Your TR Source
President Roosevelt can testify in support of William C. Van Fleet. At the Republican National Convention in 1904, rival Edward Harriman’s men attempted to gain control of the Republican delegation from California, and Van Fleet was one of the men who stopped them. Because of this, Roosevelt is interested in what is happening in San Francisco.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-25
President Roosevelt is willing to meet with Edward Henry Harriman, and notes that the public seems to expect that he will do so. However, he requests of Maxwell Evarts that any quotes from the meeting be submitted to him before they are published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-07
President Roosevelt updates his cousin William Emlen Roosevelt on Archibald B. Roosevelt’s health. He expresses his concern about the situation going on in the business world. He notes that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and Archibald will not be going on the trip down south. He asks William to give him notice when William decides to visit. He expresses relief that William warned Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. about business. He is disappointed that he did not see William’s son, George Emlen Roosevelt, at Harvard, but notes that he did not see much of his son, Theodore, either.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-08
President Roosevelt believes the Interstate Commerce Commission is doing “the most important work of the Government at this time” and asks them to investigate the allegations made by the director and chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad Edward Henry Harriman. Roosevelt sees this as an opportunity for the Commission to profit from criticism by evaluating and improving their methods.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-10
President Roosevelt congratulates Senator Lodge on his speech, as well as one from former Governor of Massachusetts John Lewis Bates. Roosevelt recently gave a speech in Harrisburg, and although he would not denounce his opponents by name, he calls out the “demagogs” and “agitators.” Roosevelt is concerned that the “corporation men” are swayed to vote for the Democratic candidates, believing the Republican party is likely to impose government regulations opposed to their interests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-08
President Roosevelt is concerned over the accusations made by Edward Henry Harriman, a prominent railroad executive, particularly a “wilful untruth” concerning a request to raise money for the Republican party during the 1904 presidential campaign. Roosevelt tells Representative Sherman that he believes the dispute with Harriman stems from a dissatisfaction with regulations made on interstate commerce, particularly affecting railroads. Harriman is also disappointed that Roosevelt failed to appoint Senator Chauncey M. Depew as Ambassador to France as he had requested, and refuses to support the Republican party as long as Roosevelt’s policies dominate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-08
President Roosevelt has received a number of messages urging disaster relief funds for San Francisco to be given to local committees rather than the National Red Cross. He believes that the course he took at the time was the only possible one, but that now if the regular authorities believe they can do the necessary relief work they should be allowed to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-25
President Roosevelt is amused by the presses misunderstanding of Edward Alsworth Ross’s article. He agrees with Ross that families should have less children for the betterment of society, however, the one or two-child ideal would result in the extinction of the middle class. Roosevelt believes that the “Harriman-Standard Oil interests” are doing everything they can to cause him conflict in the press.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-08
President Roosevelt instructs Benjamin Ide Wheeler to not quote their conversation about Secretary of War William H. Taft, or any other topic, to Edward Henry Harriman. Roosevelt speaks freely with Wheeler, and wants to makes sure that his statements are not repeated unless exactly the same. He has spoken freely to Harriman in the past, and is sure he will do so again, but there is nothing to discuss regarding the present railroad matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-20
President Roosevelt is interested in what Whitelaw Reid has to say about Harriman. Roosevelt asks if Reid does not find it “curious” that New York Republicans are always fighting, citing the current gubernatorial campaign as an example.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-16
President Roosevelt seeks Marvin Hughitt’s opinion on Representative Victor Howard Metcalf. Roosevelt is considering Metcalf for Secretary of Commerce and Labor when George B. Cortelyou becomes Chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-06
President Roosevelt discusses the qualities necessary for a judge’s position which he and Elihu Root are trying to fill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-12
During President Roosevelt’s western trip, labor unions complained against Roosevelt using the Union Pacific system of railroads because of their treatment of their employees. William Loeb’s answer to the complaints was that the schedule was set far in advance and could not be altered. Loeb had no input from Roosevelt at this time because he was isolated in Yellowstone. Roosevelt did not know of the protests until the matter was discussed in the newspapers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-02
President Roosevelt is still examining the candidates for Paymaster General and will not promise to appoint Mr. Boggs. Roosevelt would like to see Governor Odell and Mr. Harriman at Oyster Bay, New York and offers to send a boat for use in their travels.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-08
This handwritten note discusses two complaints against Benjamin A. Fowler, a candidate for the Arizona governorship. Indiana Senator Albert J. Beveridge complains that Fowler is lobbying against the statehood bill, while Edward Henry Harriman hopes that Fowler will not be appointed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01
Robert Lee Yokum asks Theodore Roosevelt for help in selling the late Scotty Philip’s herd of 300 bison, as there is not enough pasture for them. Yokum suggests dispersing the bison throughout the National Parks to aid in preserving the species. He reminds Roosevelt that he drove the team of buffalo at the celebrations in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-31
James H. McGuiness recently visited with Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, whose remarks about Theodore Roosevelt inspired him to send a tribute he wrote in memory of his friend Edward Henry Harriman, who admired Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-01
I. K. Russell returns a copy of Edward Young’s resolution with his letter to Theodore Roosevelt. Russell is attempting to get Collier’s to publish on the strength of Young’s resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-15
W. D. Murphy, pen name for Harriet Anderson Stubbs Murphy, invites Theodore Roosevelt to visit her studio and see her portraits of him. Murphy lists several of her most notable portrait subjects and how satisfied they were with her work. Murphy notifies Roosevelt the New York Historical Society wants to buy this portrait of Roosevelt, and she would like to have Roosevelt’s approval before it sells.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-09
Henry Lee Higginson thanks Theodore Roosevelt for the recent letter, and finds that they are almost entirely in agreement. Higginson comments on the conduct of Edward Henry Harriman, particularly during the financial panics, finding him to have acted rashly or unscrupulously. Harriman was only one of many who acted this way though, and Higginson feels that while these sorts of dishonest or unscrupulous actions should be stopped, the individual should not necessarily be punished.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-04