Cotton, William W. (William Wick), 1859- |

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert J. Collier

President Roosevelt refutes the points made in an article published in Collier’s Weekly accusing Supreme Court Justice William H. Moody of misconduct while overseeing the Oregon land fraud scandal as Attorney General. The article alleged that Moody’s personal grudge against the chief prosecutor of the trial, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Francis J. Heney, led to him nearly undermining the case by allowing a U.S. Marshal implicated in the scandal to remain in his position, suggesting a potentially compromised judge to sit the case, and refusing to appoint the Heney-recommended William C. Bristol as District Attorney. The piece has several handwritten additions and notes which Roosevelt includes in the final draft of his piece.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert J. Collier

President Roosevelt refutes the points made in an article published in Collier’s Weekly accusing Supreme Court Justice William H. Moody of misconduct while overseeing the Oregon land fraud scandal as Attorney General. The article alleged that Moody’s personal grudge against the chief prosecutor of the trial, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Francis J. Heney, led to him nearly undermining the case by allowing a U.S. Marshal implicated in the scandal to remain in his position, suggesting a potentially compromised judge to sit the case, and refusing to appoint the Heney-recommended William C. Bristol as District Attorney.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-26

Letter from Charles E. Watts to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles E. Watts encloses an article describing the events at a banquet in honor of Abraham Lincoln that was put on by the Commercial Club in Portland, Oregon. At the banquet, Theodore Roosevelt was criticized and various attendees spoke in favor of Taft. Watts warns Roosevelt not to visit the Commercial Club during his upcoming visit to the city.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-12

Memorandum for the Attorney General as to Inspector Neuhausen’s report on Mr. Bristol

Henry Martyn Hoyt summarizes a report on U.S. District Attorney William C. Bristol’s alleged involvement in the Oregon land fraud scandals. Hoyt concludes that were the government to continue to retain Bristol’s services, its position in the land fraud cases would be weakened. While there may be a scenario where all of Bristol’s actions were legitimate, the author finds Bristol’s position to be precarious.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-16

Letter from A. A. Lindsley to James Sullivan Clarkson

A. A. Lindsley believes President Roosevelt could not have appointed a better person than William W. Cotton as judge. Lindsley discusses the political situation in Oregon, focusing on the reorganization of the Republican party following heavy political corruption.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-08

Twin dangers of nation are told

The Republican Club in Portland, Oregon, held a banquet in honor of Abraham Lincoln at the Commercial Club. At the club, various speeches were given. Dr. Andrew C. Smith warned about the lack of military protection on the West Coast and the danger of invasion from Japan. Judge William W. Cotton spoke in favor of President William H. Taft and criticized Theodore Roosevelt. He believes that current leaders are ignoring the tenets of the Constitution in a way that is just as bad as the South’s secession before the Civil War. Other speeches about Lincoln were also given.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-12