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Frank H. Hitchcock writes to Republican National Committee Chairman Cortelyou regarding Dr. Adolph Danziger’s campaign work. Hitchcock points out that although Danziger’s enthusiasm for the work was sometimes considered injudicious, his speeches were highly regarded and brought about good results.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-26
John Edward Addicks describes to President Roosevelt the behavior of a minister, Robert Arthur Elwood, whose inflammatory rhetoric has led to a lynching, for which he was censored by his presbytery. Addicks says that Elwood, in opposing Addicks’s bid for office, claims to speak for Roosevelt, and he hopes Roosevelt will make a statement disavowing such interference in a local election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-05
Dr. Keen wants President Roosevelt to make an exception to his stance on non-interference in state politics. Keen is outraged by J. Edwards Addicks’s influence in Delaware and calls his career “shameless” and refers to his “baseness of character.” Keen is grateful that Dr. Abbott will present the matter to President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-14
Lyman Abbott responds to a letter from William W. Keen expressing concern about John Edward Addicks’s influence on Delaware politics. Abbott defends President Roosevelt for not interfering in Republican Party disputes at the state level. Abbott is concerned, however, that recent appointments, along with unfavorable press, make it look as though Roosevelt is working with Addicks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-12
William W. Keen writes to Lyman Abbott about John Edward Addicks, an aspiring politician in Delaware. Keen has corresponded with Abbott previously on this topic. He has also contacted Secretary of State John Hay, whom he first met in college. Keen states that Addicks is “in financial straits” and his home is falling into disrepair. Keen also claims that Addicks has “captured the entire fortune of both of [his] wives,” the first of whom is deceased, the second from whom he is divorced.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-11
President Roosevelt wants a press release issued in answer to statements in Delaware.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-22
President Roosevelt informs Joseph Bucklin Bishop that he only knows what he has read in the newspapers about an issue with the Delaware Post Office. He also thanks Bishop for his editorial on the speech Roosevelt gave on Labor Day and comments on the press’ response. Roosevelt makes plans for Bishop to meet him at Ellis Island and have dinner with him after.
1903-09-09
Reverend Robert Arthur Elwood, a Presbyterian minister, urges the citizens of Delaware to oppose the election of John Edward Addicks to the United States Senate. Elwood endorses the use of violence if necessary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-01
Letter crossed out and marked as hold. President Roosevelt finds it difficult to answer Addicks’s letter due to its concluding sentence. The President denies consulting with Senator Lodge or General James H. Wilson on Delaware affairs. He considers it unnecessary to express his views on the Republican infighting taking place in Delaware.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-28
President Roosevelt wants the postal investigation to be thorough, complete, and closed as soon as possible. He encloses documents related to a Delaware Post Office matter where a senator wants a fourth class postmistress removed because she is “personally obnoxious to the senator.” Roosevelt would rather upset a senator than make it appear that the administration is using the post office for machine politics. Henry C. Payne is facing a newspaper attack relating to his business interests colliding with Post Office interests. President Roosevelt encourages him to simply state the facts of the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-04
President Roosevelt feels strongly that the postmistress in Delaware should be reinstated. It is a particularly poor time for the Post Office Department to be seen as a political tool. If any politician demands anything of the Department that is not “exactly square,” they must be turned down. Roosevelt understands the desirability of maintaining good relations with senators and congressmen, but a federal employee being “personally obnoxious” is not sufficient grounds for dismissal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-05
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Edwin A. Van Valkenburg to introduce him to a key player in the Delaware Progressive movement, Dr. Grier.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-13
Theodore Roosevelt’s Secretary explains to Samuel Wesley Long that Roosevelt cannot accept Long’s invitation to visit Delaware and campaign, as Roosevelt is attending to the details of the campaign in Chicago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-06-12
President Roosevelt informs T. Coleman Du Pont he will not interfere in Delaware and thinks he can arrange Horace G. Knowles’s appointment after the election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-27
President Roosevelt has received Senator Allee’s telegram, and congratulates him and the Republicans of Delaware on the result.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-12
President Roosevelt congratulates Horace G. Knowles, and says that he was pleased to see H. A. Du Pont as Senator from Delaware.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-13
President Roosevelt discusses the political situation in various states ahead of the upcoming election. He instructs Secretary of the Treasury Shaw to make appointments if he thinks it is wise, but to make sure not to embarrass political campaigns.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-16
President Roosevelt is pleased with the charge of the judge and William Allen White’s letter on it. He feels the post office order issues result from “the natural fondness of officials to make general rules.” Roosevelt believes such universal rules are impossible, and outlines his wishes for how such cases might be addressed individually.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-09
President Roosevelt tells Lyman Abbott that his editorial was beneficial, showing him newspaper clippings from Mississippi as evidence. Additionally, Roosevelt wishes that Abbott could have heard some Missourians discuss the Missouri senatorial situation, as it would have helped him understand why Roosevelt did not interfere in Delaware. Roosevelt asks Abbott to tell the “gentleman whose letter you showed me” to visit him Washington, D.C., and says he will be happy to explain the entire situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-21
President Roosevelt thanks Robert J. Collier for his letter. He quotes a portion of a letter from Albert Shaw that clears up some of the situation surrounding the controversy with the Missouri election. Roosevelt also comments on the way that Mr. Adams may have used the supposed comments, dismissing him as dishonest, using Adams’s former comments on Delaware appointments as an example where he was completely inaccurate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-31