Cannon, Joseph Gurney, 1836-1926

Letter from Leslie M. Shaw to J. S. Sherman

Leslie M. Shaw informs J. S. Sherman that there is no longer doubt about their victory in the congressional campaign after Speaker Cannon’s speech, President Roosevelt’s letter, and Col. Bryan’s acceptance. Shaw recommends sending Republican speakers through neglected Democratic districts in the South where the margin of victory was small to begin cultivating support that might lead to Republican victories in 1916.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-05

Letter from Leslie M. Shaw to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Treasury Shaw sends a copy of the letter he sent to J. S. Sherman regarding Shaw’s upcoming speech in Texas. Shaw mentions Joseph Gurney Cannon’s speech, President Roosevelt’s letter, and William Jennings Bryan’s acceptance. Shaw would have included Secretary of War Taft’s speech if he had seen it sooner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-06

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft returns to President Roosevelt the letters from White and William H. Fleming. Taft does not think there is anything to do about the charges against General Leonard Wood, which he considers largely untrue and slanderous. Taft read Fleming’s letter, and is surprised Thomas W. Hardwick could have been elected to Congress. There is no need to dignify Hardwick’s statements about repealing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments, which granted citizenship and voting rights to African Americans, as he “writes himself down an ass.” Taft tells Roosevelt that he is welcome to discuss the plan with Congressman Joseph Gurney Cannon. In a postscript, Taft clarifies that he read Fleming’s letter again and acknowledges that the situation is perhaps more serious than he suspected, and Congress ought to take notice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-23

Letter to John F. Stevens

The writer sends Chief Engineer Stevens the invitation for proposals for construction on the Panama Canal; the writer struggled with the section on compensation for the contractors. They are also consulting with Speaker Cannon and Senator Spooner on the language of the letter of transmission. Due to the reorganization enacted by President Roosevelt and Secretary of War Taft, the onus will be on the writer and Stevens. The writer thinks Stevens should be present for the formal awarding of the contract. They inquire after Stevens’ family and write that they have been “knocked out” for the past several days.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-27

Letter from William D. Washburn to Theodore Roosevelt

William D. Washburn thanks President Roosevelt for his letter, but cannot agree with some of Roosevelt’s statements that there is no analogy between the current political situation and the divisions related to slavery that caused the destruction of the Whig party (in spite of the obvious moral differences). Washburn adamantly disagrees with the statement that the tariff should not be discussed as a party issue, and fears that by not addressing it the Republican party will be soundly defeated. He further disagrees with the premise that the tariff and trusts are entirely separate issues, and gives an example to try to disprove this.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-27

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge praises President Roosevelt’s letter. Lodge thinks Speaker Cannon’s speech on the labor issue was courageous, and he deserves to have them stand by him. Lodge has seen indicators that Charles E. Littlefield will win, which he thinks will have a great influence for good throughout the country. Lodge has written to Attorney General Moody that the Republican party ought to draw its platform in exact accord with Roosevelt’s letter. Henry Melville Whitney, Eugene Foss, and the Boston Herald are pressuring Governor Guild to come out for present revision and against Roosevelt, which Lodge thinks would be a foolish thing to do. Lodge feels that the Republicans should all unite on Roosevelt’s letter. John B. Moran is apparently going to carry off the Democratic nomination, and Lodge thinks this will lead to a nasty personal campaign in which Republican union will be all-important.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-28

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft has received President Roosevelt’s letter and agrees with Roosevelt’s thoughts about who to appoint to fill the circuit judgeship. Taft sends a copy of a speech to Roosevelt for suggestions and makes some remarks about its contents. He also notifies Roosevelt about a “sinister article on the Philippines” that has been published in Collier’s Weekly. Taft also encloses a letter on Panama he had received for Roosevelt to read.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-28

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on several matters. The Court of Enquiry’s findings exculpate Admiral Robley D. Evans, though Admiral George Albert Converse hints that Evans’s rapid signals may have contributed to the collision. Bonaparte will scrutinize the matter carefully. He encloses a report from the commander of the Portsmouth, and though the New Jersey militiamen performed no “great feat,” he suggests sending praise anyway because naval officers are “decidedly ‘sniffy'” toward them. Bonaparte has received many favorable letters about anarchism, but the occasional unfavorable ones amuse him and he has enclosed one such letter. He feels that the Navy faces an uphill battle meeting its needs due to the clashing views of those on the deciding committees.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-19

