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Canals--Government policy

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Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that General Hamilton Smith Hawkins and his family have had “more than enough” favors in their details already. He encloses a confidential letter from Stevens. He also encloses a letter from Theodore P. Shonts regarding James Alexander Scrymser’s telegraph company. Roosevelt and Secretary of State Elihu Root both disagree with Shonts that the telegraph industry should be “thrown open to all people.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William H. Taft to Eugene Hale

Letter from William H. Taft to Eugene Hale

Secretary of War Taft would prefer a provision that goods used in constructing the Panama Canal be transported in American ships unless the price would be exorbitant. He would alternatively like to buy two ships of American registry if they can be used to transport supplies to Panama, but only if they can buy at a price and circumstance that will make it a “fairly just” bargain. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge agrees, and Taft requests that Senator Hale add the provision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-01

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William S. Cowles

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William S. Cowles

Governor Roosevelt encloses a document from an Oyster Bay, New York, neighbor who has questions regarding what circumstances would allow his discharge. Roosevelt is confused over Secretary of State Hay’s and President McKinley’s views on the canal treaty. If such a canal as they suggest existed during the Spanish-American War there would have been a great deal of anxiety over the Spanish fleet using the canal to attack the Pacific coast or Admiral Dewey in the Philippines. Roosevelt wants a canal held and fortified by the United States.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-02-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William S. Cowles

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William S. Cowles

Governor Roosevelt believes that the proposed canal should be fortified. If it is not, the canal would be another weak point to watch over during a conflict. If the canal had existed during the Spanish-American War, American forces would have needed to defend the canal to prevent the Spanish fleet from crossing into the Pacific Ocean and causing problems in a new theater. Roosevelt also favors an American canal as he does not want to see European powers gain new interests in the Americas.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-02-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919