Your TR Source
Secretary of War Root sends President Roosevelt an extract from the recent encyclical of Archbishop Mariano Soler of Montevideo.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-30
Bellamy Storer writes to President Roosevelt asking him to consider the facts, which Storer has enclosed as a statement of points, regarding his dismissal from diplomatic service. The dismissal was based on the grounds that both Storer’s conduct, in his capacity as an American ambassador, and his wife Maria Longworth Storer’s conduct in Rome, blurred the lines of public office and personal opinion regarding the promotion of Archbishop John Ireland to Cardinal. Storer defends his actions, including full and partial correspondence between those chiefly involved, to prove that he was acting in his public capacity at the request of President Roosevelt, which Roosevelt now denies. Storer is aggrieved that he was dismissed before his letter of resignation could have reached Washington since he was on leave in Egypt at the time he received Roosevelt’s request for his resignation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-18
Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission (ICC) Stevens has received a telegram from ICC Chairman Shonts, presumably prompted by an article by Poultney Bigelow in the Cosmopolitan, asking whether employees of the Panama Railroad Company or Canal officials own land in Colón. Stevens asks William Grant Bierd, General Manager of the Panama Railroad Company, for a list of those who own land in this town and if any leases have been made within the last year so that he can advise Shonts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-06
Judge Tracey writes to President Roosevelt from the Philippines regarding a judicial controversy over church buildings there. The supreme court has been waiting for a fitting case that would address the issue neatly, without involving too many extraneous questions that could result in the decision being too broadly applied. There are other tensions between the church and the government, as well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-24
John Barrett writes to President Roosevelt before his historic diplomatic trip with Elihu Root through Ecuador, Panama, and Colombia. Barrett is working with President Reyes and other leaders to create a peace treaty between Colombia, Panama, and the United States. The Colombians seek concessions from Panama and the U.S., including free passage of Colombian shipping through the Panama Canal. In return Colombia will have a “favorable attitude” to shipping interests in the United States. Barrett includes his itinerary for his trip through Ecuador.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-02
Archbishop Ireland writes to President Roosevelt thanking him for the invitation to visit the White House. However, he decided not to visit “to avoid newspaper misrepresentation of [his] purpose for going there.” He discussed his visit to the Vatican where he talked about “the situation of the church in the Philippines.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-15
U.S. Governor-General of the Philippines Ide writes to Secretary of War Taft regarding a religious case that involves the Philippine Commissioner of Commerce and Police Forbes, the Archbishop of Manila Harty, and Noble. Ide mentions that Noble faced charges and had to make a testimony due to his alleged actions against the Church. Harty, Noble, and others were questioned about the situation by Forbes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-13
Silas McBee tells President Roosevelt that his visit to Rome has been delightful beyond expectations. McBee has learned much first hand from both the state and the church, and he believes that the ultimate “problem” is one of human need and satisfaction. McBee had a candid and productive discussion with the King of Italy, noting his surprise at the king’s frankness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-25
Father Doyle informs President Roosevelt of a crisis involving Archbishop Harty. Doyle states that executive interposition could save the Archbishop from going to the opposition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-02
Eugene A. Philbin showed Archbishop John M. Farley Roosevelt’s letter to Bellamy Storer dated December 11, 1905. Farley was pleased with the respect shown to the Catholic Church. Monsignor John Edwards, already an admirer of Roosevelt, was also pleased with the letter. Neither man holds ill will against Archbishop John Ireland. Philbin believes that church and state must be kept apart. Any reciprocal relationship between the two would be “intolerable.” Philbin is glad that Storer brought this problem to light and created a new standard for public life. Storer had used President Roosevelt’s name and his own diplomatic position in trying to get Ireland named a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, which led to Storer’s dismissal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-08
This document compiles research regarding the foundation and present condition, including value and ownership, of four Catholic organizations in Manila, which Secretary of War Taft discussed in an address at the University of Notre Dame.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-27
Cardinal Gibbons tells President Roosevelt he regretted being asked to forward an earlier letter from Archbishop J. J. Harty because of its brusqueness. He now encloses another letter from the Apostolic Delegate in the Philippines, Archbishop Ambrose Agius. Gibbons has “no knowledge whatever of the merits of the case,” but appeals to Roosevelt’s sense of justice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-28
Henry C. Ide, acting Governor-General of the Philippines, requests that Archbishop Harty withdraw his letter to the Philippine Commission to prevent it being accessible to who want to develop hostility on the islands. Ide explains his position on church property ownership and administration in the Philippines, his investigation of complaints regarding the Catholic Church, his interactions with the Apostolic Delegates that have been stationed there, and his belief in the public education initiative.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-02
Cardinal Gibbons forwards a document upon the wishes of Archbishop J. J. Harty. The document should appeal to President Roosevelt’s sense of fair play and justice. By sustaining the just claims of Harty, Roosevelt will strengthen the authority of the American Government in Manila, while the Church acts as the guardian of peace.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-11
Maurice Francis Egan encloses a piece from the editor of The Sun in Syracuse, New York, which he deems a “very important Catholic paper.” He will hold off on publishing President Roosevelt’s letters until Roosevelt gives him permission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-07
Maria Longworth Storer writes to Secretary of War Taft about the status of Archbishop John Ireland’s possible selection for cardinal. Storer had previously written to President Roosevelt about her concerns. She offered to carry a cable directly to Pope Pius X about the president’s good opinion of the archbishop. Her intentions are to bypass the prelates who are not in favor of the archbishop’s nomination. Two copies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-27
Eugene A. Philbin writes on behalf of Cabot Ward, who applied for a position in the Puerto Rican government. Philbin believes that the appointment of Ward would be very satisfactory to the Catholic Church and that Ward is an experienced lawyer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-05
An article in the California Christian Advocate has published an article discussing Maria Longworth Storer’s attempt to secure President Roosevelt’s endorsement in a “scheme” to convince Pope Pius X to appoint Archbishop John Ireland a cardinal. Roosevelt did not give his endorsement because it would be improper to interfere in the official business of the Catholic church. Nonetheless, Storer “caused the impression to be conveyed to the pope that the President desired Ireland” for the cardinal position, although Pope Pius X denies this. The writer of the article believes Roosevelt to be “so open-minded, so sincere, so frank, that the Roman church has found him an easy mark for its schemes.” The writer goes on to accuse Rome of “defying” the President by trying to prevent the recall of Ambassador Storer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-22
Secretary of War Taft does not think that Alice Roosevelt posed with Gregorio Aglipay, and that even if she had, it should not be viewed by anyone as interfering with the pleasant relations between the Catholic Church and the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-06
This speech, created by the members of the Catholic American Pilgrimage of 1906, addresses Pope Pius X, and speaks about the state of the Catholic Church in the United States. Noting the large increase in the number of Catholics since the inception of the church in the United States, the group also speaks of the religious freedom present in the nation, and quotes Theodore Roosevelt’s support of both Catholic and Protestant presidents.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906