Letter from Albert J. Beveridge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Albert J. Beveridge sends his Portland speech for President Roosevelt to read. Beveridge assures Roosevelt that those detracting from the constructive work of his administration will not succeed and that the credit for the Republicans’ successes in the upcoming election is due to Roosevelt. In conversations with businessmen throughout the country, Beveridge has learned that many desire change to the tariff schedules. He reflects that Joseph Gurney Cannon and many older politicians are missing the spirit of the times and of the American people. He hopes to see Roosevelt when he passes through New York after his New Hampshire vacation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-21

Telegram from James E. Watson to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Watson has received a telephone message from Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon and Representative J. S. Sherman, and eagerly awaits the letter from President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-17

Letter from William D. Washburn to Theodore Roosevelt

William D. Washburn offers President Roosevelt his views on the matter of tariff reform. He has heard that, as the result of a meeting between Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon, James Sherman, and Roosevelt, the issue of revision of the tariff is not going to be a campaign issue. Washburn argues against this, saying that in the states of the Mississippi River Valley, and in Minnesota in particular, the tariff is still an important issue that deserves to be addressed. He points out that when the Whig party dismissed the issue of slavery, a new party rose up to address it and killed off the old one. If the Republican party ignores the issue of the tariff, history could repeat itself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-09

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft encloses to President Roosevelt a letter from Minister to Panama Charles E. Magoon. Taft believes that it would be a “good stroke” to appoint Colonel William Crawford Gorgas Governor of the Panama Canal Zone. He also believes William Franklin Sands will make a good Minister, but it is fine to delay action until September. Taft notifies Roosevelt that he is preparing a speech, which he will deliver to the Republican State Committee of Maine after making any changes Roosevelt feels are necessary to best represent the administration and the party. Taft believes that the party is taking the correct stance in regard to trade unions. Although trade unions are to be given all possible liberty under the law to carry out the organization’s legitimate purposes, they are not to be put in the privileged class.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-06

Letter from J. S. Sherman to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Sherman sends President Roosevelt a letter from House Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon. Sherman agrees with Cannon that Roosevelt should write to Republican whip James E. Watson in the manner discussed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-07

Letter from Edgar D. Crumpacker to Theodore Roosevelt

Edgar D. Crumpacker writes to President Roosevelt about rumors in the press that Roosevelt, House Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon, and other Republicans plan to take a “stand pat” policy which would mean any policy changes related to tariffs would be off the table. Rank and file Republicans seek revisions to tariff schedules and customs duties and may not vote with the party if no action is taken. Crumpacker feels this decision will likely turn the House democratic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-28

Letter from James E. Watson to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Watson, of Indiana, notifies President Roosevelt that the Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon approves Roosevelt’s plan to help the Republican Party. Watson would like to meet with Representative J. S. Sherman and Roosevelt together, but he is unable to do so due to speaking engagements at congressional conventions in Ohio and West Virginia. Watson hopes for a letter from Roosevelt in which Roosevelt will “vigorously” express his views on the current political controversy, clarifying that there are no vital differences between the president and the congress, as the Democrats persistently claim.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-31

Letter from James E. Watson to Theodore Roosevelt

James E. Watson writes to Theodore Roosevelt about the upcoming elections for the House of Representatives. Watson suggests that Roosevelt publicly expresses his hope for a Republican House. Watson also announces his campaign for the upcoming elections.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-23

Letter from Edward Hubert Butler to William Leob

Edward Hubert Butler urges William Loeb to dissuade President Roosevelt from saying that he will not seek reelection. Butler believes that regardless of Roosevelt’s statements, the Republican Party will nominate him and he will certainly win because his presidency has brought about the most prosperous period in the nation’s history.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-25

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge is much more confident now, after their discussions with Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, that the bills in question will pass. It took some negotiating, but they were able to secure a promise to bring the bill to a vote without making too many modifications. President Roosevelt is to say nothing of this until the next session.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-03

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge notifies President Roosevelt of the likelihood that certain key bills about pipe lines, trust regulation, and coal mines are likely to be defeated. There are organized efforts to defeat the bills. Lodge hopes that Roosevelt can step in and intervene to assist on the passing of the bills in any capacity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-29

Letter from Sereno Elisha Payne to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Payne encloses a letter he sent to General Grosvenor, Speaker Cannon, Colonel Hepburn, and John Dalzell as well as responses from Grosvenor and Dalzell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-26