American Tobacco Company

The author of this article argues that the United States Supreme Court is working with the American Tobacco Company to dissolve the illegal company but, in allowing a new company to be created, are forming a monopoly that will drive out independent retailers from the tobacco industry. To avoid the scandal and lawsuits that will come if the Supreme Court continues on their path, the author suggests the Supreme Court request a full inventory of the assets of all the companies forming the new trust and verify all stocks and bonds under the companies, especially the American Cigar Company,  are covered. The second suggestion made is to make coupons illegal because the issuance of coupons runs independent retailers out of business.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-21

Creator(s)

Berriman, Edward C. (Edward Charles), 1860-1925

Theodore Roosevelt asks Charles J. Bonaparte if Bonaparte was Attorney General when they began the suit against the Standard Oil Company and the American Tobacco Company.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt requests that Judge Hand meet with John M. Bruce and hear about Bruce’s system of scientific management for sales. Bruce has been implementing his system at the American Tobacco Company and has received permission to take outside, noncompetitive clients.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt discusses his reasons for changing his mind about appointing Edward W. Timberlake for judgeship. All things considered, his first choice is H. F. Seawell, second is T. T. Hicks, and Timberlake is third.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Felix H. Levy sends Theodore Roosevelt various telegrams associated with the dissolution of the Tobacco Trust. He invited Hugh Campbell to attend the meeting with Roosevelt. Levy believes that the Circuit Court’s decision will allow the Tobacco Trust to “go unwhipped of justice” and feels it is the duty of every citizen interested in the country’s welfare to stand against “this wicked monopoly.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-09

Creator(s)

Levy, Felix H. (Felix Holt), 1869-

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-06

Creator(s)

Levy, Felix H. (Felix Holt), 1869-

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

James Rudolph Garfield is sorry he could not wait to see Theodore Roosevelt in New York, as he had to leave for a business trip. He was glad to hear about Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s improvement from Frank Harper. Garfield wants Roosevelt’s opinion on the action against the United States Steel Corporation, as he heard nothing that made him suspect Elbert H. Gary deceived them. The case illustrates the difference between destructive litigation and constructive legislation. He feels that the government’s current position is destructive to legitimate business and comments on the role of courts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

Creator(s)

Garfield, James Rudolph, 1865-1950

Charles G. Washburn selects Theodore Roosevelt as a target to his observations of the Sherman Act due to the recent comments published in The Outlook. Washburn lists to Roosevelt 5 difference points in response to George W. Perkins’ address the Detroit Board of Commerce.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-20

Creator(s)

Washburn, Charles G. (Charles Grenfill), 1857-1928

Albert H. Walker regrets that Theodore Roosevelt does not estimate the potential efficacy of the Sherman Act as higher. He suggests that prior to Roosevelt’s administration, this law was significantly neglected. The country is starting to benefit from Roosevelt’s implementation of the law, and public opinion favors its continued vigorous enforcement. It would take years to enact the administrative commissions proposed by those who desire to attain efficient control of corporations by moving away from the Sherman Act, especially those corporations engaged in interstate commerce. Walker further discusses this point.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-31

Creator(s)

Walker, Albert H. (Albert Henry), 1844-1915

Nathaniel T. Green informs Theodore Roosevelt that he has recently successfully sued the American Tobacco Company for damages under the anti-trust statute. The suit was successful even though the judge’s views were not favorable. Green believes that allowing private rights of action against trusts more feasible could be a good method of breaking trusts up. He sends a brief he presented on the case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-18

Creator(s)

Green, Nathaniel T. (Nathaniel Terry), 1873-1954

Ralph M. Easely responds to Theodore Roosevelt’s recent article, “The Standard Oil Decision – And After.” finding it relevant and true even if it had been written prior to the decision on the American Tobacco Company case. He remarks that, should the United States compete with foreign countries, “it cannot be hobbled by restrictions like those imposed by the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.” Easely encloses a leaflet issued by the National Civic Federation and has marked paragraphs relevant to his discussion of trust regulation, though he remarks that Seth Low has not yet named the sub-committee it refers to. Easely closes by congratulating Roosevelt on his recent “whack” on those who fight for peace at any price, comparing Roosevelt’s views of international peace and his own on “industrial peace.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-02

Creator(s)

Easley, Ralph M. (Ralph Montgomery), 1858-

Charles E. Magoon congratulates Theodore Roosevelt on the recent unanimous Supreme Court decision to dissolve the Standard Oil Company and the American Tobacco Company, as both corporations were organized in violation of law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-30

Creator(s)

Magoon, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1861-1920

Attorney General Bonaparte is not clear how seriously the attached letter should be taken, and as such cannot fully comment on it. The letter’s author, Benjamin B. Hampton, is an advertising agent unfamiliar with the laws related to the American Tobacco Company and has obtained his information primarily through communications with management of said trusts, but is certain that President Roosevelt has violated the law in his administration’s prosecution of the trusts and is acting on incorrect information. Bonaparte dismisses these allegations and does not believe Hampton to have any of the contextual or legal knowledge necessary to speak on the issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-11

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

President Roosevelt would like Attorney General Bonaparte to read the enclosed letter and speak with him about it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-05

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Benjamin B. Hampton explains to Lindsay Denison his recent remarks in further detail. Hampton believes it would be better for President Roosevelt to deal with the tobacco companies directly, rather than through the courts, since it would be faster and potentially more beneficial for both parties. Hampton stresses that he is not well-versed in law or in a position to speak on behalf of the tobacco industry, although he is an advertiser for the American Tobacco Company. Hampton invites Denison to consider the shortcomings of his proposal and to enlighten him as to why it might be ill-conceived.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-24

Creator(s)

Hampton, Benjamin B. (Benjamin Bowles), 1875-1932

Hugh Gordon Miller, former special assistant to Attorney General George W. Wickersham, strayed from his speech at the New York Credit Men’s Association’s dinner to “take a few flings” at an unnamed public official, generally assumed to be Wickersham. An excerpt from Miller’s speech is included.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

Creator(s)

Unknown

The attached letter by Benjamin B. Hampton regarding investigation into the American Tobacco Company betrays Hampton’s poor grasp of the situation and the law in general. Attorney General Bonaparte in particular notes a section where Hampton suggests that President Roosevelt and founder of the American Tobacco Company James Buchanan Duke settle the matter privately as gentlemen rather than through the court system.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-11

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921