Your TR Source
A prospectus for the Hudson Supply Company outlines the aims and objects of the organization, which provides supplies to hotels, clubs, restaurants, steamboats, sailboats, and other outfits. The pamphlet invites investors to purchase common stock in the company.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-15
Harrison D. Boyer tells Theodore Roosevelt that the common people can only see Roosevelt as the next president because Roosevelt is the only one they can trust. Boyer believes the government needs to regulate business, social, educational, and political life to provide equal rights, justice, and liberty to the people and future generations. Roosevelt is the only man who might do this and Boyer hopes he will come out as a candidate for the presidency because it is his duty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-14
John William Griggs requests the help of Secretary of State Philander C. Knox regarding a deal between The Mexican National Packing Company and the Mexican Government, which is now being compromised. Griggs believes allowing the Mexican Government to break this deal will negatively impact American citizens invested in this company and requests Knox communicate with the Ambassador to Mexico and request a thorough investigation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-13
The reviewer of Donald R. Richberg’s book, The Shadow Men, writes it is a powerful story written by someone with a thorough knowledge of business and politics. The main character, John Byford, speaks of his experience as a secretary who becomes the scapegoat for the director’s misdeeds. Byford eventually realizes the men in power are not smart, they just know all the tricks and rules their opponents don’t know.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-18
Within the next two weeks, President Roosevelt would like to meet with Wayne MacVeagh to discuss several matters, including “the constitutional side of the corporation business” that they had spoken about previously.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-07
John Hall sends Theodore Roosevelt a series of enclosed articles. The first shows that billions of dollars are being taken from people. The second describes how “large, unlawful charges can be recovered.” The third article shows the care that is being taken to select the right person to work with the president.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-11
Ernest Hamlin Abbott, editor of The Outlook, compares the Abbott family to the Republican Party in that both “can present a united front . . . but still be torn with internal strife.” Abbott has already shown President Roosevelt’s letter to his brother Lawrence F. Abbott, and will try to show it to his father, Lyman Abbott, when he returns from a trip. He jokes that “it will be useless for [him] to try to induce Lyman Abbott, 2nd,” Lawrence F. Abbott’s newborn son, to read Roosevelt’s letter. Ernest Hamlin Abbott and his brother Lawrence Abbott “like immensely” Roosevelt’s Provincetown speech and feel it will positively impact national views on controlling corporations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-27
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-21
Leslie M. Shaw is glad that President Roosevelt will be meeting with a committee of railroad men. Shaw notes that “at least three-fourths of the accumulated wealth of the United States has been unearned,” referring to value increases of land and real property over time. The difficulty is in how to “adjust matters that every man who has contributed capital or effort toward the development of our country shall have his fair share of the results of American effort.” Shaw identifies the corporate evils in the railroad industry as rooted in granting rebates and special privileges, and corporate control of corporations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-14
Chairman Knapp of the Interstate Commerce Commission sends President Roosevelt some minor alterations and additions to a letter dealing with railway facilities and how the license plan is applied to industrial corporations. Knapp advocates for government facilitation of private investment in railroad infrastructure so profits and progress can continue to grow and asserts that is “plainly inadvisable” for the government to seize control of the railways.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-21
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-24
Silas D. Scudder thanks President Roosevelt for his letter, which Scudder’s assistant unintentionally opened, and discusses his frustration at the hold corporations have over national life. Scudder agrees with Roosevelt that legislation “will be the only effective remedy” to this problem.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-10
President Roosevelt holds his big stick “for reactionaries,” a knife “for corporate wealth,” and a blunderbuss “for malefactors.” Representative Nicholas Longworth holds a play sword and says, “That’s my dad.”
President Roosevelt looks on as Rhode Island Senator Nelson W. Aldrich holds a “currency bill” baby with a “business interest” toy in its hand. Aldrich says, “Isn’t he cunning?”
President Roosevelt holds a large “message to Congress” in the shape of a big stick. Several men lie on the ground with stars around their heads: “lumber vandalism,” “gov’t land grabbers,” “wreckers,” “stock gambling,” “corporate dishonesty,” and “swollen fortunes.” Uncle Sam stands in the background.
President Roosevelt sits atop a “judiciary” bear as the “administration” bear holds a “big stick” and the “House” and “Senate” bears look on. A snake labeled “corporate influence” slithers underneath the judiciary bear.
President Roosevelt points to a small “prison door” with a man labeled “Congress” by his side. In the background is a police officer chasing a “corporation criminal” that has millions of dollars. Inside the prison is a “man who stole $3.00” and a “pickpocket.” Caption: President Roosevelt — “You see, we want that door cut larger so that when we catch one of those big fellows we can put him inside and not let him loose with the public.”
President Roosevelt holds a vicious-looking dog labeled “federal law” as men labeled “corporation,” “business,” “combination,” “wealth,” and “enterprise” run away or hide. Caption: President Roosevelt — “Don’t be afraid, gentlemen; he will hurt only the crooks.”
President Roosevelt, mounted on a horse, jumps over a fence with poles labeled “Square Deal,” “Equal Rights,” “Corporation Control,” and “Tariff Reform” as Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks watches in the background.
President Roosevelt throws horseshoes at “honesty.” “Fair Deal” has landed squarely on the stake, and Roosevelt holds another labeled “National honor” in his hand. “Tariff reform,” “equal rights,” and “corporation control” are all on the ground beside him.