Letter from J. B. Corey to Theodore Roosevelt
J. B. Corey sends Theodore Roosevelt his thoughts on Roosevelt’s recent speech to Pennsylvania farmers. Corey questions Roosevelt’s claim that he wants to serve both farmers and wage earners. In his speech, Roosevelt blamed the middle men for the issues facing farmers and consumers. Corey argues that it is not the middle men, but the “official plutocrats” who should be blamed, because they are responsible for the higher taxes on farms and increased cost of living expenses. Corey assumes Roosevelt understands that public officials’s high salaries are paid for by the working class. Corey derides President Taft, who he refers to as Roosevelt’s “protege,” for his handling of the Canadian reciprocity agreement. Corey praises Canada and mocks Taft for thinking Canadian farmers—many of whom emigrated from the United States—would be interested in the reciprocity treaty. Corey also critiques Roosevelt for an act of Congress passed during his administration which increased the president’s salary by $25,000, supposedly to pay for travel expenses. According to Corey, this act cost the working class more than the middle men ever has. Corey says that if Roosevelt is serious about helping farmers and wage earners, he should run for president again and promise to repeal the “infamous salary grab acts” and take the same salary as Abraham Lincoln.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-09-27
