Your TR Source
A picture indicates that Americans are mistreating Chinese workers in their country, ignoring their contributions to the infrastructure, and making the Chinese outcasts. This angers the Chinese and sparks their peaceful protests of America through boycott.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-10
Lyman Abbott would support offering naturalization to Chinese and Japanese immigrants if the Japanese were not already a majority in Hawaii. Abbott feels that a law which would give the Japanese political control in a territory that is important to the United States for both military and commercial reasons would be “extremely perilous.” Abbott returns the letter from President David Starr Jordan of Stanford University and encloses an editorial on the “Japanese question.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-17
Ambassador Meyer writes President Roosevelt about the Russo-Japanese War. Meyer describes Stanley Washburn’s report of dwindling American sympathies with the Japanese. Washburn does not believe the Japanese army will ever beat the Russian army in Manchuria. Meyer mentions his interactions with Camille Barrère, the French Ambassador, and his indication that French and German banks are beginning to side with Russia. Meyer also relates an interaction he had with the Japanese minister, in which the minister stated he was interested in Roosevelt’s thoughts on Manchuria and Japan’s control of Port Arthur.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-20
Discussion of the Pacific Coast Chinese Exclusion bill, particularly how it will affect the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-23
Uncle Sam’s boot kicks a Chinese immigrant off a dock as part of an anti-Chinese immigration campaign. Vignettes show how the Chinese can possibly emigrate to the United States, by coming as “a cup-challenger” in yacht races, “as an industrious anarchist,” or “disguised as an humble Irishman,” or “as an English wife-hunter” with “pedigree” in his pocket, or wielding knife and handgun, as a mean-looking “peaceful, law-abiding Sicilian.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1905-07-12
Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Will H. Parry’s letter and the hexagram from Oliver H. P. LaFarge. Roosevelt did not realize that Parry was a Chinese scholar.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-23
President Roosevelt is disappointed that James Bronson Reynolds is declining the invitation to become a secretary for the Nobel committee. Roosevelt also responds to concerns Reynolds expressed about abuses by government officials regarding Chinese immigrants. He asks Reynolds to provide details which the administration might investigate and on which they might act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-22
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he has read reports that the destruction of the San Francisco earthquake has fallen especially hard on the Chinese population there, and instructs him to telegraph Edward T. Devine that the Red Cross relief work in the city must be done equally for everyone, without regard to race. Roosevelt asks if it would also be worth telegraphing General Frederick Funston the same instructions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-23
In a personal letter, President Roosevelt tells University of Illinois President Edmund James that the only present problem with the educational commission is “the ticklish condition of affairs in China” and the Chinese tendency “to interpret as weakness anything we do in the direction of treating them well.” He will take the matter in question up with Secretary of State Elihu Root to see if they can forward James’s scheme.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-03
In response to Representative Webber’s letter regarding legislation excluding the Chinese, President Roosevelt refers Webber to his annual message. Roosevelt did what Webber is suggesting in that message when he asked Congress to act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-16
The statement of John E. Wilkie that Secretary of the Treasury Shaw forwarded to President Roosevelt is interesting, but the fundamental problem as Roosevelt sees it is that the United States has acted poorly towards Chinese immigrants. Other nations, including England and Germany, are taking advantage of this anti-American sentiment in China. Roosevelt believes the nation is now fixing this treatment and is entering upon the correct course of action.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-02
President Roosevelt agrees with Senator Dillingham regarding the Chinese matter, and will back him up.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-24
President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf to issue “specific and rigid instructions” to officials of the Bureau of Immigration that the government will not tolerate discourtesy or harsh treatment towards Chinese merchants, travelers, or students. Roosevelt has been concerned with how the law has been applied for some time, especially regarding its application in San Francisco, and because of some recent actions by Commissioner of Immigration Hart Hyatt North.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-16
President Roosevelt has explained repeatedly to James Alexander Scrymser and William Emlen Roosevelt that the action was taken according to Roosevelt’s direction. Roosevelt also asks Secretary of State Hay if treaty negotiations with Panama are happening currently. Roosevelt was pleased with the story of a Japanese squad of enlisted men who felt lost when Chinese officials wanted “to treat them as conquerors and pay them with honor.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-02
Vice President Roosevelt forwards a letter and his response to George B. Cortelyou. He thinks that they should be liberal with Chinese immigrants because he hopes for more merchants and students.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-05
William R. Harr has investigated the charges against United States Attorney Robert W. Breckons that have been brought by E. W. Thwing, and gives Attorney General Bonaparte a thorough report of his findings. Harr addresses both Breckons’s personal character and his professional involvements and associations. Harr concludes that while he believes Breckons has worked efficiently and well, “his desire to serve his friends and increase his fortune has led him into a number of acts of questionable propriety and into some of unquestionable impropriety.” Harr understands from Breckons that he does not plan to stay in his position much longer, as the workload has increased to such a degree as to prevent additional private practice, which is necessary to supplement the income from the government position due to the high cost of living in Hawaii.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-01
Secretary of State Root received William Loeb’s letter and is returning the dispatch from Minister Rockhill on the treatment of the Chinese. Root states he has already consulted Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf on the topic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-07
Chinese traders, not the government, are responsible for starting the boycott. The government fears disorder, but has taken action against the boycott to show American support.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-27
Frank P. Sargent encloses for President Roosevelt a report on admission and rejection of Chinese immigrants for July 1905.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-21
Carroll Purman writes on behalf of the International Contracting Company regarding the Chinese labor proposal. He says timing is a vital feature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-26