Baldwin, Simeon E. (Simeon Eben), 1840-1927

John A. Gable opens this edition of the “News and Notes” column by citing reviews of recent works on Theodore Roosevelt by Sylvia Jukes Morris and Frederick W. Marks, and he notes the publication of two other recent works on Roosevelt. He writes of the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s (TRA) defense of Roosevelt’s tenure as Police Commissioner of New York City, notes changes in the leadership of the Sagamore Hill and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Sites, and highlights the TRA’s support of upgrading Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay, New York.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1980

Charles C. Goetsch examines the legal, philosophical, and political dispute between Theodore Roosevelt and Simeon E. Baldwin, a Yale Law School professor, Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, and Governor of Connecticut. He details the conservative legal outlook of Baldwin and how this view clashed with the progressive political beliefs of Roosevelt. Goetsch shows how a legal dispute over the constitutionality of the Federal Employers Liability Act extended from the courts to the 1910 election campaign where Roosevelt’s rhetoric prompted Baldwin to consider a libel suit against the former president.

Two pictures, one of Simeon E. Baldwin and the other of Theodore Roosevelt speaking from the platform of a train car, are included in the article.

A listing of the officers and the members of the executive, finance, and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace committees of the Theodore Roosevelt Association is included in the article as well as an advertisement for the Roosevelt Savings Bank of Garden City, New York.

Charles O. Lander decries corporal punishment as both inhumane and ineffective and instead advocates the use of solitary confinement, hard work, and “nourishing but not too plentiful food” as a more humane alternative.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-25

A. Edward Woodruff argues that Connecticut governor Simeon E. Baldwin was trying to make new law in the case Theodore Roosevelt criticized, rather than following the law established by the Supreme Court. He provides excerpts from Supreme Court cases to illustrate his point.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-01

Theodore Roosevelt recently responded to the open letter of Judge Simeon E. Baldwin, Democratic nominee for Governor of Connecticut, accusing Roosevelt of slander. In his speech, Roosevelt clarified his actual statement, which had been misquoted, and expanded upon his opinion that the statements of several judges, including Baldwin, regarding the unconstitutionality of enacting labor legislation limiting the hours of work was “a retrogressive attitude” and one which the Republican party opposed. While Roosevelt is sure that the judges holding these attitudes are honorable men, he strongly opposes their views.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-10-25

Uncle Sam picks a puppy labeled “Wilson” from a litter of puppies labeled “Foss, Baldwin, Harmon, [and] Dix.” The mother of the puppies is labeled “Democratic Party.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-11-30

Theodore Roosevelt offers advice to Anna Roosevelt Cowles about opportunities for her son, William Sheffield Cowles, Jr., to learn to ride horses. Roosevelt suggests that the Cowles’ upcoming trip to Europe provides an ideal chance to arrange riding lessons at reputable riding schools in major cities, including Paris, Berlin, and Rome. He is knowledgeable about the subject and outlines goals for Cowles, Jr., recommending that riding be approached with the discipline required of any other study. Finally, Roosevelt jokes that Will and Joe were probably amused by the quiet dissolution of Governor Baldwin’s proposed libel suit.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1911-01-29

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Anna Roosevelt Cowles for the holiday gift of a rocking chair and hopes she likes the zebra skin he sent. Roosevelt is happy he was able to travel to Farmington to visit her and her family before she goes further south. Governor Baldwin has decided not to proceed with bringing his libel suit against Roosevelt, even though Roosevelt refused to retract or apologize.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1911-01-13

In a letter to William Loeb, Joseph L. Bristow includes a communication between Holmes Conrad and Charles J. Bonaparte. Bristow discusses his recent postal fraud report, relaying that he will omit the word “Christianity” from the report and that they should maintain a reference to Judge Baldwin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-17