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Newspaper article regarding the reappointment of Leander J. Bryan to the United States Marshals office by Judge Thomas Goode Jones, and its effect on the Republican Party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-08
Two Alabama patronage referees, Joseph O. Thompson and Charles H. Scott, want to replace Deputy Marshal Alfred B. Colquitt with a Republican. Judge Thomas Goode Jones argues against this action and declares that “no officer of his court should be removed because of his politics.” Thompson and Scott plan to see United States Marshal Leander J. Bryan on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-28
President Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington on a reviewing stand among other officials
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1906-01-12
President Roosevelt responds to Representative Williams’s claim that he does not understand the South. Although Roosevelt is “greatly puzzled” by some difficulties he has encountered in the South, he has tried to treat the Southern States fairly. Roosevelt believes there are no issues with what he has done in the South but how he has been misrepresented in the South. The president is fine if people disagree with his policies, but he does not like when the facts are misrepresented. He mentions statements made by Alabama Senator John Tyler Morgan and Williams himself that were incorrect. Roosevelt does not appreciate the application of base motives to the president of the United States, and believes if the people of the South have been misled, it is because Southern leaders have misled them. Roosevelt also does not appreciate white men in the South trying to get their vote to count more than those in the North, and believes African American men should be judged by the same tests as “ignorant, vicious and shiftless whites.” Roosevelt closes by saying that what the South “really needs” is for her leaders to tell the truth.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-05
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Honorable Oscar Richard Hundley for his telegram. Roosevelt is glad to hear that two delegates from Alabama will vote for him in Chicago and opines that if the National Committee gives a “square deal upon the contest,” he does not doubt the nomination.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-04
Theodore Roosevelt is forwarding a correspondence with Fred W. Bacho to Oscar K. Davis as there is some confusion with the situation in Alabama and some of the Roosevelt delegates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-29
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Fred W. Bacho for his letter and his work in Alabama on Roosevelt’s campaign. Roosevelt hopes Alabama Republicans will be able to send delegates to the Republican National Convention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-10
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Senator Dixon and encloses a telegram from Mr. Metcalf that requires immediate attention and a letter from Charles A. Whittle which may explain the situation in Alabama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-03-23
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates William H. Thomas for his appointment to the Alabama Supreme Court and suggests that they meet if he is ever in New York. Roosevelt wishes he played golf, but he does not.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-12
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Sumter Cogswell on his congressional campaign, but is sorry to hear that he did not win. He hopes Cogswell will come to the Progressive Party conference in Chicago, Illinois, on December 10.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-30
President Roosevelt informs Judge Chambers that the Judiciary Committee has ceased meeting, and that therefore he can make no appointments. He also shares that a request has come in regarding the Hundley case (presumably the potential reappointment of Oscar W. Hundley to the Northern District of Alabama court). However, Roosevelt can do nothing on this matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-27
President Roosevelt informs Belle Alston Webb Tyler that the information he has received has been strongly in favor of judge Oscar R. Hundley. Roosevelt has been over all the charges raised against him, and believes that Hundley is all right. He has sent in Hundley’s nomination to the Senate, and would need to see proof of genuine misconduct before he would withdraw it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-31
President Roosevelt writes Richard Watson Gilder a lengthy refutation of an article in the Evening Post in which William Garrott Brown misconstrues his actions in the Republican Party. Namely, Brown accuses Roosevelt of neglecting Republicans in the South and of doing a poor job of making nominations to local offices and positions. Roosevelt asserts that where the Republican party is not strong in the South, he has had to appoint Democrats who were quality men, rather than incapable men who are Republicans. Where he believes the party has a chance to compete with Democrats, he does all he can to support it. Roosevelt also writes that he did not use his influence on officers to get William H. Taft the nomination, but rather Taft was nominated because Roosevelt’s policies were popular, and Taft is the man who will continue those policies. Roosevelt believes that Brown is either ignorant or willfully ignorant of a number of facts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-16
President Roosevelt thanks Judge Lurton for the speech, and says he will ask Alabama Representative William Richardson about it in person. Roosevelt would like to speak with Lurton about the injunctive process in the railway cases the government is currently prosecuting. Roosevelt has told both Governor B. B. Comer of Arkansas and Governor George L. Sheldon of Nebraska that the injunctive process cannot be abolished, but Roosevelt would like to discuss the ways it is being used with Lurton.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-26
President Roosevelt is concerned about the injunction issued by Judge Thomas Goode Jones which forbids the enforcement of Alabama rate laws. He believes the federal government should decide any matter related to interstate commerce, and he wants to ensure that there is due process. Roosevelt asks Judge Judson C. Clements of the Interstate Commerce Commission to investigate the matter discretely and send him a full report on the merits of the case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-03
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Taft about conditions in the South regarding Taft’s nomination to be the presidential candidate for the Republican Party. One of Roosevelt’s informants told him that the constituents in Alabama will vote for Joseph Benson Foraker if Taft is approved. Roosevelt still believes that the southern states will be in favor of Taft. On another matter, Roosevelt reports that many people want him to nominate John K. Beach over Walter Chadwick Noyes for a circuit court judge position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-10
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
President Roosevelt asks Thomas G. Bush about Judge Oscar R. Hundley, who Roosevelt is considering for a judgeship appointment in Alabama. Roosevelt likes to appoint Republican politicians to judgeships when there is someone fit, and sees it as particularly important to do so in the primarily Democratic South.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-21
President Roosevelt reports that he had not heard any story about Senator Foraker’s argument. He did, however, hear it alleged by political leaders who supported Judge Adams for the position. Roosevelt paid these rumors no mind and is focusing instead on candidates in Ohio, Idaho, and Alabama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-28
President Roosevelt writes to Attorney General Bonaparte, agreeing with his conclusions. Roosevelt mentions that he has given recess appointments previously for federal judgeships. He felt that there was not enough time to give serious consideration to the positions in California, southern Ohio, Idaho and northern Alabama before Congress adjourned. He mentions potential candidates for several of the judgeships.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-03