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Charles Mifflin Hammond thanks President Roosevelt for his letter of introduction to the captains and admirals of the battle fleet, who let him go anywhere he wants. He expects to have the time of his life. Hammond also indicates that California is looking forward to the arrival of the Great White Fleet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-31
Admiral George Dewey writes to Secretary of War Taft to report on a meeting of the Joint Board discussing the defenses of Puget Sound. The meeting discussed several alleged deficiencies in the defense that had been raised by United States Representative William E. Humphrey of Washington State. Dewey reviews these charges, as well as general information about Puget Sound and the measures already taken for its defense. The Board concludes that once presently-planned changes to the defenses of Puget Sound are completed, they will be sufficient with assistance from the Navy, but at present they are not sufficient. Dewey outlines several steps that the board recommends.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-20
Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on a variety of cases the Administration has in courts. First, Civil Service Commissioner Alford Warriner Cooley is reluctant to travel to Colorado or Oregon because two cases relating to civil service law will be tried in the Supreme Court soon. Second, Bonaparte has sent a report about a scandal involving New Mexico judge Daniel Hugh McMillan to New Mexico, as the report damages only McMillan. Bonaparte has also arranged for Thomas Carl Spelling and L. Allison Wilmer to prepare and conduct cases against coal-carrying roads under the Hepburn Act. Finally, Bonaparte encloses a communication relating to matters regarding the Alaska Syndicate and the Morgan-Guggenheim interests in Alaska. A dispute between Senator Simon Guggenheim and Governor Wilford B. Hoggatt over land rights of railroads has led to bloodshed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-08
George C. Pardee, former Governor of California, warns that Secretary of War William H. Taft should not trust Edward Henry Harriman when he says he supports Taft’s nomination. Harriman and the Southern Pacific Railroad Company’s Political Bureau consider Taft too similar to President Roosevelt and, in the likely case they are involved with the California delegation to the Republican National Convention, would break from supporting him if the opportunity presents itself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-13
Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot provides William Loeb with information about the Lincoln-Roosevelt League in California, which he hears is making progress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-13
C. Hart Merriam sends President Roosevelt information he requested about the Biological Survey for use in Roosevelt’s message to Congress. Merriam just returned from a trip along the Mexican boundary. He learned that the Desert Bighorn is still common in the Colorado desert and that the mule deer sticks to the desert.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-01
President of the University of California Wheeler strongly opposes appointing Charles E. Thomas the postmaster of Berkeley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-16
German Ambassador Sternburg shares information gathered by a German military attaché in Japan with President Roosevelt. Japan has been improving her army and navy in order to defend recent gains in war against Russia and maintain her possessions on the mainland, rather than in preparation for renewed aggression in the short term. The attaché suggests, however, that Japan expects another war with Russia in the next five to ten years. This informant maintains that Japan could not conduct aggressive actions in the near future without substantial “sacrifice of blood and money.” A war with the United States would mean the loss of important trade. If Japan had wanted to go to war over the treatment of Japanese immigrants in the United States, she would have aroused public sentiment to that end in the press, but has not done so. That said, it would be a mistake to believe the Japanese have not been deeply offended by events in California, and could turn public opinion to war in the coming years. The informant concludes that while Japan is not on an immediate footing for war with the United States, it is a concern for the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-29
German Ambassador Sternburg tells President Roosevelt that if his own representatives in Mexico had not told him of a recent wave of Japanese immigrants there, he would not have given the matter any attention, calling the idea of a Japanese reserve of men stationed to attack the United States “quixotic.” A German naval attaché in Tokyo says Japan is not considering another war in the near future. Sternburg includes a lengthy excerpt from a letter from German diplomat Friedrich von Holstein, who says that British diplomacy, led by King Edward VII, is geared toward using Japan as a “bogey,” stoking anxiety in Russia and the United States about the possibility of Japan initiating hostilities. Sternburg mentions a recent newspaper article that says Germany is actually spreading anti-Japanese feeling, which he finds amusing. Sternburg praises the Great White Fleet’s trip to the Pacific, and notes that many former soldiers emigrate from their home countries, “war seems to create a restless spirit among the fighters.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-19
