Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary acknowledges N. T. McGrane’s letter to Roosevelt, his letter to T. W. Hardwick, and a copy of Senate Bill no. 1412.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-04-11
President Roosevelt thanks William H. Fleming for the letter, and informs him that he took the liberty of forwarding it to Secretary of War William H. Taft so that they may discuss the matter. Regarding Fleming’s suggestion, Roosevelt is anxious to do something to help, but is more concerned with not doing anything that may hurt the matter. He discusses the issues surrounding the enforcement of laws and voting rights, with African Americans being prevented from voting, but still contributing to population numbers when determining the number of representatives those states get. Roosevelt does not feel that he can force changes, and has determined that his best course of action is to uphold men of the south who are acting correctly. He muses about inviting several men to Washington, D.C., to discuss the best course of action.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-20
Edmond H. Madison believes that Representative Thomas W. Hardwick, chairman of the special committee investigating the sugar trust, is more concerned with injuring Roosevelt’s reputation than in conducting his investigation. A recent interview of George H. Earle saw many attacks on Roosevelt which were subsequently reprinted in newspapers. Madison now worries that an upcoming interview with Milton Dwight Purdy may have the same aim, and asks Roosevelt for any information he should be aware or forewarned of for the upcoming hearing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-07
Attorney William H. Fleming appreciates President Theodore Roosevelt’s suggestion that the appointment of a commission would be most palatable if it comes from “some high class southern senator or congressman.” Fleming suggests Senator Alexander Stephens Clay, Congressman Clark Howell, or Congressman William Gordon Brantley for the task. Fleming commends Roosevelt’s caution in the matter and agrees to discuss it with him before the meeting of Congress. Fleming encloses an editorial he wrote about race hatred in Georgia that rebuts the claims of Hoke Smith and Congressman Thomas William Hardwick and discusses the disenfranchisement situation in Alabama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-09
William H. Fleming approves of President Roosevelt’s treatment of the “race problem,” and he thinks the appointment of a commission to investigate facts and make recommendations about racial tensions would be useful. Fleming says some political factions will oppose the commission because they “do not wish to have the light turned on.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-02
This Augusta Chronicle article written by William H. Fleming details Fleming’s opinions of a recent race riot as well as the suppression of African American voters in Alabama and Georgia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-09
A list of congressional nominees for the 1906 election, organized by state, printed for the convenience of the press by the Republican Congressional Committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-06
Secretary of War Taft returns to President Roosevelt the letters from White and William H. Fleming. Taft does not think there is anything to do about the charges against General Leonard Wood, which he considers largely untrue and slanderous. Taft read Fleming’s letter, and is surprised Thomas W. Hardwick could have been elected to Congress. There is no need to dignify Hardwick’s statements about repealing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments, which granted citizenship and voting rights to African Americans, as he “writes himself down an ass.” Taft tells Roosevelt that he is welcome to discuss the plan with Congressman Joseph Gurney Cannon. In a postscript, Taft clarifies that he read Fleming’s letter again and acknowledges that the situation is perhaps more serious than he suspected, and Congress ought to take notice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-23
Politician and orator William H. Fleming believes President Roosevelt wishes “to do the best thing possible for the whole country, including our Southern white people, and not excluding the negroes.” Many Georgia locals agree with outspoken men like T. W. Hardwick though the South owes no allegiance to the 14th and 15th Amendment. South Carolina politician Coleman Livingston Blease has argued against education for African Americans and called for the university in Orangeburg to be torn down. Fleming asks Roosevelt if the government can make a statement of clarity regarding the amendments to help “check the riotous tendency down here.” Fleming believes that any man not willing to commit to the Constitution and its amendments should be stripped of their seat and discusses counter efforts against the passage of disenfranchisement laws.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-24
William H. Fleming writes to President Roosevelt about the possible disfranchisement of African American voters in Georgia. Fleming believes it would be a disaster if Hoke Smith, who advocates such disfranchisement, was nominated at the Democratic Convention. He is even more concerned about the conduct of Representative Thomas W. Hardwick, who has been decrying the 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution and publicly renouncing his allegiance to those parts of the Constitution. Fleming thinks that the question should be raised in the House of Representatives, whether a member is violating their oath of office by refusing to uphold these amendments. Such an inquiry would force Hardwick to either retract his statements or be removed from office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-17