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Henry Melville Whitney, the Democratic candidate for Massachusetts Lieutenant-Governor, repeated his claim that President Roosevelt had said that he was in favor of reciprocity, or Continental Free Trade. Whitney says that Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and other Republicans witnessed the conversation where Roosevelt told him this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-25
President Roosevelt introduces an enclosed letter summarizing the conclusions of the recent White House Conference on the Care of Dependent Children, and a program of its attendees. One conclusion was that Roosevelt should send each governor a copy of the proceedings for state governments to reference. While the proceedings are being published, Roosevelt sends these enclosures for immediate use. He hopes that the governors will actively promote the Conference’s cause. The names of the governors who received this letter are then listed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-02
President Roosevelt is pleased to hear from Governor Guild of Massachusetts, and hopes that Guild will continue to serve Massachusetts as well in the future as he has in the past. Roosevelt is sorry to hear that Guild cannot come to the Governor’s dinner, but understands. (Guild had recently been very sick)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-06
President Roosevelt congratulates Massachusetts Governor Guild on his reelection, remarking “What an assemblage of scalps you carry at your girdle!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-07
President Roosevelt discusses his thoughts about the results of the previous day’s elections with Senator Lodge, particularly his delight at the defeat of Democratic nominee for Governor of Massachusetts Henry Melville Whitney. Roosevelt is also pleased with wins in Kentucky but saddened by losses in New Jersey and Cleveland. In New York, Roosevelt is angered that Representative Herbert Parsons, who he thinks is a good man, has made an alliance with William Randolph Hearst and Standard Oil.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-06
President Roosevelt gives Governor-elect Guild permission to make his statement public. He says that there is no sign that any leaders in Congress are willing to take up tariff revision, and Roosevelt feels it is foolish to attempt to bring up the issue if it has no effective backing. He also praises Lieutenant-Governor-elect Eben S. Draper.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-12
President Roosevelt comments to Senator Lodge on the election results in various states. He is particularly pleased about the Massachusetts results. He wishes that Ambassador George von Lengerke Meyer had gone back to Saint Petersburg when the trouble started three weeks ago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-08
President Roosevelt congratulates Governor-elect Guild on his and Lieutenant-Governor-elect Eben S. Draper’s success in the Massachusetts gubernatorial election, and criticizes some of the press coverage he has gotten in that state.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-08
President Roosevelt affirms his strong support for the Massachusetts Republican ticket, and advises Senator Lodge on how to respond to a statement from Henry Melville Whitney that misrepresents Roosevelt’s feelings on trade reciprocity with Canada. Roosevelt believes that it will do no good for him personally to make a statement, but approves of Lodge’s plan of publicly affirming Roosevelt’s support of the Republican ticket and stating that the Senators from Massachusetts have always agreed with him on reciprocity and that Roosevelt’s views on the matter have never changed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-01
President Roosevelt would like to discuss Nicholas Murray Butler’s suggestions. Roosevelt is not familiar with the case but is surprised at the Catholic opposition towards Mr. Draper (probably Eben Sumner Draper, who ran for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and was elected that year).
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-25
Everett I. Nye inquires about the book portrait plate he sent for Theodore Roosevelt to sign. If he is unable to get the portrait plate signed, Nye requests it be returned.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-29
Louis H. Bonelli shares with Theodore Roosevelt the text of two letters he wrote which were published in the Boston Herald which are critical of Roosevelt. Bonelli used to strongly admire Roosevelt, but disapproves of his anti-progressive support of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and his lack of support for Eugene Foss for governor of Massachusetts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-08
Senator Lodge reassures Theodore Roosevelt that he is in good health, and comments on the state of the Republican party and the upcoming elections. Lodge comments that Roosevelt did a great deal of work holding the Republican party together. While the Western states will elect progressive Republicans, Eastern states may elect Democrats. Lodge regrets that Roosevelt had been drawn into an election contest in New York. Prospects for the Massachusetts Governor election do not look good, but Lodge thinks that he personally will be alright.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-09-23
Secretary of the Navy Meyer tells Theodore Roosevelt what he and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge did after Roosevelt left following William H. Taft’s inauguration. Meyer signed papers reversing an order that former Secretary of the Navy Truman Handy Newberry had Roosevelt sign. He explains his reasoning; mainly, the Senators from Louisiana were unhappy with it, and Meyer believes he can carry out most of what was in the order without an Executive Order being issued.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-03-08
Senator Lodge reports on the election results from Massachusetts, where William H. Taft increased the Republican plurality, and where Eben S. Draper lost Boston by 12,000. Lodge encloses a letter for President Roosevelt regarding the nomination in Alaska. He has recommended George Sutherland, but the letter writer recommends Peter D. Overfield. He also encloses a letter from Alfred W. Brown, the Appraiser of Boston. Lodge feels that the Civil Service Commission’s ruling against two men is harsh — they were at the top of the list before a new grade was established following their examination.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-06
Senator Lodge relays numbers from the Massachusetts canvass to President Roosevelt. They suggest that William H. Taft will win by the about the same majority that Roosevelt won in 1904. Lodge spoke with Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield about the concerns of the New York Republicans. He understands why they are concerned, but notes that they have not conducted a canvass of their own. Lodge believes that the silence from labor men indicates that they are intending to vote for Taft, but are keeping quiet out of fear of Samuel Gompers and the Democrats.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-26
Senator Lodge is glad to have the information in President Roosevelt’s last letter, although he wishes the situation regarding Ohio was better. He agrees with what Roosevelt says about House Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon. In a handwritten postscript, Lodge discusses the canvass being conducted in Massachusetts, which indicates that Eben S. Draper and William H. Taft will win. If the result is indicative of national trends, Taft will carrry the same plurality as William McKinley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-25
Senator Lodge and William Sturgis Bigelow have recovered the coin that President Roosevelt sent. Lodge thinks it is a great success. Lodge clarifies the situation regarding Boston Surveyor of the Port Jeremiah J. McCarthy. McCarthy opposes the installation of Moses B. Mann as Deputy Surveyor and feels that he should be able to choose the man to fill the position because he worked for William H. Taft. Lodge discusses the election and says that he wants Charles Evans Hughes to be elected New York governor. He believes that the situation for Republicans is good, both nationally and in Massachusetts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-13
Governor Guild is pleased to hear that President Roosevelt was not seriously injured in his accident. Guild also writes positively about Eben S. Draper’s performance as Acting Governor of Massachusetts. In a handwritten postscript, Guild notes that a dispatch he read about Roosevelt’s upcoming trip to Africa is the first time he has heard that “seeing the elephant” is the way to “health and happiness.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-05
Senator Lodge asserts his views that Edward Henry Harriman’s attempt to gain control of the Boston & Maine railroad is a real threat, verified independently of Charles S. Mellen and T. E. Byrnes. The legislation introduced would allow the state to maintain control of the railroad. Lodge does not want Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte to direct District Attorney Asa P. French to stop the dividends of the railroad until it is possible to pass legislation protecting the state.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-30