Your TR Source
President-Elect Taft fears there is not enough room to include Henry A. Allen on the trip to the Panama Canal, per President Roosevelt’s suggestion. Taft thinks the team of six engineers will be sufficient.
Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp asks Benjamin F. Barnes to notify him when the appointment of Charles F. Larrabee as Assistant Commissioner of Indian Affairs is made public, as Leupp would like to publicize it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-12
George W. Davis offers President-elect Taft his opinion regarding several engineers who are candidates to accompany Taft on a trip to inspect the Panama Canal. If a change to the canal plans is required, as Davis suspects it may be, it should be done early enough before public opinion begins to be swayed against the canal by a lack of confidence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-15
Robert Bridges has delayed responding to President Roosevelt’s question about photographers for his African safari until he could talk to William T. Hornaday. Two main names have been mentioned as possibilities: Ernest F. Keller and John C. Hemment. Bridges comments briefly on the credentials of the two men, as well as their possible cost to hire, but wished to see if Roosevelt had any personal preference between the two before discussing any further with them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-01
Frank M. Chapman sends President Roosevelt a book of photographs that Herbert Lang took in the region of British East Africa that Roosevelt is planning to visit on his safari. Chapman says that Lang, in addition to being a skilled photographer, is also well-trained in field taxidermy, and says that if Roosevelt would like to add him to his staff, the American Museum of Natural History would be glad to detail Lang to assist.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-03
William H. Taft had thought that he had figured out an issue pertaining to Ohio, but now realizes that any move he makes will leave some faction discontented with him. Arthur I. Vorys is upset at Frank H. Hitchcock being made Chairman of Taft’s campaign. Taft has been in contact with many people, asking them to come visit him in order to discuss strategy. He has also been golfing and working on a draft of his acceptance speech, which he plans to submit to President Roosevelt for advice before he actually gives it. Taft also briefly remarks on an ongoing investigation into the Brownsville incident.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-04
Cyrus Adler, acting secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, would prefer if the final decision of who is to accompany President Roosevelt on his safari could be delayed until fall when Charles D. Walcott, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, will be back from the field and could confer directly with Roosevelt. Adler suggests that Roosevelt consider taking Edgar Alexander Mearns as a naturalist who is also trained in medicine, and mentions Edmund Heller as someone to consider for the role of taxidermist. Adler does not presently think the arrangement suggested by Frank M. Chapman is a good one.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-09
William H. Taft writes to President Roosevelt about the issue of monetary contributions to his presidential campaign. While Taft knows it will likely decrease the amount of money available for his campaign, he feels strongly that he should follow New York’s publicity law for donations nationwide, which he hopes will ultimately contribute to reducing the power of money in politics. Taft also writes about other issues that have been arising in his campaign, including the selection of certain people to his campaign staff.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-09
William H. Taft is glad to hear that he is not alone in having troubles selecting a campaign chairman, and comments on recent developments he has had in selecting people to fill positions in his campaign. Taft anticipates some trouble with fundraising due to the fear of publicizing the sources of donations, but he thinks that the possible loss of contributions from large corporations will be made up in smaller donations from individuals across the country. William Jennings Bryan’s political platform appears to be quite radical, and Taft believes that the introduction of a jury in contempt cases will impede the functioning of courts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-10
Senator Lodge writes William Loeb about two appointments at the Government Printing Office. He does not want to trouble President Roosevelt with the matter, but would like two men to be reinstated to their posts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-27
Albert L. Key argues that President Roosevelt has been more successful in placing younger officers in higher positions in the Army than he believes, and thinks that he could have the same success in the Navy. Key argues that many of the problems in the Navy right now, both practically and administratively, could be solved by placing younger and more efficient officers in higher-graded positions and promoting based on merit, rather than age. Key also briefly comments on the controversy concerning the placement of armor belts on battleships, disagreeing with Admiral Robley D. Evans’s position that it would be a mistake to raise the armor belts of ships.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-14
Granville Fortescue has spoken with Secretary of War William H. Taft and Governor Charles E. Magoon about the possibility of a few Americans becoming special inspectors with the Armed Forces of Cuba. Taft supported the idea, but Magoon thought it would be bad policy. Fortescue still thinks that it would be wise, as there are rumors of an upcoming reorganization of the Cuban Military, and appeals directly to President Roosevelt. He suggests Henry A. Barber and himself as possible candidates, and argues for their qualifications and the usefulness of the position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-15
Senator Lodge tells President Roosevelt that William S. Murphy will have his support. Murphy is a former Rough Rider who has shown his character and fitness, although he has also been in jail.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-13
Charles William Anderson tells William Loeb that he recently spoke to a friend of New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes to advise him about a speech that former Governor Frank Swett Black gave about the Race Track Bills. Anderson thought Black’s speech could be used against him, and believes Hughes took his advice, judging from a recent speech. William Tecumseh Vernon, the Register of the Treasury is not being as brave as he should be, and has been too cautious in his recent speeches, according to Anderson. Anderson also wonders if Consul James Weldon Johnson could be transferred from Venezuela to a European consulate, as he believes it would be a good move.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-05
J. Sloat Fassett thanks William Loeb for the news that Mr. Miller will be appointed, although he asks if the matter can be held off until the next week. Fassett enjoyed his time in Pittsburgh and Detroit, and comments on some political matters involving New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-18
Solomon W. Seeman and Clarence E. Deal ask Secretary of the Interior Garfield to delay Frank C. Bramwell’s appointment as registrar of the land office at La Grande, Oregon, and promise explanatory materials will follow.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-19
Solomon W. Seeman and Clarence E. Deal of the local Minister’s Union ask Secretary of the Interior Garfield not to nominate Frank C. Bramwell for the position of register of the land office at La Grande, Oregon, because of his ties to Mormonism.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-19
Methodist minister James D. Gillilan believes that political appointments have been influenced by a powerful official in the Mormon Church. He informs Secretary of the Interior Garfield that the appointee for the La Grande, Oregon land office, Franklin C. Bramwell, is the son of the president of the Mormon Church “‘state,'” and therefore a “stick in the nostrils of the law abiding element.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-12
An investigation by the Department of the Interior has yielded a list of some 200 individuals hired to the Technologic Branch of the United States Geological Survey without the certification of the Civil Service Commission. The Commission will comply with the Department of the Interior’s request that these irregularly appointed employees’ certifications be fast-tracked, but expresses several reasons for why such a decision may not be wise.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-14
While he does not wish to interfere in political appointments, Representative Longworth testifies to President Roosevelt regarding the character of his friend Richard Pretlow Ernst and his faith in Ernst’s judgments.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-09