Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt does not have the necessary knowledge to comment on the forest conservation bill in the California legislature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-13
Japan is making preparations to take part in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California, and is prepared to spend large sums to be well represented. It is important to have a Japanese presence, as European participation will be low due to the war. The Japanese do not want any anti-Japanese legislation passed by the California legislature and it would be exceedingly awkward if there was hostile legislation attempted or passed during the exposition. Theodore Roosevelt hopes Governor Johnson can “stave off any action.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-30
President Roosevelt looks forward to seeing President-elect Taft on February 24, and will give any advice or counsel that he can. He discusses the work of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and admires Taft’s letter to President Jose Domingo de Obaldia of Panama. Roosevelt has been having a difficult time with the California Legislature over the “Japanese business,” and has sent a letter to future Secretary of State Philander C. Knox about it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-13
President Roosevelt is obliged to Senator Flint for sending him a telegram from California state senator Leroy A. Wright. As the California legislature election is over, Roosevelt thanks Flint for his “courage, wisdom and patriotism.” He has grown to rely on Flint for “fighting for decent and efficient government.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-11
President Roosevelt congratulates California assemblyman Philip A. Stanton for the “great service” he has rendered. He thanks the people of California and their representatives on behalf of the people of the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-10
President Roosevelt advises Senator Knox, who will be president-elect William H. Taft’s secretary of state, on the importance and fragility of the relationship between the United States and Japan. Roosevelt explains why he believes that there is a real possibility that Japan will declare war on the United States, although this is by no means certain. Currently, many Americans are pursuing ineffectual and offensive strategies in an effort to prevent Japanese immigration to the United States. Roosevelt supports their goal but not their means. In Hawaii, meanwhile, Roosevelt disapproves of sugar planters encouraging large numbers of settlers from China and Japan to come work on their plantations. Roosevelt feels that the settlement of Hawaii by individuals from Southern Europe should be encouraged. His more general policy is threefold. He wants the government to prevent Japanese citizens from settling in America, while treating Japan “so courteously that she will not be offended more than necessary,” and building up the navy as a preventative measure. Although the value of this policy should be self-evident, Americans “are shortsighted and have short memories.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-08
President Roosevelt received Governor Gillett’s letter. He is very concerned about the rumor that California will ban Japanese children from attending public school. This would be “most offensive” and unconstitutional, and Roosevelt wonders if the bill can be stopped by vote in the legislature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-04
President Roosevelt sends California Governor Gillett a copy of the memorandum by Secretary of State Elihu Root concerning alien real property legislation in California. Roosevelt notes that the United States Government has no objection to California passing laws regarding aliens’ ability to own real property as long as the laws follow Root’s suggestions. However, the federal government would object to passing the proposed school legislation and proposed legislation forcing Japanese to live in separate residential quarters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-26
President Roosevelt thanks William Fellowes Morgan for his letter. Roosevelt is currently more concerned with anti-Japanese bills in the California Legislature than with the “attacks” Morgan mentions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-20
President Roosevelt expresses his concern to Governor Gillett of California over anti-Japanese legislation in the California Legislature. Roosevelt believes that the passing of this legislation is unnecessary and will injure relations with Japan, considering the Japanese government has upheld the Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-16
President Roosevelt informs Governor Gillett that he is “greatly concerned” at news of anti-Japanese legislation in California, and believes the bills would damage both California and the entire Union.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-16
President Roosevelt congratulates Governor Norris on the prevention of discriminatory school segregation legislation against Japanese students. Roosevelt assures Norris that he will work to exclude Japanese laborers from immigration while maintaining a peaceful relationship with the Japanese government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-14
President Roosevelt directs Secretary of State Root to meet him soon about the potential legislation in California discriminating against Japanese students. Roosevelt wants to write an open letter or telegram to the Governor of California James Norris Gillett to oppose the measure. Refusing to restrain the Japanese immigration will make the situation worse. They can speak to Californians Victor Howard Metcalf and Frank P. Flint if needed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-10
Henry Thompson sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of a State Ship Subsidy bill he submitted to the California legislature. The bill is important for the expected traffic of the Panama Canal and “is brother to the Canal.” He asks Theodore Roosevelt to endorse the bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-25
Some of David Starr Jordan’s Japanese friends are concerned about bill in the California Legislature regarding the holding of real property by aliens. Jordan argues that the bill will likely work badly in practice and could be unconstitutional. He believes that the exclusion of Japanese labor should answer all objections against the Japanese.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-25
Joseph L. Murphey, a former resident of New York, welcomes Theodore Roosevelt to California, and provides him with some details about the political situation in the state. Murphy greatly approves of Governor Hiram Johnson as a progressive, and believes the state legislature as a whole is good. Similarly, Los Angeles has “one of the best city governments perhaps in the world,” although he looks negatively on San Francisco’s municipal government. President William H. Taft only has middling support in the state, as most Republicans are Progressive.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-20
Having taken heart from Theodore Roosevelt’s Chicago speech advocating allowing people to vote regardless of gender, Grace C. Simons of the Political Equality League of California asks Roosevelt if he would be willing to write several sentences to be used to help advocate for women’s suffrage. The current California legislature has passed bills amending the state’s constitution in several progressive ways, including granting women the vote, but the matter must now be voted on by the general public. The league is therefore engaged in a campaign to convince the average citizen of the importance of these matters, and Roosevelt’s assistance would be extremely valuable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-20
California Governor Gillett acknowledges the importance of child welfare and proposes placing dependent children in schools where they can receive education and training to President Roosevelt. Gillett also informs Roosevelt that the California State Legislature’s anti-Japanese bills limiting land ownership and promoting school segregation have died for now. Due to the magnitude of the “Japanese question,” Gillett hopes that the federal government will lead in the best interests of the U.S.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-17
Benjamin Ide Wheeler, president of the University of California, tells President Roosevelt that he will lecture at the University of Berlin on various topics of American life. He asks Roosevelt if he can come to California in August. Wheeler has been out to visit farmers with six other university professors on their “agricultural train,” where the farmers’ dislike of Japanese people was a common subject. Wheeler feels that the California Legislature should do nothing about it, with the matter better left in Roosevelt’s hands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-09
Secretary of State Root sends a memorandum to President Roosevelt about the bills in the California Legislature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-25