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A. B. King tells Theodore Roosevelt that arbitration treaties are not the answer because individuals need higher morality in order for peace to last. The Church can provide the higher morality the world needs, but if the church could present it using science, such as French scientists do, there would be more success as bringing people back to the Church.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-12
Robert Underwood Johnson acknowledges receipt of Theodore Roosevelt’s note and is not sure why he dd not do it sooner. The book by Warrington Dawson has been given to the book department. Johnson is glad Roosevelt and has enjoyed his son, Owen Johnson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-13
Secretary of State Hay forwards a telegram from the Japanese ambassador, Kogoro Takahira. Prince Fushimi enjoyed his recent diplomatic visit to the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-19
Uncle Sam stands with a man from each branch of the armed forces wearing uniforms designed after the style of the British armed forces. Caption: G. V. Winter, the English military tailor, under contract with our War Department, says: “The Washington officials have given me a free hand. I hope to design something smart for the United States service.”
In the middle of a season of the most consequential package of legislation in a generation — addressing ills in the railroad business, the Beef Trust, food and drugs — many public scandals including major insurance malfeasance; continuing Muckraking articles in the press; important decisions about the Panama Canal; etc., during the dogs days of summer, 1906, Puck could be granted a cover cartoon of simple nonsense and fantasy.
A mob of labor union laborers charge up the steps of the U.S. Capitol. One man carries a flag that states “The (Labor) Union forever! The man who works when we won’t, is a traitor – Kill Him! Unions first, wives and children afterward. All men are equal and the man with brains must be kept down.” The man with the flag is fearfully pointing toward Columbia, who is standing defiant with a sword at her side, the “Declaration of Independence” in one hand, and the American Flag behind her. Caption: The Flag of Freedom will never be displaced by the Flag of Slavery.
Between 1886 and 1921, the United States experienced labor violence worse than any other time in its history, and more severe than in any other country during that period. In 1886 there were violents strikes and protests, and the founding the the Knights of Labor. Through the Haymarket Riot in Chicago that year (anarchists and union organizers, resulting in deaths of police and protesters), the Pullman and anthracite strikes, the rise of figures like Samuel Gompers and Big Bill Haywood, and Communist infiltration of unions in the years after World War I, there was much turmoil. The public’s early and earnest anxieties are reflected in Keppler’s cartoon, which made no attempt at nuance. It is reported that between 1902 (one of the high-water marks of labor violence) and 1904, there were at least 198 deaths and almost 2000 injuries from labor strife nationwide. The main industries that were struck included coal mines; various mining operations in Colorado; teamster crews, especially in San Francisco and Chicago; railroad and rail car manufacturing like the bloody Pullman strike; urban streetcar operations; and the textile and garment industries, as per the Patterson NJ silk workers’ strike. It is arguable that the violent history of this period has somewhat receded from history because the reform measures and pro-worker advocacies of Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement defused many of the complaints against conditions and the system.
George F. Hoar, Carl Schurz, David B. Hill, and former Massachusetts Governor George S. Boutwell place their “Anti-Expansion Speech” at the feet of a huge American soldier holding a rifle and the American flag, while opposite them Filipinos place guns and swords at the soldier’s feet. Caption: The American Filipinos and the Native Filipinos will have to submit.
Pughe’s cartoon is a diplomatic portrayal of a rather diplomatic cessation of hostilities and American military withdrawal from the Philippines, where insurrection had raged, with brutality on the “Filipino” and American sides almost from the moment of Spanish surrender in 1898. Senator George Frisbie Hoar (R-MA), the most prominent Congressional opponent of the “pacification” by American troops, had demanded investigation of American atrocities. In 1902 an American Marine was tried for the murder of 11 Filipinos; and an American general was convicted of ordering the death of all males over 10 years old on one of the Philippine islands (he was verbally reprimanded, returned to the United States, and discharged). On July 4, 1902, President Roosevelt ordered the full and complete pardon and amnesty to all Philippine citizens and rebels. This cartoon appeared between the surrender of the last rebel leader and the announcement of United States troop withdrawal.
