California

Telegram from Dell M. Potter and T. M. White to Theodore Roosevelt

Dell M. Potter and T. M. White of the Trans-Continental Good Roads Association of Arizona have invited delegates from multiple states to meet and organize the National Trans-Continental Good Roads Association. This association would build a transcontinental road through the delegates’ states. They hope Roosevelt will be the president as they believe he is the only man who can ensure success in their endeavor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-15

Letter from William Kent to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Kent wants to take Theodore Roosevelt, Governor Hiram Johnson, Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt, and Francis J. Heney on an outing up the mountains during his visit to California. He warns Roosevelt about the “grafting bunch.” Kent discusses “the great things” Johnson has done for California as governor. While Heney has been brave since his loss (his wife, Rebecca W. Heney, died January 26, 1911), Kent believes time with Roosevelt will bolster him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-20

Letter from Henry Fairfield Osborn to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry Fairfield Osborn hopes Theodore Roosevelt will fulfill his speaking engagement at Throop Polytechnic Institute in Southern California.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-21

Letter from D. B. Fairley to Theodore Roosevelt

D. B. Fairley is a staunch supporter but has heard conflicting reports of Theodore Roosevelt’s stance on the recall of judges and asks for an explanation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-27

Letter from Benjamin Ide Wheeler to Theodore Roosevelt

Benjamin Ide Wheeler clarifies that no Tercentenary celebration of the King James Bible is planned while Theodore Roosevelt is in California. The San Francisco Bible Society is merely taking advantage of Roosevelt’s presence. Wheeler discusses the scheduled lectures and asks Roosevelt what the lecture series is titled.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-17

Letter from W. L. Cleveland to Theodore Roosevelt

W. L. Cleveland, a self-avowed non-nature fakir, shares interesting incidents of lions during mealtime at the zoo that he used to illustrate selfishness and selflessness in his Sunday school. He assures Roosevelt of California’s support and asks him to speak at his school in Los Angeles.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-11

Letter from Grant Conard to Theodore Roosevelt

Mayor of San Diego Conard sends Theodore Roosevelt a statement on why California’s legislators should have ratified A. G. Spalding’s election. Additionally, he sends several articles. He is greatly disappointed by California’s first “reform” legislature.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-11

Letter from Gifford Pinchot to Theodore Roosevelt

If Gifford Pinchot cannot get the names engraved, he will send the bronze lion to Theodore Roosevelt. Though Roosevelt has doubts, Pinchot remains confident in the strength of progressive feeling in the nation but agrees that the Republican Party may be beaten in the New York state elections. Regardless of the outcome, Pinchot feels that Roosevelt can afford to be beaten on progressive issues but “cannot afford not to make the fight.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-08-18

Letter from John R. Middlemiss to Theodore Roosevelt

John R. Middlemiss commends President Roosevelt’s administration and offers him an annuity from a copper-gold mining company. Middlemiss believes this will provide no less than $250,000 dollars a year, and should allow Roosevelt to “sustain the dignity of his position.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-25

Letter from Benjamin Ide Wheeler to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-09

Letter from James Norris Gillett to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-17

Telegram from James Norris Gillett to Elihu Root

The bill pending in the California Legislature, according to Governor Gillett, “treats all aliens alike” in regards to ownership of real property. As such, he does not see how it would be objectionable to Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-23

Telegram from James Norris Gillett to Theodore Roosevelt

Governor Gillett telegrams President Roosevelt that the bill in the California Legislature treats all aliens alike in regards to real property. He does not see how it would be objectionable to Japan or any other nation. In a handwritten response below the telegram, President Roosevelt informs Gillett that Secretary of State Elihu Root will send word concerning the real property rights of aliens. Roosevelt himself will write concerning the other bills.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-23

Letter from Elihu Root to James Norris Gillett

Secretary of State Root sees no objection to passing a law that treats all aliens alike in acquiring and transferring real property. Root tells California Governor Norris that in order to prevent conflict with the Constitution of the United States, the statute should include a provision providing for exceptions relating to rights secured by treaties with foreign nations. Root references several Supreme Court cases with relevant decisions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-25

Letter from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of State Root sends a memorandum to President Roosevelt about the bills in the California Legislature.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-25

Letter from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of State Root gives President Roosevelt his impressions of bills in the California legislature relating to the Japanese.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-25

Letter from William Kent to Theodore Roosevelt

William Kent discusses his beliefs on the Japanese racial issue in California and sends President Roosevelt an editorial from California Weekly. Kent compares what is happening on the Hawaiian islands to California and is glad that California is not being settled as rapidly as other parts of the country. Kent believes that in matters of Japanese immigrants “distance will best sanctify our traditional friendship for each other.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-29

Letter from Andrew Carnegie to Theodore Roosevelt

As President of the New York Peace Society, Andrew Carnegie informs President Roosevelt that a meeting may soon take place to attempt to sway Governor of California James Norris Gillett to stop certain anti-Japanese immigration bills in the California legislature. Carnegie believes, however, that it may be wise to wait for further developments before such a meeting takes place and asks for Roosevelt’s input.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-21

Letter from Charles Fletcher Lummis to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Fletcher Lummis wishes President Roosevelt “Good Hunting” while he is in Africa, and hopes to give him “a lot of good stuff” from his collection on Spanish America once he gets back. Lately, Lummis has been receiving “nice reminders” from those involved in the Apache Wars. Lummis attaches a signed photograph of himself and would like Roosevelt to send one of himself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-21

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge returns some letters from Prescott F. Hall to President Roosevelt and reports on his findings regarding Hall’s allegations. Lodge’s Commision on Immigration found that appeal reversals did not increase under Secretary of Commerce and Labor Oscar S. Straus. Lodge has found no proof that Leslie M. Shaw’s personal views have affected governmental operations. Lodge has visited Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, and can find no evidence of what Hall alleges. Lodge found evidence of immigration enforcement corruption in California, but believes it has been remedied. In Chicago, Lodge found evidence of police corruption in enforcing laws against prostitution. In the southern states, Lodge has found problems with nepotism. Lodge emphasizes that it will take a great deal of time to collect evidence and create reports of his investigations. Lodge is pleased to hear of President Roosevelt’s African safari plans, but warns him to be careful of flies carrying sleeping sickness. He writes about the impressive dike engineering in the Netherlands, and of a book by Maurice Maeterlinck he believes the Roosevelts will enjoy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-26