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President Roosevelt expresses his disgust at lynching and mob violence. The best method to discourage lynching is to ensure that “justice under the forms of law shall be as expeditious and even-handed as possible.” When a community discriminates against someone due to their color, the path is paved for discrimination in other areas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-09
President Roosevelt entirely agrees with Attorney General Bonaparte about the Gregory case. It would be a miscarriage of justice if Gregory did not pay the full penalty for his “inconceivably brutal and loathsome crime.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-13
President Roosevelt does not remember having gone into “old misdeeds,” as John Ellis Roosevelt mentions, and states that there is no need to bring them up unless they come up in regard to recent crimes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-20
In a signing statement attached to H.R. 15434 entitled “An Act providing for writ of error in certain instance in criminal cases”, President Roosevelt declares that he is signing the bill on the advice of Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte. Roosevelt then states that the bill does not go far enough to address problems but that he is signing it because it is a meaningful start towards addressing the issue.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-02
Secretary of War Taft informs President Roosevelt of the political situation in Idaho where he was sent to campaign for the reelection of Governor Gooding. Gooding is confident that he will win the gubernatorial race, but he faces significant opposition in response to the arrest of Charles Moyer and William Dudley Haywood and the efforts of the Western Federation of Miners to defeat him. Senator Dubois has been trying to make Mormonism another central issue in the campaign and to portray Taft in a negative light by associating him with the religious group. Taft concludes by stating his admiration for Secretary of State Root’s speech on William Randolph Hearst.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-04
Attorney General William H. Moody suggests that President Roosevelt might consider commuting the sentence of George E. Lorenz, a man who served as a witness for the government in the case against August W. Machen, Samuel A. Groff, and Diller B. Groff.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-21
James H. Hawley sends Assistant Attorney General Robb a summary of the confessions given by Harry Orchard and Stephen W. Adams in relation to the murder of Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg. Hawley also provides a background history of the Western Federation of Miners, claiming that its leadership has been responsible for numerous acts of violence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-13
Prosecuting Attorney Van Duyn has prepared an arrest warrant for William D. Haywood charging him with the murder of Frank Steunenberg in Canyon County, Idaho. The State of Idaho requests Haywood’s requisition from Colorado where it is believed he has taken refuge.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-12