Your TR Source
Secret Service Agent Connell recounts his experience of the “Mrs. Minor Morris incident,” when Laura A. Hull Morris entered the White House and demanded to speak with President Roosevelt before being escorted from the premises.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906
William H. Moody is informing Benjamin F. Barnes that he received his letter from Governor Carter. He states that he knows what the President wants for his judicial appointments for Hawaii.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-10
John Ellis Roosevelt received President and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s wills. John Ellis Roosevelt mentions that the witnesses have failed to provide their addresses. Although this omission does not affect the validity of the wills, it may constitute a small fine for the witnesses. He has therefore taken the liberty of indicating “Washington, D.C.,” as their address, and asks Loeb to advise him if this is not correct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-06
Several senators—West Virginia Senator Nathan Bay Scott, Iowa Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver, Michigan Senator Julius C. Burrows, Pennsylvania Senator Boies Penrose, and Montana Senator Thomas Henry Carter—all white wash Benjamin F. Barnes. President Roosevelt holds the “big stick” and says, “Thicken your white wash and get to work, you clumsy Senate fellows” while South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman looks on and says, “Shame on you ind your ‘master.'”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-29
In the first section, a “citizen” sits in a rocking chair and reads the “Evening Star.” Caption: If you were a citizen of the district—. In the second, the “citizen” pays taxes at the “tax office. Caption: And couldn’t vote but paid your taxes— In the third, the “citizen” listens to President Roosevelt talk about the Square Deal. Caption: And had heard of the “Square Deal.” In the fourth section, Roosevelt hands the “citizen” a paper that reads, “Postmaster of D.C.—A district man acceptable to Washington.” Caption: And expected something like this— In the fifth, Roosevelt hands “Barnes of N.J. White House Ejector” a “postmaster D.C.” scroll with the “citizen” crushed underneath. Caption: And got this——. In the sixth section, the “citizen” sees stars. Caption: Wouldn’t it jar you?
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-07
In the first vignette, President Roosevelt hugs Benjamin F. Barnes. Caption: If the president was your friend— In the second, Roosevelt thinks about a woman being thrown out of the White House as he looks at Barnes. Caption: —And he grinned when you committed assault and battery. In the third, Roosevelt hands Barnes a “postmaster of D.C.” paper. Caption: —And rewarded you with a fair job. In the fourth, Barnes thinks about congratulations from “Congress,” “Nova Scotia,” and “Washington.” Caption: —And you expected something like this. In the fifth vignette, Barnes is punched in the nose by “public disapproval.” Caption: And got this— In the sixth vignette, Barnes says, “Oh!” Caption: Wouldn’t it jar you?
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-04
On the left side of the cartoon, President Roosevelt gives a “D.C.” man a “post master” cigar. Roosevelt says, “Have a cigar.” On the right side, the man smokes out a picture of Benjamin F. “Barnes.” Roosevelt says, “April Fool!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-02
In the first vignette, Benjamin F. Barnes sits in a “Nova Scotia” cradle. Caption: If you were born in Nova Scotia— In second vignette, Barnes types on a typewriter. Caption: And you clerked in the district— In the third, a woman is thrown out of the “White House.” Caption: And you threw a woman out of your office— In the fourth vignette, the “president” kicks Barnes out of the White House. Caption: And instead of getting this— In the fifth, President Roosevelt hands Barnes a “postmaster D.C.” paper. Caption: You got this! In the sixth, Barnes says, “Oh joy!” Caption: Wouldn’t it jar you?
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-03
W. S. Couch writes an article detailing Senator Tillman’s verbal attack on President Roosevelt and call for investigation on the removal of Laura A. Hull Morris from the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-18
Francis Joseph Andrew Darr writes to the editor of the New York Journal regarding Laura A. Hull Morris’s removal from the White House. Darr is critical of President Roosevelt, William Loeb, and Benjamin F. Barnes, stating that Morris “has the sympathy of all decent men and women.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-19
Lengthy news articles reporting on the Mrs. Morris incident and the Hamilton Bill, as well as a series of short news stories and satire.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-11
An article in the Springfield Daily News reports the ejection of Laura A. Hull Morris from the White House. The writer goes into great detail about Morris’s alleged respectability, her well-groomed and well-dressed appearance, and her reason for visiting the White House. The behavior of the White House staff and of Benjamin F. Barnes is highly criticized. The author also criticizes President Roosevelt, calling him “Czar Roosevelt” and claiming that anyone who disagrees with him is subject to this type of treatment. Furthermore the writer states that “such proceedings have no rival in any country but Russia.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-05
Statement from Assistant Secretary to the President, Benjamin F. Barnes, detailing the events of the Mrs. Morris incident.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-09
Report of the removal of Laura A. Hull Morris from the White House, emphasizing the mild mannered nature of Benjamin F. Barnes, Assistant Secretary to the President, during the event.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-12
George B. Cortelyou informs Secret Service Chief Wilkie of his upcoming trip to Canton, Ohio, and asks him to take special care in protecting President Roosevelt. William Loeb and Benjamin F. Barnes will keep Wilkie appraised of Roosevelt’s movements, but Cortelyou also suggests posting a secret service man at the White House for several days. Cortelyou has sent a similar letter to Washington, D.C., Police Chief Richard Sylvester, with recommendations for Roosevelt’s security.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-26
George B. Cortelyou informs Police Chief Sylvester that he is leaving Washington, D.C., for several days, and would like Sylvester to give special consideration to President Roosevelt’s security. He advises Sylvester, however, about “the well-known aversion of the President to any unnecessary show of precaution,” and says that the protection will have to be quiet and discrete. William Loeb and Benjamin F. Barnes will advise Sylvester of Roosevelt’s movements.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-26
President Roosevelt thanks Melville Elijah Stone for the letter of explanation but believes that if Elmer E. Paine is replaced as a reporter in the White House before the Senate votes to confirm Benjamin F. Barnes’s nomination, it will be difficult to convince people that the change was not made because of the Mrs. Morris incident earlier in the year. If Stone still feels that Paine should be replaced, Roosevelt suggests waiting a few weeks before taking action.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-10
President Roosevelt sends Senator Burrows some papers relating to the investigation of the removal of Laura A. Hull Morris from the White House. Roosevelt did not wish to harm the reputation of Morris further, and has not paid attention to any of the subsequent attacks and misrepresentation from the press, but now that the matter has come before a Senate committee he gives Burrows permission to make any or all of the papers public if it is felt that that is in the public interest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-16
President Roosevelt explains his recent actions to Senator Platt, saying that he understood that Platt wished for John A. Merritt to be made Collector of Customs at Niagara, and that he appointed Benjamin F. Barnes to succeed Merritt as Postmaster of Washington, D.C., on the recommendation of Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou. If he had known that Platt would take an interest in who would replace Merritt in this position, Roosevelt would have waited.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-01
