Governors

Letter from Willis Sweet to James Rudolph Garfield

Willis Sweet sends Secretary of the Interior Garfield a copy of the statements he collected as evidence for his article in the Porto Rico Review pertaining to controversial comments made by Governor of Puerto Rico Regis Henri Post. It is well known that any public official in Puerto Rico caught divulging information about the comments will be immediately let go, so Sweet asks for Garfield and President Roosevelt to ensure that the witness not suffer retribution for coming forward with a statement. Sweet stands by the content of the article, asserting he had not exaggerated any of its details and had in fact downplayed several details.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-28

Letter from Charles William Anderson to William Loeb

Charles William Anderson reports on several members of the New York Republican State Committee’s opinions of President Roosevelt, Governor Charles Evans Hughes, and Secretary of War William H. Taft. The majority of the members have indicated that they would support Hughes’s run for president over Taft’s should Roosevelt not seek renomination, although Roosevelt would be their first choice. Anderson has heard some rumors among financial circles about an unnamed fourth potential candidate, but has not seen any support for him among the actual State Committee members.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-16

Letter from Laurence H. Grahame to Theodore Roosevelt

Commissioner of the Interior for Puerto Rico Grahame informs President Roosevelt that in light of a recent controversy related to Governor of Puerto Rico Regis Henri Post, the general consensus within Puerto Rico is that Post would not be confirmed for a second year as governor. Grahame privately puts his name forward to be considered as governor to replace Post, but affirms that if Post is reconfirmed as governor or Roosevelt chooses another appointee he will accept such a decision and will not do anything to embarrass the president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-18

Letter from Laurence H. Grahame to William H. Taft

Commissioner of the Interior for Puerto Rico Grahame informs Secretary of War Taft that the general consensus in Puerto Rico is that Governor Regis Henri Post would not be confirmed for another year as governor. Grahame puts his name forward for consideration should Post not be reconfirmed and asks that Taft recommend him as well to President Roosevelt. Grahame confirms that this letter and a similar one he sent to Roosevelt are the only steps he has taken on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-18

Letter from Timothy L. Woodruff to William Loeb

New York Lieutenant Governor Woodruff sends William Loeb a copy of his statement, which he says was misrepresented in the Washington Herald. Woodruff’s statement was deemed necessary to assuage fellow Republicans in relation to the issue surrounding Governor Charles Evans Hughes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-27

Report from Wilford B. Hoggatt to Theodore Roosevelt

Governor Hoggatt sends President Roosevelt a report of Alaska’s administrative and legislative needs. Hoggatt believes the territory has multiple pressing needs, including more lighthouses, a new judicial division, and regulation of the growing railroad industry. He wishes to reduce the number of saloons and dance halls, believing these are centers for agitation against the government. The territory remains rich in natural resources but sparsely populated, and its mines are not producing because mining interest has largely shifted to other parts of the country. Hoggatt doesn’t feel that the territory has a large enough population or tax base to maintain its own standards of law and order, so he believes Alaska’s government not be reorganized until its future is more stable.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-24

Letter from Regis Henri Post to William Loeb

Governor Post will be traveling to New York from Puerto Rico for his wife’s upcoming operation. Because of the nature of the visit he asks for leave not to come to Washington, D.C., to meet with President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-24

Letter from Herbert J. Hagerman to Theodore Roosevelt

Former New Mexico Territory Governor Hagerman has refrained from addressing President Roosevelt’s statements in his letters concerning Hagerman’s forced resignation because he felt that on further reflection, Roosevelt would correct his false accusations. However, Hagerman now feels compelled to answer the accusations Roosevelt has made against him and set the record straight. Hagerman includes a detailed timeline and description of events and persons involved in his forced resignation due to accusations of land fraud. In conclusion, Hagerman says that the entire affair has hurt the standing of the Republican Party in New Mexico and asks Roosevelt to take this into consideration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-19

Letter from Timothy L. Woodruff to William Loeb

Timothy L. Woodruff describes the situation in Albany after the New York State Legislature became deadlocked over the question of apportionment. Woodruff would like to meet with William Loeb and President Roosevelt before he leaves on vacation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-17

