Democratic National Convention

Milton B. Goodkind is glad he amused Theodore Roosevelt with is last letter. He hopes to speak in person with Roosevelt soon, but discusses possible Democratic presidential candidates. In response to Roosevelt’s article “Whats the Matter with Business,” Goodkind list several things that are wrong with business and why things are so broken and why promises will no longer be enough for American’s.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Theodore Roosevelt updates Henry Justin Allen regarding his correspondence and mentions a halt in progress at the Baltimore Democratic National Convention.  

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-07-02

George B. Cortelyou inquires as to whether President Roosevelt has contacted Senator Charles W. Fairbanks. Cortelyou recommends Roosevelt do so as soon as possible after the Democratic Convention in order to let him know when he should “come on.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-28

This article discusses a quote from Henry S. Barker, a prominent African American in Washington, who lauds how African Americans were treated at the Republican Convention and says that if Theodore Roosevelt is elected president, African Americans will demand that Booker T. Washington be the Republican candidate for vice president in 1908. The article says that Democrats will resent the “threat” made in the letter and that the South should stand together for white supremacy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-28

William Jennings Bryan, as a pope wearing robes and a tiara labeled “16 to 1,” sits on a throne on a low pedestal labeled “Kansas City Platform.” Two Swiss guards stand next to him. The one on the left is labeled “Jones,” and the other on the right is labeled “Stone.” Caption: But Democrats have lost faith in his infallibility.

comments and context

Comments and Context

As midterm elections loomed in 1902, William Jennings Bryan sought to assert his primacy in Democratic party councils. He had twice been beaten for the presidency, so his support — and support for his issues, for instance the bimetallic plank in the 1900 (Kansas City) platform — was vital. The vassals behind Bryan are two of his more loyal supporters: Senator James K. Jones of Arkansas was Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and William J. Stone (at the time a year away from being elected to the United States Senate from Missouri) was a contributor to Bryan’s magazine The Commoner. In 15 years’ time Stone would be one of six senators to vote against declaring war on Germany.

Tammany Hall boss Richard Croker, inflated like a hot air balloon, wears a medallion showing the Tammany Tiger and a laurel wreath with a ribbon labeled “Kansas City Convention.” Running up behind him is David B. Hill carrying a spear labeled “N.Y. State Democracy.” The title is a quotation from the Bible: “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

comments and context

Comments and Context

For many decades, following the Civil War, the Democratic Party in New York State was split into factions — usually two, sometimes more. Copperheads (Southern sympathizers) and Union Democrats, Tammany Hall grafters and honest Upstate Democrats, city (New York) vs. rural. Occasional Reform Democrats (Samuel J. Tilden, Grover Cleveland, Abram S. Hewitt) vs. Tammany Hall and/or David B. Hill, governor and Presidential aspirant. In 1900, the reformer and radical William Jennings Bryan was renominated for the Presidency by the Democrats and cast his lot with the Tammany faction in New York instead of the bloc led by Hill, who was by then a former governor and former senator. But, as this cartoon suggests, Hill was as much concerned with New York inter-party rivalries as he was the national campaign.

Theodore Roosevelt responds to a Boston Transcript clipping sent to him by Quiney Ewing. Roosevelt asserts that the statements about William Jennings Bryan attributed to Roosevelt in the editorial are “sheer invention.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-26

Theodore Roosevelt informs William Dudley Foulke that he is fully committed to the Progressive cause, even though the Democrats will probably win if they nominate a progressive. Roosevelt also writes of the political corruption at the Republican National Convention in Chicago.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-01

Theodore Roosevelt informs John Foster Bass that he asked Robert R. McCormick to get in touch with Bass regarding the Chicago situation. Woodrow Wilson’s nomination at Baltimore will make things difficult, but perhaps not any more difficult than if William Jennings Bryan had been nominated. In light of the Baltimore Convention and the Democratic Party’s record in Congress, Roosevelt believes nothing good can come out of the old parties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-02

President Roosevelt thanks Senator Knox for his telegram and wishes to see him again the next time Knox visits. Roosevelt also states that it is too early to express his opinion about the effect of their opponents’ (the Democrats) actions and notes that they did not look united or happy at the Democratic National Convention held in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-10

President Roosevelt writes to Secretary of War Taft to thank him for his letter. Roosevelt remarks on Taft’s speech in Boston, and expresses his uncertainty towards the Democratic Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-06

President Roosevelt will find someone else for the Long Island meeting instead of Senator Lodge. Roosevelt is interested in the outcome in St. Louis and will see if the new Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton will be more merciful than United States Attorney General Moody about ships for the Grand Army of the Republic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-01

President Roosevelt has seen the petition for the United States to give political independence to the Philippines, which Charles William Eliot has signed. Roosevelt writes that the Republican convention will not consider it, and if the Democrats do, they prove hypocritical. Roosevelt believes granting independence to the Philippines is the easy way out, while the right thing to do is to remain involved in the Philippines for the betterment of its people. Roosevelt cites other examples, such as Egypt and Cuba, and refers to Arthur Twining Hadley’s Freedom and Responsibility. Roosevelt asks if Eliot would see Secretary of War William H. Taft about the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-04

Ora J. Parker proposes that, if the Democratic National Convention selects a candidate opposed to the principles advocated by William Jennings Bryan, a new party be formed led by Bryan and Roosevelt. Parker suggests Bryan as the presidential candidate and Roosevelt for vice-president. Though writing to both men, Parker, a self-proclaimed “stalwart Republican,” specifically implores Roosevelt to approach Bryan about joining forces.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-24

Representative Hobson of Alabama writes to President Roosevelt that due to the probability of war with Japan, he feels they must maintain permanent control of the Pacific. After attempting to warn others at the Resolutions Committee at Denver, Hobson now asks Roosevelt if he will consider raising the issue in the next message to Congress, to secure the building of additional battle ships and the creation of an emergency fund, and to make his feelings on the matter clear.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-21

Although he is a Republican, Charles A. Bradley attended the Democratic National Convention, and tells President Roosevelt about his experience. While historically when the Republican party was mentioned at a gathering of the Democratic party, it would draw shouts, it seemed to Bradley that most of the assembly remained quiet when Roosevelt or the Republican party was mentioned. Bradley says that to have political opponents give this sort of respect is worth as much, if not more, than loud cheers from political allies. He plans to work hard to get William H. Taft elected in November.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-11

Rudolph B. Schneider writes to President Roosevelt about the Democratic National Convention and Judge Parker’s nomination. Schneider reports that many supporters of William Jennings Bryan say they will not support Parker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-14

Senator Lodge sends his thoughts on the Democratic National Convention in St. Louis to President Roosevelt including his opinions on the nomination of Judge Parker and some of the planks in the party platform.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-12

Secretary of War Taft informs President Roosevelt about a variety of correspondence he has attended to including letters from Cardinal Raphael Merry del Val, a recommendation to appoint Campbell to a judgeship in Panama, and a letter from Judge Smith. Taft also discusses reports from the Democratic Convention in St. Louis that indicate Judge Alton B. Parker will receive the nomination. Taft hopes that Roosevelt is having a good time in Oyster Bay and tells Roosevelt about his own Fourth of July.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-11

Nicholas Murray Butler discusses scheduling a time to visit with President Roosevelt in Oyster Bay, New York, with William Loeb. Butler says he will be able to tell Roosevelt about the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-11