Your TR Source
Ernest Harvier tells Theodore Roosevelt that Roosevelt’s “insurgent friends” saw wins in a recent California election and encloses a newspaper clipping from a Los Angeles newspaper that recognizes the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. He hopes Roosevelt does not get involved with a local canvass, which Harvier disagrees with.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-14
Henry N. tum Suden writes to Theodore Roosevelt that Hiram Johnson, governor of California, is stumping for the Initiative Referendum and Recall Amendment. Judson King, field lecturer of the National Referendum League, is speaking with the press. Tum Suden is confident that the lobby will be successful in California, and he hopes they can eventually bring the amendment to the National Constitution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-23
William Kent informs Theodore Roosevelt that President William H. Taft is unfit for office, citing his veto of the Arizona statehood bill, poor treatment of honorable men, and weak leadership. Kent urges Roosevelt not to support Taft’s reelection, warns against endorsing an unworthy candidate, and calls for Republican Party reform to end special privilege legislation and protective tariffs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-13
British Foreign Secretary Grey updates President Roosevelt about James Bryce’s plans regarding his upcoming trip to Canada and the ongoing conversations about the best position to take at the International Peace Conference. Grey hopes the diplomatic debacle following Jamaican Governor James Alexander Swettenham’s refusal of American help after the Kingston Earthquake is blowing over, as well as the conflict between the Japanese Government and America regarding California. Grey thinks that King Léopold II of Belgium should relinquish control of the Congo, which he believes should pass to the Belgian Government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-12
Clara Louise Stone Hay thanks President Roosevelt for returning the letters and tells him that she is taking a trip to California “to find sunshine and flowers.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-04
Secretary of State Root tells President Roosevelt that the letter from George Kennan should be read aloud at their next meeting with the Special Ambassadors from California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-02
Ambassador Francis has read Mr. Conant’s letter to President Roosevelt and asks William Loeb to send to the Department of State for a number of his dispatches to be given to Roosevelt to read. The remainder of the letter examines the Austrian Phoenix Company’s San Francisco losses and the issues claimants are having dealing with the defaulting company. Francis explains he put pressure on the Imperial Minister of Foreign Affairs “to the end that the Austrian Government should, unofficially, force” the company to pay its policy holders in California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-18
David Starr Jordan thinks that if Americanism is the true motto of the country, then Japanese immigrants who meet all the qualifications should be naturalized as citizens. President Roosevelt and his administration have been successful in preventing the creation of a “Jim Crow” class while also protecting America’s dignity in interacting with Japan. Even in interfering in local matters, it has only been limited to when there are possible constitutional violations at stake, like when the local school board in San Francisco made their ruling about the Japanese school-aged children. There are definite economic advantages to maintaining trade with Asia, but an influx of immigration to the United States does raise some valid concerns along economic and social lines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-03
This article, published in The Outlook, seeks to present the principles which “should, and eventually will, determine the whole question of the treatment of the Oriental races in this country.” Considering specifically the case of California, where Japanese children were being excluded from public schools, the article highlights three issues: the prerogative of the states to control and make decisions about public schooling, the right of the Federal Government to determine who may enter into the country, and the power of Congress to make naturalization laws to determine who may become a citizen. After explaining these, the article then applies them to the situation in California.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-29
The article praises President Roosevelt’s bravery in advocating on behalf of the Japanese people amidst the persecution they have suffered in California. America can be proud of having such a statesman in leadership.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-10
Benjamin Ide Wheeler writes that Frank P. Flint has won the Senate seat. Wheeler recommends Flint as an honest man, and a supporter of President Roosevelt’s administration, though not of “supreme ability or thorough education.” Flint was “selected” by the Southern Pacific Railway and so will not take issue with “railroad interests.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-13
Elisabeth D. Nielson Riis thanks President Roosevelt for his friendship. Jacob A. Riis is away for his health in California, but is expected to return soon. Riis writes that she and her family will do their best to be present at Roosevelt’s inauguration, and that only death or sickness will stop them. The rest of the Riis family is doing well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-27
Stewart Edward White writes to President Roosevelt that he has “passed along word to [Joseph] LeConte” and will inform Roosevelt of LeConte’s response. White asks Roosevelt to say hello to Mike Dwyer. White also states he is going on a cougar hunt in Arizona.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-24
The writer reports on the political situation in California, now that Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna has died. It appears likely that the Republicans will nominate President Roosevelt at their state convention next week. If William Randolph Hearst is nominated for the Democrats, there will be a fight to carry California, but it is likely Roosevelt will win the state. If Alton B. Parker or another conservative Democrat is nominated, it is all but certain that he will win it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04
President Roosevelt holds back a fighting Uncle Sam and a Japanese man. Caption: “Gently, guys! And don’t you think about my peace prize?”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-16
President Roosevelt holding his “big stick” and San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz in his arms steps up on a platform, “Conquest of California.” In the background are other figurines of Roosevelt: “San Juan Hill,” “Russian Jap Peace,” and “Anti-race Suicide.”