Theodore Roosevelt does not think it wise to make statements about the United States government in foreign papers. Roosevelt refers Robert Sloss to his book America and the World War and a recent article in the Metropolitan Magazine for statements Roosevelt has previously made on the topic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-02
President Roosevelt thanks L. S. Rowe, United States delegate to the Third International Conference of American States, for the interesting letter. Roosevelt believes, “this is really the first great Pan-American Congress,” and thinks that good will come from it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-04
President Roosevelt thanks Reverend Joseph Fischer for the reproduction of the atlas in which the name of “America” first appears on the map and congratulates Fischer on his work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-19
Joseph Mandulay asks Theodore Roosevelt for help in securing employment in America for his brother.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-08
Ambassador Francis reports to President Roosevelt on the state of affairs in Austria and Hungary and the tensions between the Magyars and the German speaking Austrians. In Francis’s assessment, the Hungarians, or Magyars, are “impulsive, always restless and very patriotic” who would seek their independence from Austria immediately if they had enough popular support and sufficient funding.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-10
Arthur Hamilton Lee enjoyed reading what President Roosevelt enclosed. While not familiar with long-term battle practice, Lee would like to compare Britain’s methods with those described by William Sowden Sims. Lee has written to the Admiral for more information and hopes to hear back by the time he returns to Washington, D.C. to visit Roosevelt early next month. There were photographs of the HMS Deadnought in a recent issues of the Illustrated London News and can be now rated a complete success.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-19
Arthur Hamilton Lee writes to President Theodore Roosevelt taking him up on his promise to write a letter representing his views that Lee can bring to give to the British government, and especially, his opposition. Lee cannot recommend a form for the letter beyond what the two sketched out during their horse ride Friday, but lists for Roosevelt the points he sees as being most valuable. Among these are to mention that Lee employs Roosevelt’s confidence yet always holds British interests at the top. Lee will use these credentials only when necessary. He thanks Roosevelt for his help in the matter and is glad they rekindled their old friendship. Lee had not ridden a horse in years.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-14
Arthur Hamilton Lee tells President Roosevelt of his and his wife’s, Ruth Moore Lee, travel plans to visit New York and Washington, D.C., including the addresses at which he can be reached. Lee asks when it would be most convenient for them to meet and discuss “the matter” and says they are delighted to spend a couple of nights at the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-03
Senator Lodge encloses a letter from William E. Alger, consular agent in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, who happens to be Lodge’s cousin. Lodge thanks Roosevelt for sending him Frederick Scott Oliver’s biography on Alexander Hamilton and reviews the work and other Hamilton biographies, and expresses his opinion on early American politics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-20
Secretary of State Root responds to President Roosevelt’s inquiry whether a conversation between Argentine Minister Martín García Mérou and himself was published in the Argentine Blue Book concerning “reflections upon other American Republics.” Root encloses a translated copy of a report from a Roosevelt interview dated April 1, 1905.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-16
The editor encourages all people to attend the opening of the office of the “Opposing Treaty Society” which held its meeting about boycotting American goods.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-20
James Bryce sends his good wishes and hopes President Roosevelt will get some rest before his campaign. Bryce mentions that they may be in America in September and October, when they would hope to see Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-22
The trend of the past twenty-five years can be summed up as “America to the Americans,” and the United States has been particularly driven by the Monroe doctrine in trying to keep European powers out of the Western hemisphere and expanding its own influence. This article questions what the European powers who still hold territory in the Western hemisphere will do in the face of this American expansionism, and how they will respond to the Pan-American movement and convention occurring soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08
Print shows Uncle Sam holding a “Trade Treaty with China”, standing on a “Map of China” in the midst of foreign rulers labeled “Germany, Italy, England, Austria, Russia [and] France.” Depicted are William II, Umberto I, John Bull, Franz Joseph I sharpening scissors at a grinding stone in the background, Uncle Sam, Nicholas II, and Emile Loubet, each with large scissors, intent on cutting up the map.
Caption: Uncle Sam (to the Powers)–Gentlemen, you may cut up this map as much as you like; but remember that I’m here to stay, and that you can’t divide me up into spheres of influence!