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President Roosevelt has telegraphed Cecil Andrew Lyon about District Attorney William Hawley Atwell. In the matter of John W. Vann, Roosevelt has directed Treasury Secretary George B. Cortelyou to appoint an independent investigator and will send the results before making a decision.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-10
George B. Cortelyou informs Emmett J. Scott that a telegram has been sent to Waller Thomas Burns saying that President Roosevelt would be pleased with the appointment of Robert Lloyd Smith to one of the deputy collectorships at Velasco or Sabine Pass.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-17
George B. Cortelyou informs Emmett J. Scott that Waller Thomas Burns has been asked to delay the appointment of Robert Lloyd Smith as deputy collector.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-29
President Roosevelt returns letters and telegrams to Attorney General Bonaparte. Roosevelt asks Bonaparte to consult with Supreme Court Justice Edward Douglass White and Judge Waller Thomas Burns about appointing a special counsel to investigate the violation of neutrality incidents on the border with Mexico. Roosevelt wants to assure the Mexican government that something will be done at once and does not want to wait for reports from secret service agents. Roosevelt asks about the status of the whiskey cases.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-24
President Roosevelt asks Treasury Secretary Cortelyou for the facts about complaints made against him by a classmate of Roosevelt’s, George P. Messervy. Roosevelt says the complaint is “impertinent and foolish,” but since Messervy could make public statements that could cause trouble, he would like to know the facts so that he can have William Loeb respond to Messervy in full. Roosevelt feels the same as Cortelyou about John W. Vann, and encourages a full investigation of the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-30
President Roosevelt tells Attorney General Bonaparte that Secretary of State Elihu Root is anxious to appoint a special counsel to assist the Texas District Attorney in the prosecution of people who have violated neutrality laws against Mexico. Root thinks it should be someone from Texas, and Roosevelt asks Bonaparte if Alford Warriner Cooley or one of Bonaparte’s people knows anyone who might be a good choice. Roosevelt suggests several people to check with, and asks Bonaparte to keep in touch with the State Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-13
President Roosevelt tells Cecil Andrew Lyon that he cannot make definite promises, but that his present intention is that if a vacancy opens up in the circuit court he will promote Judge Waller Thomas Burns to that position, and then appoint Joseph Manson McCormick as judge to to replace Burns.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-21
President Roosevelt describes to Mark Sullivan the considerations that have gone into his selections for federal judgeships. Roosevelt reviews his appointments in detail, noting that some were made at the request of the local organization and some against their wishes. The goal in each case was to appoint someone “of the high character, the good sense, the trained legal ability, and the necessary broad-mindedness of spirit…essential to a good judge.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-13
President Roosevelt informs Cecil Andrew Lyon that he cannot appoint two of Lyon’s suggestions to diplomatic posts, but will fill most of the appointments in Texas with his recommendations. Roosevelt will join Lyon for a bear hunt while in Texas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-20
President Roosevelt supports Judge Waller Thomas Burns’s nomination of Robert Lloyd Smith as office deputy at $2,500 per annum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-02
President Roosevelt encloses an article and asks if it refers to the Mr. Ferguson they discussed (presumably Charles M. Ferguson of Texas). Roosevelt also inquires whether Cecil Andrew Lyon has spoken to Judge Waller Thomas Burns about a position under him for Robert Lloyd Smith.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-01
President Roosevelt explains why he is leaning towards appointing Waller Burns to the Unites States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-25
Francis H. Whitney writes to William Loeb, enclosing a letter Henry C. Payne received from Waller Thomas Burns concerning the political situation in Texas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-29
Robert Bradley Hawley has been “unavoidably detained” in Cuba and will be unable to present Rudolph Kleberg’s case, although he does recommend Kleberg for judge. Cecil Andrew Lyon and John Grant have informed Senator Hanna that President Roosevelt has promised to appoint Waller Thomas Burns.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-24
William G. Sterett encloses the information he found on Robert Lloyd Smith, particularly a letter describing Smith’s character from Waller Thomas Burns. Sterett cautions against the appointment of any African Americans in Texas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-12