Gompers, Samuel, 1850-1924

President Roosevelt passes on a selection from Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill, suggesting that William H. Taft should not attack Samuel Gompers by name. Doing so may make labor men more likely to support Gompers. Daniel J. Keefe of the Longshoremen’s Union strongly supports Taft. Roosevelt has been speaking with Charles Hitchcock Sherrill, who says he has a plan to gain labor support in New York. Roosevelt compliments Taft on his work on the campaign trail and notes his concerns about re-electing Charles Evans Hughes as governor of New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt returns the letter from James Duncan, which Daniel J. Keefe had sent. While Duncan is not doing as well as Keefe, Roosevelt is glad that he wrote to Samuel Gompers about James Wallace Van Cleave and notes that William H. Taft would not be influenced by Van Cleave.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends Representative J. S. Sherman a letter from the offices of American Federation of Labor President Samuel Gompers that should be considered by those working on labor matters, and a letter from Senator Thomas Henry Carter with suggestions for the Republican National Committee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes to Secretary of Commerce and Labor Straus that although Senator Boies Penrose may have offered the position (of Commissioner General of Immigration) to someone, no one but the president has the authority to make the decision. Roosevelt intends to give the position to Daniel J. Keefe, a highly qualified man, but he can likely find another position for Duncan, unless Duncan has been supporting Samuel Gompers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Charles M. Harvey that he has not seen James Creelman’s article. While Creelman likely does not quote Roosevelt directly, he did say something to that effect. He stated he had as much difficulty with James Wallace Van Cleave, David M. Parry, and their association as he did with Samuel Gompers and his association. It concerns Roosevelt that the National Association of Manufacturers opposes measures benefiting workingmen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt believes it is unwise to give an interview to the newspaper. He agrees with William H. Taft’s opinion of the speeches given by J. S. Sherman and Secretary of State Elihu Root. Although he does not care for him, Roosevelt feels Governor Charles Evans Hughes should be renominated. Roosevelt wants Taft to show his personality and offers words of encouragement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Speaker of the House Cannon what he said to Representative James E. Watson in his letter to him last year, and stresses he was “speaking for the Republican Party and for the Republican majority in Congress.” Roosevelt hopes the House of Representatives will soon pass a bill addressing railway employees and limiting their hours of employment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Abram I. Elkus sends Theodore Roosevelt materials relating to information about the New York Factory Investigating Commission and points out two names in labor union leadership who are also members of the Commission. He says he will try to meet Roosevelt’s views if this material is not what he wants.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-13

Creator(s)

Elkus, Abram I., 1867-1947

A conference was held to discuss the Mitchell-Kahn Chinese bill which has become objectionable to the Pacific Coast and labor interests due to several amendments. It was determined that all of the amendments recommended by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs would need to be opposed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-23

Creator(s)

Unknown

President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to discuss barriers to electing Secretary of War William H. Taft to the presidency. He cites the defection in the black vote, big business, the labor’s unhappiness with the Republican Party, the unemployed, and the fact Taft is an Unitarian. Roosevelt also talks of Kermit’s start at college, their trip to Africa, and his first month back at the White House.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-10-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

A large hot air balloon with Theodore Roosevelt’s face flies a banner of “Republican Congressional Candidates” and carries a basket overflowing with election hopefuls (and a small conventional balloon labeled “Cannon’s Boom,” referring to a short-lived effort to have Joseph Gurney Cannon contest the 1908 presidential nomination. On the ground, Samuel Gompers is using a sling-shot in an effort to shoot down the balloon.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1906-10-10

John Mitchell and Samuel Gompers, representing the United Mine Workers and the American Federation of Labor, are witches stirring a “dangerous brew” of labor violence in a cauldron labeled “Unionism” over flames labeled “Anti-Injunction Bill.” Steam rising from the pot is filled with threatening human figures and the words “Boycott, Mob Violence, Intimidation, Dynamite-Persuasion, Riot, Lawlessness, Anarchy, Parkism, Graft, [and] Incendiary Press.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1904-03-16

George B. Cortelyou tells Senator Hanna that President Roosevelt would appreciate his help influencing John Mitchell’s and Samuel Gompers’s cooperation and acceptance. Commissioner of Labor Carroll D. Wright thinks this would be helpful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-06

Creator(s)

Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs John Mulholland that Roosevelt cannot choose who goes in front of the Senate Committee investigating the political contributions Standard Oil gave the Republican Party in 1904. Roosevelt only wants the facts to be known in the case. The secretary encourages Mulholland to continue talking with Walter F. Brown in order to do good work together.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-29

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt replies to E. A. Stowe and states that he “did not speak of General Otis with one tenth of the severity with which I should have justified in speaking of him.” Roosevelt’s original article favored the cause supported by Otis and went against Samuel Gompers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt remarks to Charles Dwight Willard how similar his beliefs are to Willard’s article “Who is going to do it?” and hopes to share the article with Samuel Gompers when they lunch. Roosevelt discusses the recent decision by the Supreme Court declaring the Workmen’s Compensation Acts unconstitutional and his desire to remove all those from the bench who voted against it. Roosevelt is pleased by Willard’s comments on his relationships with “plain people” and describes his time on the ranch as his happiest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt has not yet looked into the matter that Arthur B. Farquhar mentioned. At present, Roosevelt feels that the sentence given to Samuel Gompers is excessive, just as the fine given to the Standard Oil Company was excessive. Currently, however, there is nothing that he can do regarding either case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is planning to take Sydney Brooks’ advice in describing the British attitude in India in an upcoming speech. He liked Brooks’ article, and is pleased that he is going to write another one. Roosevelt appreciated Brooks’ praise of his achievements in office, but highlights what he believes are his greatest achievements while in the presidency, including increasing the size of the navy, the construction of the Panama Canal, the creation of forest reserves, and the involvement of the United States in international affairs to promote world peace. He encloses several volumes of his Presidential addresses and State papers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends the United States Department of Justice telegrams regarding the sentencing of labor leaders Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell, and Frank Morrison. He asks for a full report on the case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt notes that William Jennings Bryan has chosen not to respond to his letter to Senator Knox. Knox has “riddled” Samuel Gompers with his speech, which Roosevelt thinks is “an admirable success.” He is glad Knox was able to make use of the injunctions granted on behalf of labor unions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919