Your TR Source
President Roosevelt believes that Chilion B. Allen understands how short of money the campaign committees are. Roosevelt believes that William H. Taft and Governor Charles Evans Hughes are doing everything they can for him, but asks for the name of Rev. D. D. of Brooklyn, who Allen says is “accepting Republican money.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt passes on a selection from Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill, suggesting that William H. Taft should not attack Samuel Gompers by name. Doing so may make labor men more likely to support Gompers. Daniel J. Keefe of the Longshoremen’s Union strongly supports Taft. Roosevelt has been speaking with Charles Hitchcock Sherrill, who says he has a plan to gain labor support in New York. Roosevelt compliments Taft on his work on the campaign trail and notes his concerns about re-electing Charles Evans Hughes as governor of New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-10
President Roosevelt discusses the election prospects in various states. In particular he discusses the conditions in Ohio and New York, where “underground forces” are working against William H. Taft. However, Roosevelt believes that they will pull through and win the election. He believes that Charles Evans Hughes will win his election in New York as well. Roosevelt is glad that Senator Lodge is going on the stump. Hughes, Lodge, and Senator Albert J. Beveridge are the speakers who are most in demand.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-21
President Roosevelt is concerned about what James A. Sleicher tells him about the attitude of the Jews, as he had thought they were favorable. Roosevelt believes that it was only the lack of funds that stopped Charles M. Harvey’s articles from being published. He believes that when New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes returns to the state, he will end up ahead.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt praises Governor Hughes’s efforts campaigning for William H. Taft and the Republicans in the West. Hughes’s actions, leaving New York and potentially jeopardizing his own re-election for the party, has gained him support. Roosevelt advises Hughes to continue his “aggressive hard-hitting” against William Jennings Bryan, and in particular to focus on the judiciary. Roosevelt believes that some people who oppose Taft because of his religion will support Hughes, while some foreigners who oppose Hughes will support Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-14
Senator Lodge and William Sturgis Bigelow have recovered the coin that President Roosevelt sent. Lodge thinks it is a great success. Lodge clarifies the situation regarding Boston Surveyor of the Port Jeremiah J. McCarthy. McCarthy opposes the installation of Moses B. Mann as Deputy Surveyor and feels that he should be able to choose the man to fill the position because he worked for William H. Taft. Lodge discusses the election and says that he wants Charles Evans Hughes to be elected New York governor. He believes that the situation for Republicans is good, both nationally and in Massachusetts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-13
Senator Lodge is glad to hear that Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf’s quote about him was misrepresented. Regarding what President Roosevelt says about Comptroller Lawrence O. Murray, Lodge says that the thing to do is “weed out the bad men,” which Murray has not done. Rather, Murray has denounced all men, good and bad, in speeches. In response to Roosevelt’s telegram, Lodge says that he can give speeches for three days this month, but that he will only speak in big cities, because he has to miss meetings to give the speeches. In a postscript, Lodge expresses surprise at a meeting Brooks Adams presided over in Quincy, where he praised Roosevelt and William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-17
New York Governor Hughes thanks President Roosevelt for the letter congratulating him on the success of his speaking tour of the West. He wishes that he could have spoken throughout the entire country. Hughes updates Roosevelt on the state of the elections in New York. He believes that if Republican enthusiasm remains high, he and William H. Taft will both win. Since returning from his speaking tour, Hughes has been focusing on state issues.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-18
Winthrop Chanler sends President Roosevelt a new book on “the game critters” in Africa. He jokingly suggests that after Roosevelt is finished with it, he give it to William Jennings Bryan and “advise him to take up shooting off something better than his mouth.” Chanler will be in Washington on Sunday, and would like to see Roosevelt if possible. He tells Roosevelt that he is planning to vote for William H. Taft and Lewis S. Chanler in the upcoming election, but warns him not to let William Randolph Hearst know. Chanler’s family is looking forward to spending the winter in Rome.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-19
Governor Hughes updates President Roosevelt on his efforts on the campaign trail in New York. Hughes believes that the past week has been very successful for his campaign, as Lewis S. Chanler’s questions were a blunder. Events in Buffalo and Rochester were successful, and things are looking up in the rest of the state as well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-25
Senator Lodge has received the very incriminating newspapers covering the situation between Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and John D. Archbold. Although it is distressing to see such an outcome for a politician, it also validating due to Foraker’s actions against President Roosevelt and William H. Taft. Lodge wonders what effect it will have on the public view of the Brownsville affair, on the presidential campaign, and on Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Being on Nantucket has been good for Lodge’s health after a stretch of exhaustion and a cold.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
Senator Lodge found President Roosevelt’s most recent letter to be one of the strongest pieces of political writing he has read yet. Lodge is sure Massachusetts will go for William H. Taft and cannot see why other areas would not be similar. He does, however, fear that New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes could potentially be defeated. Lodge encloses his forthcoming reply, to be published in the Boston Herald, to Richard Olney’s claims about electing William Jennings Bryan. Lodge thinks Roosevelt will appreciate the Dickens quote.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-29
William Austin Wadsworth asks President Roosevelt if they can have the dinner on December 12th. He will write to Secretary of State Elihu Root endorsing Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon for the Boone & Crockett Club. National politics look better than state politics to Wadsworth, and he worries that there is silent support for Lieutenant Governor Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler. To combat talk of Roosevelt’s intent to stay on as a figurehead instead of going to Africa, Wadsworth thinks someone should outright say he could have had another term if he had wanted it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-30
William Austin Wadsworth apologizes for not replying to President Roosevelt sooner, but he could not as he was helping care for his son, who had been sick. Wadsworth is going to New York tomorrow and would like to visit Roosevelt when convenient. He read in the paper that Roosevelt supports renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-01
On the eve of the election, vignettes on New York and presidential politics are presented. At the upper left, candidate for Governor of New York Lewis S. Chanler stands tall as two men, including Charles Francis Murphy, look on and say, “Hero.” Caption: Chanler takes a stand at last: He says he is opposed to the shot-gun license law. Opposite this, a banner reads: “We are willing to be regulated but not by Governor Hughes. Charlie Murphy is good enough for us. The Franchise Grabbers’ Anti-Hughes Club.” At the bottom, John D. Rockefeller with a “$29,000,000 fine” tag says, “I think I’ll vote for you, Mr. Taft.” William H. Taft raises his hands in the air and says, “Don’t.” Looking on, William Jennings Bryan smiles and says, “Oh I’m so happy” while President Roosevelt says, “Don’t let him tell you that, Bill. Soak him one. It’s a plot.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-02
In this detailed cartoon, a variety of individuals try to figure out if Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell—who has run off—touched second base, which has a container of “oil” on it. Uncle Sam stands in the center of the diamond and says, “It’s a draw.” A large group of people congregate just off the first-base line, including William H. Taft, Samuel Gompers, William Jennings Bryan, Norman Edward Mack, William Loeb, President Roosevelt, William F. Sheehan, Alton B. Parker, and George von Lengerke Meyer. A variety of people are around the field: Charles Francis Murphy, Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, New York Lieutenant Governor Lewis S. Chanler, William James Conners, and Patrick Henry McCarren. John D. Rockefeller, John D. Archbold, Henry Huttleston Rogers, and James Roscoe Day all watch from the side. In another section of the audience, the Democratic donkey and Republican elephant fight. A handwritten note is included: “Mr. President: This is so good I have to send it to you.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-25