Senator Jonathan Bourne conveys to William Loeb that a friend in California believes that the political machine of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company is still in control there. Bourne writes that the meeting with Judge William C. Van Fleet will have to wait until he returns from a trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-24
Ambassador to Great Britain Reid has received photographs of President Roosevelt show jumping a horse, and will present them to King Edward VII when there are fewer dignitaries in town. Reid is amused by Roosevelt’s remark that he was not sure if his “encounter” with labor leaders and socialists was covered in the English papers – Reid describes the coverage as mostly in Roosevelt’s favor, adding his thoughts on the danger of anarchist ideas infiltrating labor movements in the United States and abroad. Reid discusses the similarity between the conflict between California and Japan and Newfoundland and the United States. Finally, Reid comments on the ongoing talks at the International Peace Conference at the Hague.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-07
Ambassador White updates President Roosevelt on diplomatic events in France and elsewhere: White attended a dinner with several important French diplomats where Roosevelt was spoken of warmly and “Washington topics” were warmly recalled; a state visit from the King and Queen of Norway that was cordial except for one Swedish minister who was quite rude to the King at a reception; the state of relations between Japan and California; and the appointment of Thomas J. O’Brien as ambassador to Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-29
This article describes an interview given by Kentarō Kaneko, a longtime advocate of friendly relations between Japan and the United States, to Kokumin. Kaneko voices his opposition to the anti-Japanese crusades going on in America, especially regarding the segregation of Japanese schoolchildren in California. He finds these attitudes doubly offensive in the wake of a large donation made by the Japanese people to earthquake relief in California despite a famine in Japan. Kaneko is pleased that Japanese newspapers remain moderate, probably due to Japanese gratitude for American charity funds.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-26
Victor Howard Metcalf updates President Roosevelt about the tense situation growing between Japan and the United States over the segregation of Japanese children in schools. The California Supreme Court’s decision will be based on whether or not the treaty with Japan had a “most favored nation” clause. This will determine what the United States’, and thus California’s, obligation is to educate immigrant Japanese students in the same manner that it educates immigrant children from European descent, who are educated as if they were American children. United States District Attorney Devlin seems to think the clause was not included. This needs to be determined to decide whether or not segregating the students was in violation of the treaty. Metcalf notes hostility to the Chinese that is nearly as bad as towards Chinese immigrants and mentions that both parties are in support of legislation to restrict Japanese immigrants.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-02
William Sturgis Bigelow is very happy with Theodore Roosevelt’s response to his letter and his actions regarding the California boycott and Japanese naturalization. Bigelow praises Roosevelt’s oratory skills and states that the Japanese will be very happy with the promise of naturalization.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-30
William Sturgis Bigelow discusses Japanese sentiment toward the United States in the wake of some racial tensions in California. Bigelow suggests that Roosevelt endorse the idea of naturalization for Japanese in the country, because that might instill some goodwill toward the United States in Japan. Bigelow states that a boycott would hurt California, but would “serve her right” in the wake of legislation against “Mongolians.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-25
Herbert Parsons met with Postmaster Cortelyou to go over suggestions forwarded to the Republican gubernatorial candidate in New York, Charles Evans Hughes, most of which had to do with antisemitism in newspapers of Democratic candidate William Randolph Hearst. Parsons was also part of the Judiciary Convention which nominated Otto Rosalasky while taking the rest of the Judiciary Nominator’s ticket. Parsons urges Roosevelt to endorse James L. Wells as a candidate to represent the Bronx.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-11
Herbert Parsons, president of New York County’s Republican Committee tells President Theodore Roosevelt of a letter by Frank Cobb of The World. Parsons feels, though, that the words of California’s labor men will be even more effective than the words of Republicans like George A. Knight.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-16
Governor General of the Philippines Smith reports to Secretary of War Taft that Dean C. Worcester is very sick with maltreated Bright’s Disease and is out of work for two months. His wife Nanon Leas Worcester is in California and asks that the matter be kept confidential.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-23
F. P. Stearns compares the Gatun Dam in Panama to several dams in California in regard to structural integrity during an earthquake.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-18