Corporation law

The author of this article argues that the United States Supreme Court is working with the American Tobacco Company to dissolve the illegal company but, in allowing a new company to be created, are forming a monopoly that will drive out independent retailers from the tobacco industry. To avoid the scandal and lawsuits that will come if the Supreme Court continues on their path, the author suggests the Supreme Court request a full inventory of the assets of all the companies forming the new trust and verify all stocks and bonds under the companies, especially the American Cigar Company,  are covered. The second suggestion made is to make coupons illegal because the issuance of coupons runs independent retailers out of business.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-21

Creator(s)

Berriman, Edward C. (Edward Charles), 1860-1925

In response to Conrad Kohrs’ letter regarding William H. Taft as a presidential candidate, President Roosevelt attests to Taft’s ability. Roosevelt thoroughly discusses what characterizes the leader of a healthy progressive movement and how Taft’s record demonstrates his embodiment of these characteristics. Simply put, the two qualities that made Taft a great judge–wisdom and moral courage–are the same qualities of a great president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt hopes to speak with Howard Richards soon, and if he is able to, will gladly write an article for The Outlook based on Lyman Abbott’s considerations. While he did not appreciate Woodrow Wilson’s standings on recent issues, Roosevelt feels the quote from his book “is a really first class piece.” Roosevelt will inquire if the federal government has the power to act in the case mentioned by Abbott’s son’s brother-in-law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Hamilton Fish informs President Roosevelt that two men interested in meeting with him to discuss his policy on corporations are “among the most vehement in their denunciations of” his policies. They are lawyer and railroad president Edward R. Bacon and coal baron Edward J. Berwind.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-27

Creator(s)

Fish, Hamilton, II, 1849-1936

Attorney General Stead of Illinois hopes to let President Roosevelt know in the next few days about the conclusion he has reached on the Chicago and Alton Railroad matter. Stead will also provide his suggestions on the regulation of corporations by the federal government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-21

Creator(s)

Stead, William H., 1858-1918

Memorandum reporting on the attempt by the Department of Justice to enforce the anti-trust law and discussing possible methods by which “recalcitrant corporations” can be made to comply with the law. The memorandum asserts that more laws are necessary due to the expansion of interstate trade.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-24

Creator(s)

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

President Roosevelt sets a trap for an animal labeled “tobacco trust” that gets its left leg in the trap.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-12

President Roosevelt with a teddy bear nearby awakes from slumber and sees the ghosts of Edward Henry Harriman, J. Pierpont Morgan, Henry Huttleston Rogers, and John D. Rockefeller.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-16

William Jennings Bryan dressed as a farmer holds a “list of missing issues”: “Grindstone (Swollen Fortunes), Cider Press (Railroads), Yoke (Trust Regulation), Dinner Bell (Plutocratic Domination).” As he hears a dinner bell with a tag that reads, “I’m a victim of a plutocratic conspiracy,” Bryan says, “That sounds like my old bell.” In the background is the White House.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-09

President Roosevelt has been pressing Senator Cullom on the importance of an interstate matter and feels Cullom would stay if the corporation legislation were given to his committee rather than the Judiciary Committee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Albert H. Walker thinks that Theodore Roosevelt’s suggestion in a recent Outlook article to regulate corporations through an administrative commission would result in actions more favorable to corporations than to the public, simply because the commission would be based on information provided by the corporations themselves. Until he gets more information, Walker believes that the Sherman Act is still the best way to resist the trusts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-24

Creator(s)

Walker, Albert H. (Albert Henry), 1844-1915

Herbert Knox Smith encloses to Theodore Roosevelt an “evolved” draft of a federal publicity and registration bill for corporations. Smith admits that the bill is “frankly a publicity bill and nothing else“, as it relies on corporations voluntarily registering, though it will do some good and will “gradually establish a sort of Federal relationship between industrial corporations and the Federal Government.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-01

Creator(s)

Smith, Herbert Knox, 1869-1931

The Stanley Investigating Committee of the House—after hearing the testimony of Elbert H. Gary, chairman of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company—finds that there is much more to be discovered, and that they do not believe the whole story has been told yet. Gary will go under further examination, and it is expected that other high-profile figures will as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06

Creator(s)

Unknown

In a speech at Cooper Union, John Brisben Walker revealed his conservative six-plank platform for the Democratic party, and seemed to support Joseph Wingate Folk as his candidate. The financial plank of Walker’s platform is endorsed by William Jennings Bryan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-04

Creator(s)

Unknown

Daniel LeRoy Dresser writes to President Roosevelt regarding the “trust issue” and corporations as a factor in the next campaign. He offers his opinion on Roosevelt’s position in regard to corporations in the past. Dresser requests to speak with Roosevelt about possible safeguards to ensure that the “unfortunate flotations of the past” do not repeat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-14

Creator(s)

Dresser, Daniel LeRoy, 1866-1915

President Roosevelt greets a crowd in Osceola, Iowa. He thanks Colonel Hepburn for traveling with him and the Iowa legislature for their support in the recent trust legislation. He also congratulates the citizens on their crops and children.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt addresses a crowd from the portico at the state capitol in Bismarck. He reminisces about his time in the Dakota region and the people he has come to know. Roosevelt speaks about the nation’s prosperity and how it can be affected by legislation and the character of the people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt addresses a crowd in Jamestown, North Dakota. He discusses his previous visit to “Jimtown” and cattle, and thanks the veterans present. Roosevelt also speaks in response to a letter from a labor organization in Jamestown that he received. The letter addressed the recent trust legislation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt discusses “the trusts” in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He discusses the control and regulation of trusts, including recent legislation. Speech has applause noted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt cautions his audience for being too eager to destroy trusts. He does not wish to hamper prosperity, but he believes that the evil in trusts must be lawfully removed. He hopes that Congress will have greater power to legislate large corporations. Just like the men who fought in the American Civil War did not have a formula on how to win, but instead faced the battles and did not give up, so do Americans today need to courageously fight against the evils in civil life.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919