T. S. Sullivant was one of the great American cartoonists of his time, active mostly between the 1890s and his death in 1926. His specialties were animal subjects and ethnic themes. Between roughly 1904 and 1909, he was employed by William Randolph Hearst, principally to draw daily political cartoons. The drawings often were cartoon masterpieces, but unlike his earlier and subsequent work for magazines and color supplements — both rare enough today — are virtually inaccessible to scholars due to the scarcity of newspaper files.
This commentary by Sullivant is one example. It is mildly critical of Roosevelt — for instance, the inevitable Rough Rider outfit is inappropriate except for one cited accomplishment — but notes a few of the substantial achievements of a life that indeed was busy.
The California delegation on the Japanese question include San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz and San Francisco Board of Education secretary in 1907 Elmore C. Leffingwell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-15
Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon says, “Tariff revision or an extra session!” in one cartoon. The next includes a teddy bear and President Roosevelt reading a paper that says, “Mr. President: Anything you say goes! California.” Another cartoon depicts a government clerk holding a bag that says, “50% salary increase” while Uncle Sam says, “And more if necessary.” The next cartoon depicts William Jennings Bryan saying to William Randolph Hearst, “After you, my dear Willie!” with a sign that reads, “To presidency.” Another one shows South Carolina senator Benjamin R. Tillman depicted with a pitchfork walking toward the White House with a dove of peace. Finally, the last cartoon depicts Senator Joseph Benson Foraker with a sign that says, “Reenlistment” in front of a group of soldiers labeled, “25th Infantry” — the black regiment at the center of the Brownsville Incident.
When cartoonist Clifford Kennedy Berryman switched, shortly prior to this drawing’s publication, from the Evening Star from the Washington Post, his drawing style improved: a better ability to capture celebrities’ likenesses to place atop little bodies. This cartoon fell back on the erstwhile cartoonists’ annual chestnut — a reliable theme to use once a year, the Valentine cards for politicians — either dream-fantasies or the unlikeliest of scenarios.
A man labeled “California” and a man labeled “Jap” fight over a picnic basket full of food labeled “Public Schools,” threatening to capsize their boat. Uncle Sam looks on, holding a fishing pole that has three fish on it, says, “Quit it! Quit it!”
Anti-Japanese prejudice in California was so rife at this time, that the state attempted to exclude Japanese immigrants from public schools. It was a public and ugly controversy, spearheaded by, among others, San Francisco publisher William Randolph Hearst. He fanned the flames of prejudice through cartoons — more effective with his readers than printed editorials — once showing a Japanese schoolboy hiding plans to invade the West Coast in his textbook.
A “California Congressman” pokes a beehive labeled “Trouble with Japan,” out of which angry bees are attacking the congressman.
This cartoon illustrates a fractious problem of President Roosevelt’s second term, the persistent and sometimes ugly anti-Asian prejudice on the West Coast — mostly in California; mostly aimed at Japanese immigrants, more than other “Orientals.”