Brewer, David J. (David Josiah), 1837-1910

Art Koch reveals the subject and context of the third “TR-era image” which is a political cartoon showing Theodore Roosevelt shooting holes in a dictionary with two revolvers. Koch reveals that this cartoon from September 1906 pokes fun at Roosevelt’s directive to the Government Printing Office to use a simplified form of spelling in government documents, and he lists some notable Americans who supported Roosevelt’s reforms. The fourth image in the series shows a typical street scene of storefronts, horse drawn wagons, and telephone poles. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1906

A large President Roosevelt has several small men jumping on his top hat: “Chancellor Day,” “Justice Brewer,” and “Ex-Senator Spooner.” “Wall Street’ collapsed on the brim of his hat and says, “I’m ‘most dead!”

comments and context

Comments and Context

This clever cartoon from the political-cartoon phase of A. D. Condo’s long career displays a seldom-recognized aspect of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, specifically concerning the possibility that he might have yielded to public pressure and accepted another nomination in 1908.

Responding to remarks like Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer’s accusation of President Roosevelt playing “hide and seek” with the potential of seeking a third presidential term, an article in the Chicago Daily News reassures its readers that for all his faults, Roosevelt respects the constitution too much to run for a second elected term. The delegates at the Republican National Convention will nominate a different statesman.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-22

An article reports on an event featuring Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes as speakers. Hughes spoke on public officals’ duties towards the people, rather than self-serving ambition, while Brewer accused President Theodore Roosevelt of attempting to seek a third term. The event was hosted by the Civic Forum, a new organization with the purpose of promoting debate on issues of public interest, which included Secretary of War William H. Taft as a vice president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-21

The document contains a list of United States judges who may retire and be replaced during the next presidential term.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-26

An article reports on allegations made by Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer that President Roosevelt has been playing “hide-and-seek” with the American people regarding whether he will run for a third term. The article holds that Roosevelt has made his unwillingness to run again clear enough and criticizes Brewer for inserting himself into political debates as a justice on the Supreme Court.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-22

A summary of recent cases in which injunctions have been granted in Federal Courts restraining members of labor unions from conspiring to injure the trade and business of employers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-11

Theodore Roosevelt stands at an open window, greeting a group of men singing Christmas carols. The carolers are John D. Rockefeller, Joseph Benson Foraker, Henry H. Rogers, Edward Henry Harriman, David J. Brewer, and James Roscoe Day.

Comments and Context

Cartoonist L. M. Glacken’s Christmas Day cover drawing in Puck featured a frequent theme of the day — a frequent practice, now largely moribund, of carolers singing hymns and Christmas songs house to house. The “Outs,” they sometimes were called, especially when not invited indoors for warmth and refreshments.

The carolers in the Glackens cartoon certainly were on the “outs,” at least at the window of President Roosevelt. History has remembered Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, veteran of several brutal disputes with fellow Republican Roosevelt, most recently over the Brownsville Affair and black soldiers; Edward Henry Harriman, railroad trust magnate whom Roosevelt recently branded an “undesirable citizen”; and Standard Oil’s twin leaders John D. Rockefeller and Henry H. Rogers, recently avoiding the penitentiary over corporate misdeeds.

Henry Martyn Hoyt reviews Judge Caldwell’s performance as a district and circuit judge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-11

This article details Justice David J. Brewer’s address before the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Agents’ Association, where he said, “America is the great composite photographer of nations, with a duty to take all the various races of the earth…and put them on the canvas to make one picture, one race.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-21

President Roosevelt is pleased that William Allen White liked his message. He had originally written more strongly about judges, and believes that while there are few judges who are actually corrupt, there are many who are not fit to remain on the bench.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-30

President Roosevelt writes to Florence Bayard Lockwood La Farge about Jane Addams’s book. He criticizes her stance against militarism. Roosevelt compares Addams to Leo Tolstoy in their similar actions in speaking out against war and industrialism, but being ultimately misguided in their argument that because there are hardships that result from these, they should be entirely abandoned, rather than acknowledging the positives and working to alleviate the negatives. It is just as bad, Roosevelt says, to preach unrighteous peace as to preach unrighteous war, and even more foolish.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-13

President Roosevelt discusses recent attacks made against him by Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer. He considers Brewer one of the “corporation judges” who are naturally given to work against Roosevelt, and so appreciated William Allen White’s kind letter more than he was concerned by Brewer’s comments. Roosevelt is more concerned that individuals like Edward Henry Harriman and John D. Rockefeller would see to use and perhaps exacerbate the current economic crisis to undermine his presidency and turn public opinion against him. Roosevelt closes by asking that White keep this letter private.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-26

President Roosevelt tells Supreme Court Justice Harlan that he does not plan on taking action on an appointment until he is able to discuss the matter with some Cabinet officers and Senators. Roosevelt also clarifies a statement he made in a previous letter that some Senators have mentioned to him that Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer seems to have been setting the stage to address whether an act is unconstitutional, and that if that is the case it would not be good for the son of a justice to be “holding an office under an act upon the constitutionality of which his father, as one of the justices, was to pass.” Roosevelt does not know how much weight he gives the argument, but tells Harlan that it is a matter that he must consider.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-21

Andrew V. Henry writes in support of subsidies for American shipping. He argues that the United States does not have an adequate merchant marine force and that the economy is losing out on the benefits of reduced freight rates. Other article topics include the banning of indecent theater posters in New York, David J. Brewer’s recent commencement speech, a poem by Minna Irving, and details of the bribery charges against Frank J. Gethro.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-31

Horace G. Knowles has been wanting to write to Theodore Roosevelt for a long time, and has now finally gotten the chance. Knowles has just returned from a trip around North America, and tells Roosevelt that he enjoyed his article, “Race Decadence.” Knowles also is concerned about the headway the Democratic Party is making in the elections, and hopes that Roosevelt is paying attention and is ready to fight for Republican success. Knowles will speak with Roosevelt about these matters in person soon. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-18

Attorney General Bonaparte has examined the legislative acts and amendments proposed by Seth Low and John R. Dos Passos relating to industrial trusts, and tells President Roosevelt about his views and legal opinions on both.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-07

Secretary of State Elihu Root accepts President Roosevelt’s invitation to attend the upcoming Conference of Governors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-23

Secretary of State Root teases President Roosevelt for his tardiness for by writing, “It is hereby ordered that $2.50 be deducted from the President’s salary for his being late at the office Saturday April 11th, 1908,” and signs the note from Supreme Court Justice David J. Brewer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-11

Attorney General Bonaparte provides President Roosevelt with notes and suggestions on his upcoming message. In particular he suggests modifications on portions relating to labor liability laws and employee compensation for injuries. Bonaparte also suggests removing the words “good” and “bad” from the portion on trusts, as certain trusts are claiming to be “good” trusts to avoid injunctions. He also provides comments on changing wording to avoid accusations of naming specific individuals, and on the language in the delicate sections about judges.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-22