Your TR Source
Postmaster General Wynne does not object to Representative Walter Preston Brownlow’s proposal that Brownlow and J. C. R. McCall be designated the referees for political appointments in Tennessee. In fact, the department is compelled to depend largely on Brownlow’s recommendations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-21
In accord with President Roosevelt’s direction regarding referees for Tennessee, Postmaster General Wynne will forward Representative Walter Preston Brownlow’s request and has submitted a list of referees for the southern states to George B. Cortelyou, chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-17
Republican National Committee Chairman Cortelyou returns a letter from Tennessee Representative Walter Preston Brownlow along with William Loeb’s note of December 2, 1904. Cortelyou states that it has been customary to do what Brownlow requested, and without other guidance, continuing the practice might be appropriate. Cortelyou suggests checking with Postmaster General Henry C. Payne whether he knows of any objection to such a plan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-14
Representative Hale has “absolutely misunderstood” his conversation with President Roosevelt. Roosevelt has never told anyone that he would appoint whoever he and Representative Walter Preston Brownlow wanted. Even if Hale, Brownlow, and the entire Republican party supported a man, Roosevelt would not appoint him if he did not think he was competent and honest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-12
President Roosevelt makes the point that he never told Representative Hale, Representative Walter Preston Brownlow, “or any human being” that he would do as they suggested, without adding that he would only do so if he believed that it was right. He suggests that Hale take the matter of appointments up with Brownlow to see what they can agree on.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-16
D. A. Nunn encloses a clipping for Theodore Roosevelt. He was postmaster at Memphis, Tennessee, during Roosevelt’s presidency but was removed for political reasons after his term expired. He hopes that Roosevelt will be president again, because he believes he will reinstate him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-10
R. C. Hunter asks if Theodore Roosevelt can reschedule his lecture in support of a monument to the late Senator Walter Preston Brownlow. Hunter has an engagement with William Jennings Bryan on the original date.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-06
R. C. Hunter requests Theodore Roosevelt speak in Johnson City, Tennessee, the same night William Jennings Bryan is speaking in a nearby city, partly as a pseudo-contest of popularity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-11
Representative Hale of Tennessee writes to President Roosevelt with information in the interest of building a respectable Republican party in Tennessee. Hale says that Tennessee has been corrupt for 15 years, but under Roosevelt the state organization has been cleaned up. He hopes this will continue under the administration of Secretary of War William H. Taft, Roosevelt’s likely successor. Hale worries about slanderous claims about his nomination and corruption in the Southern faction of the party. He feels he has given up much for the good of the party, and hopes Roosevelt will not believe the charges against him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-17
John Bell Brownlow explains to President Roosevelt how he came to be the representative of the Post Office Department on the U.S. Government Board of Management of several expositions. After serving well, Brownlow suddenly learned that then-Postmaster General Henry C. Payne was displeased with his work due to false statements against him. Brownlow was subsequently investigated on his own request to prove the falseness of the statements against him, but while the investigations seem to have vindicated him he has been negatively impacted by being excluded from the Portland board. He asks Roosevelt to consider the matter and review the inspections, which show that his record is clean.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-28
Judge Lurton writes to Secretary of War Taft about H. Campbell, a former candidate for governor in Tennessee, who is reportedly lazy and not taken seriously by the Republican Party, but needs to be accommodated. Lurton also invites Taft to visit Nashville if he will be canvassing as part of President Roosevelt’s campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-13
Attorney General Moody informs President Roosevelt about a request from Representative Brownlow regarding the appointment of a district judge in Tennessee if the health of Judge Hammond continues to decline. Brownlow would like to be consulted before an appointment is made because he notes that several judges in Tennessee are ex-confederate supporters and would like to see Union supporters rewarded for their loyalty. Moody also praises a political cartoon that ran in the Washington Post.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-06
James Wilson reports that the Automobile Club, not the Department of Agriculture, was responsible for distributing literature concerning roads.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-29
Tennessee Republicans will be sending a Roosevelt delegation to the Republican National Convention. This raises issue of selecting federal office holders as delegates. Foster V. Brown assures Theodore Roosevelt that Southerners support his Panama policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-05
John Allison writes to Judge Pritchard, expressing concern about a Republican faction in Tennessee beginning to support Marcus Alonzo Hanna for the office of President. He states his friendly motives toward President Roosevelt and wishes Pritchard to warn him of this development.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-18
John Houk encloses original resolutions passed within his congressional district to show “the direction of the winds” in that district.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-04