French, Asa P. (Asa Palmer), 1860-1935

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge encloses a letter from United States District Attorney Asa P. French, which explains itself. Lodge personally knows Assistant District Attorney William Howard Garland, who previously served as secretary for Senator George Frisbie Hoar. Although Lodge provides a positive assessment of Garland’s character, he cannot speak to his suitability for the position French recommends.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-03

Mellen and Roosevelt

Charles S. Mellen, president of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Company, and President Roosevelt had an explosive private meeting wherein Mellen asked for an investigation into his company’s planned merger be expedited. The investigation had been a major issue during the recent Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-08

Roosevelt and Mellen tilt on merger

Charles S. Mellen had a spirited discussion with President Roosevelt requesting that an investigation into his railroad company’s planned merger be expedited. Mellen objected particularly to the embarrassment such an investigation causes and the indignity of the merger having been a major issue in the recent Massachusetts gubernatorial election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-07

Mellen hurries Roosevelt

Charles S. Mellen, president of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Company, has met with President Roosevelt hoping to expedite a government investigation into his railroads. Mellen asserts that his company has not broken the law and argues that the government has no right to stymie the proceedings of private businesses in any case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-07

Telegram from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte informs President Roosevelt that District Attorney Asa P. French waits for Roosevelt’s approval of the letter in Boston. Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley is at the White House to answer questions. Bonaparte has been instructed on the importance of giving out communication immediately.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Christopher Minot Weld

President Roosevelt does not know much about the matter Christopher Minot Weld wrote him about. He wishes Weld would speak to Massachusetts District Attorney Asa P. French.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-25

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt directs Attorney General Bonaparte to release United States District Attorney Asa. P. French’s letter publicly. He asks if Bonaparte can visit to discuss Senator William Edgar Borah’s case. Roosevelt needs time and information to make a decision, and requests copies of communications from United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt comments on the potential economic panic and other issues. He sends Senator Lodge a copy of his Provincetown speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-14

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-30

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge does not think that President Roosevelt should bring a lawsuit against the New Haven Railroad until the Massachusetts case currently in the courts has been decided and they see whether they could be separated from trolleys by law. Roosevelt had asked Lodge to speak with U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Asa P. French about it before anything was done. Lodge is writing because he saw writing from Attorney General Charles Bonaparte that suggested he were about to bring suit against New Haven, and Lodge believes it would be a mistake to do this if they can accomplish the same result a different way.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-03

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge informs President Roosevelt of a request from the Post Office Department to reinstate Rachel F. Sullivan of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, to the classified service. Lodge had her resign some time ago due to evidence that she might be taking money, but within a few weeks, the post office discovered that it was another employee. Lodge is asking for Roosevelt’s assistance because she can only be restored via executive order.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-14

Telegram from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte shares with President Roosevelt the letter by United States District Attorney Asa P. French regarding the investigation of the merger of Hartford and New Haven Railroad and Boston and Maine Railroad.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-23

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge updates President Roosevelt on the investigation of the New York and New Haven Railroad, the New York and New England lease, and new steamship routes. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-17

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge shares with President Roosevelt the points he went over with Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley and District Attorney Asa P. French regarding the investigation of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Company and Charlie Morse’s supposed steamship monopoly deal. Lodge discusses his concerns about the severe decline in stocks, the possibility of a financial panic, and the potential impact on future election results.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-12

Letter from Alford Warriner Cooley to Theodore Roosevelt

Assistant Attorney General Cooley recounts a conversation he had with Martin A. Knapp regarding a meeting with Charles S. Mellen of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Company. At a meeting at the White House at which Roosevelt was present, Mellen seemed unsure if keeping steamship lines operated by his railroad might violate the Sherman Antitrust Act. Knapp’s recollection was that Roosevelt declined to express an opinion in the matter. In light of this, Cooley sees no reason not to proceed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-03

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on legal matters in several states. In North Carolina, Bonaparte has found that many of the jurisdictional problems in the Southern Railway case are due to political posturing, and that Bonaparte’s investigator, Edward Terry Sanford, has found that the federal judge in the case, Jeter Connelly Pritchard, has acted appropriately. Bonaparte encloses a letter regarding Japanese seal poachers and suggests sending naval reinforcements. Bonaparte has directed Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley to look into monopolistic actions of railroad and steamship companies in New England that are in possible violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-29

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge relays a conversation he had with Governor Curtis Guild about newspaper reports that the national government is opposed to the railroad merger. He asks President Roosevelt to supply any proof, if it exists, that just because the government is following railroad activity it is not thereby indicating any opposition to the Governor. Lodge will send Roosevelt the French report on the sale of rifles. He discusses the testimony of Lieutenant Leckie and John I. Kleiber at the Senate hearing on the Brownsville Affair.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-14

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge encloses a speech from United States District Attorney Asa P. French, given in New York during the gubernatorial campaign. French’s is one of many strong Republican speeches made this campaign. The nominations and appointments have shaken up Roosevelt allies as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-27

Letter from Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward to Theodore Roosevelt

Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward asks permission of President Roosevelt to share a previous letter of his with the Governor-Elect of Massachusetts, Curtis Guild. While she has thus far followed Roosevelt’s wish to keep the letter private, Ward would like to impress some slight political pressure for the anti-vivisection movement, to ensure that the movement gets fair treatment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-17