Your TR Source
Richard Watson Gilder thanks President Roosevelt for his kind words about Gilder’s anti-Hearst letter. Gilder notes that Jacob Riis has procured the printing of his own fierce letter in the New York East Side Jewish papers on a daily basis until the election. Gilders says the Republicans have the millionaire back roads well-beaten.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-27
Senator Lodge encloses a speech from United States District Attorney Asa P. French, given in New York during the gubernatorial campaign. French’s is one of many strong Republican speeches made this campaign. The nominations and appointments have shaken up Roosevelt allies as well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-27
John Albert Macy’s editorial in volume 24 of The Bookman. Starting with the current use of the word “yellow” to describe bad newspapers, Macy extends the metaphor to describe other types of journalism according to a chromatic scheme. Includes a handwritten note that says “Dear Cabot, This is good. T. R.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-29
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-24
Ludwig Nissen suggests that Secretary of the Treasury Shaw make an effort to stop newspapers from discrediting the economic policies of the administration. Nissen tells Shaw that newspapers should give him more credit for helping businessmen, rather than portraying him as helping speculators.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-24
Chairman Knapp of the Interstate Commerce Commission has sent a trustworthy man west with instructions, who will meet Lane, Clark, and others in Des Moines to verify the statement in person. Knapp has new information that Paul Morton has evidence related to rebates paid to William Randolph Hearst in California. If Roosevelt suggest so, Morton would speak up on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-25
John Warne Gates asks President Roosevelt to speak to New York State voters to prevent “such burning disgrace as the election of Hearst to the Governorship.” Gates encloses a letter from Senator Joseph Gurney Cannon, who agrees that Roosevelt’s intervention would go a long way to ensuring the election of Charles Evans Hughes, and urges Roosevelt to speak in Albany, Buffalo, and New York City.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-23
Senator Lodge agrees with President Roosevelt’s decision not to provide a letter of support for Lodge’s son-in-law, Augustus Peabody Gardner. Although Gardner’s campaign to keep his seat in Congress is not going well, others are doing what they can to support him. Lodge is also somewhat concerned about the Republican race for Governor of Massachusetts against John B. Moran. The Panama labor question is being used against many political candidates who voted with the administration. On another matter, it may be worthwhile for Secretary of War Taft to respond to James H. Blount, who has been making speeches about the Philippines which are harmful to the administration of the islands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-23
Warner Miller warns President Roosevelt that in manufacturing towns, there may be a secret movement among employees to vote for William Randolph Hearst in the New York state election. He is concerned that the present state campaign is ignoring the national issues and believes that only Roosevelt can change the present condition of the campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-16
Representative Calder from New York expresses to President Roosevelt his anxiety over the layoffs of men employed by the Brooklyn Navy Yard which lies in his Congressional District. He fears that the timing of the layoffs will harm Calder’s re-election chances and reminds Roosevelt that his opponent, Robert Baker, is anti-war and voted against the Naval Appropriation bill when previously in Congress. Calder also updates Roosevelt on the election prospects in Kings County, New York, for Charles Evans Hughes, the Republican candidate for governor running against William Randolph Hearst.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-17
John Warne Gates shares with President Roosevelt his assessment of the upcoming New York gubernatorial election. The Republican Party finds itself financially limited by the new law on corporate contributions. According to Gates, “one man, and one alone . . . can come into this campaign and turn the tide for Hughes,” and thus he entreats that man—Roosevelt—to join the campaign in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-17
John A. Sleicher discusses the upcoming New York gubernatorial election, telling President Roosevelt that “the tide is still running strongly” toward Charles Evans Hughes, but William Randolph Hearst plans to “flood the rural districts with money.” Sleicher also informs Roosevelt that Hearst’s editor Arthur Brisbane does not want Hearst elected to the governorship, because he believes Hearst should “devote himself to his propaganda for the elevation of the masses.” Sleicher still does not believe that Hughes will be defeated. He also notes that he is glad Secretary of State Elihu Root will speak in New York and that former Governor Frank Swett Black is involved, and he hopes Secretary of War William H. Taft will also be able to speak.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-17
August Belmont makes Theodore Roosevelt aware of the state of the election in Pennsylvania. The situation is the reverse of the situation in New York. Belmont stresses the importance of keeping national issues out of the local elections and hopes that some voters can be persuaded to vote across party lines. If possible, and if it will not hurt the election in New York, Belmont thinks Roosevelt should involve himself in the Pennsylvania election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-18
Senator Lodge suggests to President Roosevelt that, despite the importance of regulating and controlling corporate capital, there are other, more immediate dangers in the present election, including the candidacies of the Democrats, William Randolph Hearst and John B. Moran, who are running for governorships in New York and Massachusetts, respectively. Lodge also makes a point to tell Roosevelt how much he liked his speech in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Lodge believes the Republican candidate for governor of New York, Charles Evans Hughes, is doing admirably.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-18
John Carter Rose thanks President Roosevelt for hosting him. Rose shares with Roosevelt some additional thoughts about the graduated income tax, abolition of child labor, and the eight-hour work day. Rose argues that while all of these policies are good things, Roosevelt needs to be careful about how he messages them so that he does not alienate any of his supporters. Rose also urges caution in Roosevelt’s criticism of judges and his promotion of progressive judges, as both those actions will jar the legal profession. Rose closes by congratulating Roosevelt on his “moderate revolution.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-19
William L. Ward reports to President Roosevelt that he is at the Republican National Committee headquarters helping Timothy L. Woodruff in preparation for the upcoming House of Representative elections in New York, and he expects a majority to go for Charles Evans Hughes. He asks Roosevelt to make a definite announcement in relation to the appointment of Oscar S. Straus as United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor, to arrange for the Catholic clergy of New York to take action in relation to Hughes, and for Roosevelt to write a letter to a prominent person in New York in relation to Hughes. Ward makes the point that the working class who are for William Randolph Hearst could be swayed to voting for Hughes if they hear that Roosevelt supports Hughes above Hearst. Ward also notes that both James Bronson Reynolds and George B. Cortelyou will be discussing these issues with Roosevelt in Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-19
Representative Parsons summarizes his thoughts on the “Herald matter” for Henry L. Stimson, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Parsons is worried that the tide will turn in favor of the Democrats led by William Randolph Hearst. Parsons is not suggesting improper behavior, but believes something needs to be done to protect the public interest against Hearst.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-20
Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon tells President Roosevelt of his itinerary in New York before he heads to Detroit for his next meeting. Cannon also shares his observations on the gubernatorial campaign of William Randolph Hearst and the Republican Party’s chances in New York in the upcoming election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-21
Charles Evans Hughes says the past week has been most encouraging for his campaign. Hughes tells President Roosevelt that the most significant events of the week were the demonstrations on the East Side and the meetings at Troy and Watertown. Hughes thinks that if the reports brought to him by the county chairman are trustworthy, the campaign shall have a great victory; however, Hughes is disturbed by newspaper reports of William Randolph Hearst’s meetings. He fears the “great silent vote of the working-men.” Hughes wishes the newspapers would print more of his declarations as to his own positions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-21
Herbert Parsons met with Postmaster Cortelyou to go over suggestions forwarded to the Republican gubernatorial candidate in New York, Charles Evans Hughes, most of which had to do with antisemitism in newspapers of Democratic candidate William Randolph Hearst. Parsons was also part of the Judiciary Convention which nominated Otto Rosalasky while taking the rest of the Judiciary Nominator’s ticket. Parsons urges Roosevelt to endorse James L. Wells as a candidate to represent the Bronx.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-11