Davis, Jeff, 1862-1913

Clark Howell regrets that he will not be able to get to Washington, D.C. at this point in time to meet with President Roosevelt. Howell happened to run into ex-Governor Joseph Forney Johnston and they talked. Johnston did not discuss with Roosevelt all he wished to get through. Howell wishes Roosevelt to know that Montgomery would be a great place to mention the Jefferson Davis incident and that only a general reference would be needed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-08

Creator(s)

Howell, Clark, 1863-1936

President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan sit in an “our policies” wagon with boxes labeled “speeches W. J. B.” and “messages T. R.” The wagon is drawn by an elephant and a donkey. In a much smaller wagon, Arkansas Senator Jeff Davis is riding in “the inspirer” wagon drawn by a dog. He says, “Hooray!”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-07

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks Senator Bristow for providing an explanation of the workers’ compensation bill and its potential future. It appears that the telegram from the “Railroad Trainmen’s Brotherhood” was inspired by Senator Davis, who is opposing the bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-13

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt takes issue with Ray Stannard Baker’s recent article in American Magazine. He states that Senators Benjamin R. Tillman and Jeff Davis, and Mississippi Governor James Kimble Vardaman do not represent championship of the Many over the Few on principle, but rather are motivated by self-interest. Roosevelt states that the conflict of race runs deeper than other divisions. He asserts that he is “a democrat of the democrats” and fights equally against the privileged and the mob.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt agrees with Kermit Roosevelt about the book Martin Chuzzlewit, and criticizes Charles Dickens’s character and inability to see the positive traits of America and Americans, which led to such great men as Abraham Lincoln. He concedes, however, that some of the negative characteristics that Dickens’s characters portray do persist in some Americans, including Senator Benjamin R. Tillman, William Randolph Hearst, and John D. Rockefeller. Roosevelt enjoyed a recent visit from Kermit’s older brother, Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Until President Roosevelt received Owen Wister’s letter, he was unaware of the anniversary celebration, and does not believe he will accept an invitation. Roosevelt felt that he had to keep quiet about the election of John E. Reyburn as mayor of Philadelphia, as the alternative would have been to take part in every municipal election. Roosevelt thinks, however, that Reyburn is “a rather unusually well-developed type of prize hog.” He also comments on his attendance of the Harrisburg celebration, which he attended with Philander C. Knox, and tells Wister that if he declined to visit state capitals if he did not like the governors or legislatures, he would have a tall order.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt responds to a letter from his friend John Milliken Parker. Roosevelt remarks on Parker’s “hysterical tone” suggesting that “increase of rape” and the “relations of the races” has anything to do with Roosevelt’s friendship with Booker T. Washington. Roosevelt does not believe he needs to speak to the press as Parker suggests and gives many examples when he expounded his beliefs on the matter of race relations. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is touched by the letter and enclosed clippings that Silas McBee sent to William Loeb. Roosevelt feels he does not deserve what McBee says, and would like McBee to come have lunch with him again soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt would like to see Columbia University President Butler, Professor John William Burgess, and James Speyer at the White House for dinner before Burgess sails to Berlin. People like the Roots and the Tafts will also be invited. Roosevelt enjoyed his trip through the South.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Judge Jones for his help during his trip through the South. He wishes Jones could have been present when he spoke about lynching in Arkansas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Ray Stannard Baker responds to President Roosevelt’s letter and clarifies that he is not standing by Senator Benjamin R. Tillman or others like him. Rather, as a journalist, Baker is “seeing and reporting the facts on which other men act.” Baker believes that Roosevelt asserted socialistic thought in his letter, and states that people have been moving toward socialism because, like Roosevelt, they have been emphasizing personal goodness and have found that it does not always lead to the betterment of man. Baker tells Roosevelt that he has articles coming out soon which will clarify his views on race and society. As Roosevelt suggested in his letter, he would like to meet with Roosevelt to discuss his views in depth.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-08

Creator(s)

Baker, Ray Stannard, 1870-1946

Nicholas Murray Butler expresses dismay and offers criticism on President Roosevelt’s recent special message to Congress. The President’s critics are praising it while his allies are upset. Although the sentiments and recommendations in the message were in the public interest, the language used was too forceful and inflammatory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-04

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Andrew Carnegie tells Secretary of State Root that he felt it was his duty to send Senator Francis G. Newlands “words of Wisdom.” He also mentions that Senator Jeff Davis is about to publish an article about the Pan-American Railroad.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-18

Creator(s)

Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919

S.M. Fields writes to President Roosevelt regarding statements made by Jeff Davis, Governor of Arkansas and imprisonment of women.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-07

Creator(s)

Fields, S. M.

Robert J. Tracewell, comptroller, writes to Secretary of the Treasury Shaw regarding the request for funds to enforce a yellow fever quarantine in Arkansas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-26

Creator(s)

Tracewell, Robert J. (Robert John), 1852-1922

Jacob A. Riis informs President Roosevelt of his busy schedule in December and January but will be lecturing in Washington in February and hopes to spend a day with Roosevelt at that time. Riis commented on Roosevelt’s progress in the south and his handling of the Governor of Arkansas, likely referring to Jeff Davis’ speech defending lynching the previous month during Roosevelt’s visit. Riis “felt as if I should have thrown up my hat and given three cheers” for Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-28

Creator(s)

Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August), 1849-1914

Henry White, United States Ambassador to Italy, tells President Roosevelt that he is pleased Joseph Hodges Choate will head up the delegation to the upcoming Hague Convention of 1907. He glowingly reports on the farewell speech of Lord Curzon upon leaving his post as Viceroy of India. White notes that he will no longer need to send Roosevelt as many direct reports now that the position of Secretary of State is filled by Elihu Root. White expresses his approval of a speech Roosevelt made in Arkansas countering Governor Jeff Davis’s pro-lynching views. White ends by noting that the French ambassador is worried about the position the Germans may adopt at the upcoming Algeciras Conference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-21

Creator(s)

White, Henry, 1850-1927

John Campbell Greenway enjoyed every moment of his trip with President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-05

Creator(s)

Greenway, John Campbell, 1872-1926

Secretary of War Taft encloses letters from Governor Jeff Davis and Colonel William Crawford Gorgas to be read in connection with Ambassador John Barrett’s letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-17

Creator(s)

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

Following a number of legislative items, including voting on an amendment to a bill and a motion to investigate participation in international expositions, Senator Robert M. La Follette delivers a speech beginning with proposed tariff reciprocity with Canada, but quickly turning to his view that President William H. Taft has abandoned his campaign promises to continue the progressive policies of his predecessor Theodore Roosevelt. La Follette excoriates Taft on his stances on taxes and conservation, among other issues.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-15

Creator(s)

United States. Congress. Senate