Belmont, August, 1853-1924

Telegram from John F. Stevens to William H. Taft

Chief Engineer Stevens knows nothing of George Pierce and Company or the Milan Dredging Company, and considers these companies to make no significant contribution to W. J. Oliver’s proposal for building the Panama Canal. Stevens also expresses concern about the involvement of William Barclay Parsons, August Belmont, and John B. MacDonald. Stevens finds Oliver’s quotation “unfortunate” and does not want a one-man proposal like Oliver’s to be the winning bid.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-06

Letter from John F. Stevens to Theodore Roosevelt

John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the Panama Canal project, informs President Roosevelt that a stevedoring contractor named J. W. Foulke has been visiting the canal, and has intimated that he has financial backing from a group which includes Chairman of the Isthmian Commission Theodore P. Shonts. Stevens suggests that if these connections came to light it may “prove embarrassing.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-05

Echo-lets of election day

In the first vignette, Alton B. Parker knocks on the door of August Belmont. Caption: Mr. Parker—”Did I understand that there was a $50,000 job vacant around here?” In the second, Henry Gassaway Davis holds a large money barrel while President Roosevelt walks away with West Virginia woman. Caption: At last reports Uncle Henry Davis was still holding his own. In the third, “Dr. Bryan,” “Dr. Hearst,” and “Dr. Watson” all attempt to doctor a bandaged Democratic donkey. Caption: The Doctors—”Cheer up, we’ll begin work on you again.” In the fourth vignette, William Preston Harrison walks from the “West Side” to the “North Side.” Caption: William Preston Harrison leaves from again. In the fifth, Parker stands beside William H. Douglas who holds a sign with a shoe on it that reads, “It pays to advertise.” In the sixth, Chicago Mayor Carter H. Harrison stares at a sign that reads, “Wisconsin for Roosevelt . . . 50,000—Illinois for Roosevelt . . . 230,000—Indiana for Roosevelt . . . 60,000.” Caption: The states he promised Parker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-10

A sad homecoming

Several Democratic Party leaders ride on a train together, including August Belmont, Patrick Henry McCarren, David B. Hill, Charles Francis Murphy, Henry Gassaway Davis, Thomas Taggart, William F. Sheehan, and William Jennings Bryan. Alton B. Parker wears several bandages, including a “$50,000 law job from Belmont” around his head and a “Solid South” bandage on his hand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-09

The Republican durbar

New York Senators Thomas Collier Platt and Chauncey M. Depew led a durbar procession, which includes President Roosevelt, who holds a paper that reads, “the presidency compliments of the people,” sitting on a Republican elephant. Democratic party leaders, including Arthur P. Gorman, David B. Hill, Alton B. Parker, August Belmont, and Henry Gassaway Davis, watch from the side. Uncle Sam bows toward the procession.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cornelius Newton Bliss

President Roosevelt hopes Cornelius Newton Bliss has not taken personally the baseless accusations thrown at him of late. Roosevelt does not believe there was any unusual or excessive expenditure in the 1904 election, and in fact there was less than what the British parliament spends on their elections. It was half of what was spent on the 1892 and 1896 elections, but the more important point is that the money was spent legitimately. Bliss has only given the president advice when he asked, and asked for nothing in return, and for that the president is grateful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Douglas Robinson

President Roosevelt informs Douglas Robinson that invitations to Alice Roosevelt’s and Nicholas Longworth’s wedding are limited to close family and friends of the bride and groom, as well as some official guests.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Donald McDonald Dickinson

President Roosevelt thanks Donald McDonald Dickinson for the letter. Roosevelt expresses his disappointment with Judge Alton B. Parker during the recent political campaign, and says that while his personal relations with Parker have been friendly, the attacks on National Republican Committee Chairman George B. Cortelyou have made Roosevelt indignant. He feels that Parker is hypocritical for making a public show that “he was ‘advised’ that no corporations had contributed to his campaign” while personally retaining close political connections to prominent businessmen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philander C. Knox

President Roosevelt praises Senator Knox’s statement about Democratic presidential candidate Alton B. Parker, and encourages him to expand his remarks into a speech. Roosevelt offers suggestions on how Knox might address the issue, showing that there was no wrongdoing by Roosevelt or George B. Cortelyou, and attacking Parker in turn for his hypocrisy regarding the men who are his most prominent backers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt sends Senator Lodge copies of letters between himself and Augustus Peabody Gardner, and says that while he is willing to have the letter be published, he thinks it should wait until after the election. He is looking forward to being finished with his current political campaign, and remarks on some of the rumors that have been circulating, as well as polling figures for several states. Roosevelt was recently injured while riding his horse, but was able to avoid mention of it in the press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hay

President Roosevelt is frustrated at the newspapers for condemning the Republicans for their view on sound money. The Democrats’ candidate is boasting that he has supported the cause of free silver in the last two elections. Roosevelt believes that his campaign has no apology to make.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler

President Roosevelt believes that the Isthmian Canal Commission is likely to appoint Joseph Bucklin Bishop but fears that not appointing Edward Charles O’Brien will give the impression of bad faith and be harmful to his reputation. If reelected, Roosevelt will find a suitable appointment for Bishop. He is also concerned that W. Barclay Parsons will be influenced by the Reform Club, John McDonald, and August Belmont.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-29

Letter from George B. Cortelyou to Douglas Robinson

President Roosevelt would be pleased to dine with August Belmont on November 14.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-11

Letter from F. R. Meier to Theodore Roosevelt

F. R. Meier sends Theodore Roosevelt a booklet on the benefits of employing a technically trained and experienced forester. Meier lists his extensive previous work experience.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-04

Letter from Charles Fletcher Lummis to Theodore Roosevelt

Los Angeles City Librarian Charles Fletcher Lummis thanks President Roosevelt for the autograph page and hopes to show him the library’s autograph collection sometime. The library staff took to Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield, who made friends with members of the Southwest Society during his visit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-12

Letter from Douglas Robinson to William Loeb

Douglas Robinson writes to William Loeb regarding the request for an autograph from President Roosevelt to S. M. Brown. Robinson also asks Loeb about Alice Roosevelt’s upcoming wedding and the possibility of extending an invitation to August Belmont.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-08

Mr. August Belmont and his tame Ochs

The article strongly criticizes August Belmont’s control of newspapers and the Democratic Party. It particularly blasts Adolph S. Ochs and Charles Ransom Miller of the New York Times, stating that the paper is Belmont’s mouthpiece.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-07

Uncle Sam: “The country would like to hear from you.”

David B. Hill, August Belmont, and Grover Cleveland coax Democratic presidential candidate Alton B. Parker, whose hands are tied behind his back, toward the “Speakers Stand,” where Uncle Sam stands waiting. Cleveland has a “Speech for Parker” tucked in his back pocket.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-04

The wooden man

Grover Cleveland, Arthur P. Gorman, and August Belmont control a wooden Alton B. Parker with strings. David B. Hill holds Parker in his hand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-03

The applicant for the presidency

Alton B. Parker gives Uncle Sam a paper that reads, “application for position as master of the White House—Alton B. Parker—References: Hill, Belmont, McCarren, Taggart, Williams, Davis, Bailey, Murphy,” as Parker points to a group of men, all of whom are listed on the paper. On the wall is a “U.S. bulletin help wanted” board.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09