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Alton B. Parker has concluded that Kuhn, Loeb & Company has not violated the law in its dealings with the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-10
James Speyer will visit with President Roosevelt on the railroad question and agrees with him on the subject.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-12
Paul Morton requests President Roosevelt to inform Congressman Ernest Mark Pollard that Morton will “straighten out” Frank E. Helvey and bring about better relations between Pollard and Helvey.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-02
Paul Morton, President of Equitable Life Insurance, does not want President Roosevelt’s position on the railroad to be misunderstood. Morton explains that railroad officials are being threatened by legislators who want their special privileges to continue. Morton clarifies that at the end of the letter he did mean the Harriman investigation, but Roosevelt knows the best course of action to pursue.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-25
Paul Morton, President of Equitable Life Insurance, clarifies E. P. Ripley’s stance on President Theodore Roosevelt and the railroads. Morton points out the false information Roosevelt has received regarding the prosecution of the Standard Oil corporation. Railroads are seeing an increase in expenses and a decrease in net earnings. Morton hopes that Roosevelt approves of his letter to Ripley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-04
George Westinghouse writes to Jacob H. Schiff regarding appointments to the Equitable Life Assurance Society’s board.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-30
Anna Roosevelt Cowles has “millions of questions” she would like to discuss with President Roosevelt. She is very concerned about Paul Morton’s association with Thomas Fortune Ryan in the Equitable Life Assurance company. Men who thought Morton was a weak member of Roosevelt’s Cabinet now point to his association with Ryan as proof of their concerns about his character. Cowles is anxious to discuss the situation between Japan and Russia. She enjoyed a recent visit from Roosevelt’s son Archie Roosevelt, though she was sorry to learn that he became ill when he returned home.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-23
Thomas Fortune Ryan thanks former President Cleveland for “the personal sacrifice” in agreeing to serve on the board of trustees of the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-12
Elihu Root discusses the measures being taken to restructure the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, including the formation of a board of trustees and the involvement of former United States president Grover Cleveland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-12
Former President Cleveland accepts an invitation by Thomas Fortune Ryan to be a trustee of the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-10
James Sullivan Clarkson sends a letter from Mr. Hyde of the Equitable Life Assurance Society to the White House staff to give immediately to President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-20
President Roosevelt has received Paul Morton’s letter concerning rebates given to the Colorado Fuel Company when Morton was vice president of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. As Morton’s letter indicates, he was “ignorant of the existence of such rebates” and had explicitly prohibited rebates. Roosevelt acknowledges that years prior, Morton alone was someone who gave testimony that helped stop “the system of rebates as it then existed,” and this showed Roosevelt he was “a man whose word could be trusted absolutely.” Because of this fact, the president wanted to have Morton enter his cabinet in the Navy Department, which he did serving the past year. Upon accepting Morton’s recent resignation from office, Roosevelt wishes him and former president Grover Cleveland success at the Equitable Life Assurance Society. Roosevelt believes Morton and Cleveland will do an excellent job.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-12
Herbert E. Chapman writes to Theodore Roosevelt for assistance in finding work. Chapman details how he initially wrote Roosevelt a few years back and Senator Aldrich referred him to different agencies and offices to find work. In highlighting his experiences, Chapman denotes his work in the United States military, his previous experience working for the police department in Boston, Massachusetts, his work with J. P. Morgan as a night watchman, and other past experiences as well. Chapman also details how he ran into Roosevelt a few times in various hotels while Roosevelt was visiting Boston. Most importantly, Chapman seeks Roosevelt’s influence in obtaining a job. Chapman states he is not “an educated man,” but he is forty-six years old, and details his height and weight. He asks for a meeting with Roosevelt to detail his credentials, and asks Roosevelt to provide advice or influence if his credentials proved satisfactory to him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-02-25
Representative Sherman notifies President Roosevelt that a meeting with Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon will be held, but a meeting with Secretary of State Elihu Root will be abandoned. The justification for the decision was “the howl the ‘Yellow Journals’ would make” about Root’s acceptance of a retainer for being counsel to Thomas F. Ryan. Representative Jacob Van Vechten Olcott feels that Cannon’s speech at Durlan’s Academy can only bring “great good.” Sherman feels the Republicans will not lose any votes by exploiting the achievements of the party, and he acquiesces to Representative Herbert Parsons in terms of who would be best to speak in New York City. Sherman hopes Root might schedule a speech in upstate New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-15
Representative Parsons has conferred with Timothy L. Woodruff, Representatives Olcott, Bennet, Calder, and Sherman, and Charles Evans Hughes about the matter in President Roosevelt’s previous letter. Parsons would like to bring in out-of-state speakers to enliven the campaign but hopes they will not discuss tariffs or labor unions. There was general agreement to have Joseph Gurney Cannon, Speaker of the House, give his scheduled speech but many think it unwise to have Secretary of State Elihu Root speak in New York because of his connection to Thomas Fortune Ryan, the “Equitable matter,” and corporations in general, and how William Randolph Hearst would portray it in his papers. Edward R. Finch agrees with Parsons that Root should still come and speak about stable government ensuring good business conditions, but would like Secretary of War William H. Taft to be his substitute if the Congressmen decide against Root.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-15
Jacob H. Schiff sends copies of letters to show that he has never done anything wrong in regard to his company and his connection to the Equitable Society.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-26
Jacob H. Schiff corrects Francis J. Hendricks’ testimony about the price of stocks and bonds sold by Kuhn, Loeb & Company involving the Equitable Life Assurance Society, the Union Pacific Preferred Stock, and Japanese bonds.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-25
Nevada N. Stranahan asks President Roosevelt if he knows of any reason why he should not accept a position on the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States’ board of directors. Stranahan states he is being pressured to accept the position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-13
The copy of the letter sent to Jacob H. Schiff by George Westinghouse has been shown to Grover Cleveland and Morgan Joseph O’Brien. They desire to express their agreement with the sentiments of personal esteem and regard which is shown by Westinghouse to Schiff. The purpose of the address was two-fold: to give policyholders confidence in the solvency of the company and to describe the character of the men who will be chosen to serve as directors.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-11
Douglas Robinson relays a message from James W. Alexander, president of Equitable Life. Alexander asks President Roosevelt to reserve judgment should he hear negative stories from distressed policy holders and to wait until he has spoken with Alexander to make up his mind about the situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-21