had been improper.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-15
President Roosevelt sends the United States Civil Service Commission an exchange of dispatches between himself and Senator Albert J. Beveridge. He chastises the commission for making a public announcement regarding “a matter which was on the eve of outlawry” when they were given to the Attorney General.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-01