Memorandum on the report of Hon. Alford W. Cooley, assistant attorney-general

A legal analysis of Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley’s report to President Roosevelt regarding the sale of public lands by New Mexico Governor Herbert J. Hagerman, leading to Roosevelt’s demand for Hagerman’s resignation. The author argues that Cooley’s report should not have been given as much weight in Roosevelt’s decision as it was for three reasons: the report was preliminary; the report was based on unspecified documents; Hagerman was unable to respond to said unspecified documents. The author says Cooley’s report reaches three conclusions regarding Hagerman’s actions: that the sale of more than one quarter of territorial lands to a single entity is illegal; that Hagerman presided over just such a sale; and that this action illegally usurped the power of the Territorial Commissioner of Lands. The author performs a detailed legal analysis of each point.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-18

Letter from Calvin Cobb to Theodore Roosevelt

Calvin Cobb relays to President Roosevelt the results of effective political efforts by Colorado workers and Republicans. Cobb attributes the change in public opinion towards the governor to Roosevelt’s support and Secretary of War William H. Taft’s visit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-19

Letter from Gherardi Davis to Theodore Roosevelt

Davis writes President Roosevelt to give him a worker’s perspective on how the gubernatorial election campaign of William Randolph Hearst, whose election he thinks inconceivable. Davis worries that there might be a bad showing upstate. He believes that workers were more interested in Charles Evans Hughes’s ideas on political economy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-27

Letter from Hector M. Hitchings to Theodore Roosevelt

Hector M. Hitchings urges President Roosevelt to have Secretary of War Taft speak at the meeting of the West Side Republican Club in support of Charles Evans Hughes’s candidacy for Governor of New York. While Republicans think Hughes will be elected by a heavy majority, no one is able to accurately gauge the sentiment of that class of people who make up a large bulk of the state. Hitchings thinks having the influence and bearing of Taft at the meeting will combat support for William Randolph Hearst.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-24

Letter from J. Sloat Fassett to William Loeb

Representative Fassett thanks William Loeb for sharing his understanding of the New York Governor’s race, and in turn opines that Governor Frank Wayland Higgins may be able to be nominated, but will not be able to win. Fassett does not expect to be in New York, but if he is promises to visit Loeb for an evening. He is sorry to hear of the ill health of Loeb’s son, and offers his advice on how to treat it. Fassett explains his previous inquiry about securing a government position for someone, and how much it would mean for him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-13

Letter from William H. H. Llewellyn to William Loeb

William H. H. Llewellyn believes that while there is a genuine effort among credible individuals to achieve statehood for Arizona, the government and business interests are fighting the measure. Appointed by President Roosevelt, Governor Joseph H. Kibbey has worked against Roosevelt’s wishes by actively working to defeat statehood. While Llewellyn does not believe there is justification to remove all political appointees in Arizona, Kibbey certainly must go. Not only is he working against the President’s wishes, he is also an alcoholic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-04

Letter from William Henry Hunt to Theodore Roosevelt

William Henry Hunt describes the land cases he has been following in Portland. Hunt also says that J. H. Causten would like to be considered for governor of Alaska and recommends him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-09

Letter from Albert Shaw to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert Shaw writes to President Roosevelt, relaying a message from a respected friend, N. F. Hawley of Minneapolis. Hawley states that Ray W. Jones who is hoping for an appointment as governor of Alaska lacks integrity and would not be a good choice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-14

Collins upheld province laws

This article, from the Boston Herald, reports on a recent Republican rally which saw Massachusetts Governor John Lewis Bates and Lieutenant Governor Curtis Guild criticize the Democratic party. Bates and Guild additionally responded to statements from the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, William A. Gaston, regarding Massachusetts state expenditures, as well as statutes limiting the length of the working day.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-22

Letter from William Barnes to Theodore Roosevelt

William Barnes expresses his concern about the reappointment of John McMackin as head of the Labor Bureau in New York. Barnes asks President Roosevelt to support McMackin with Governor Benjamin B. Odell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-17

Letter from William Henry Hunt to Theodore Roosevelt

Governor Hunt informs President Roosevelt about the plans for the arrival and inauguration of the next governor of Puerto Rico, Beekman Winthrop. After the inauguration Hunt will travel to New York and requests to see Roosevelt in Oyster Bay if possible. He has heard that Roosevelt and Senator Fairbanks received the nominations for president and vice-president and regrets that he will not be able to help on the campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-29