Your TR Source
President Roosevelt wishes to see Lieutenant Governor Frank Wayland Higgins “active on the stump” in New York and wants to forward Alfred Spring’s note, along with his own, to Higgins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-11
President Roosevelt forwards to George B. Cortelyou a $3,000 check from William Bayard Cutting. Roosevelt hopes that Governor Frank Wayland Higgins “takes the aggressive.” Roosevelt would like Cortelyou’s help in convincing Secretary of State John Hay to speak in New York. He would also like Cortelyou to write to Senator Charles Dick about soliciting contributions from government employees.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-04
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Senator Thomas Collier Platt for sending out letters on behalf of candidate Frank W. Higgins. Roosevelt is very concerned about the situation in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-04
Theodore Roosevelt is not happy with how the campaign is going in New York. Issues are being shifted from the national to the state ticket. Roosevelt believes the campaign should not be apologizing for any expenditures and that they should continue with their present policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-29
Theodore Roosevelt is surprised by dissatisfaction with the state ticket. If the dissatisfaction becomes high enough, it could impact the national ticket. Roosevelt also believes that the charges against Governor Odell are “partisan nonsense.” Roosevelt will attack Alton Parker for being “insincere.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-29
Theodore Roosevelt believes that it would be wrong to use the same campaign techniques as the Democrats. Roosevelt will not permit his opponents to make “Odellism” the issue. He will keep things focused on the presidential campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-29
President Roosevelt believes that it is “folly for us to fight on the ground our adversaries use” in the campaign. Roosevelt emphasizes the importance of an aggressive campaign against the inaccuracies of the Parker campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-29
President Theodore Roosevelt informs Senator Henry Cabot Lodge that he is dealing with the post office matters. Roosevelt also says that he will write to Governor Frank Higgins because Roosevelt is concerned that if Higgins performs poorly in New York then it will affect the national Republican Party’s chances.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-30
President Roosevelt writes to Secretary of Agriculture Wilson that the information he is hearing corroborates what he is hearing from other sources. “Odellism” may do damage and that is the only thing that gives Roosevelt concern in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-30
Theodore Roosevelt thanks F. Norton Goddard for his letter. Roosevelt suggests that Goddard get in touch with Chairman Cortelyou. Roosevelt also hopes that every Republican worker will support Governor Higgins as much as himself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-01
President Roosevelt appreciates all that Cornelius Newton Bliss is doing. Roosevelt is not pleased with how the campaign is going in New York and would like Frank Wayland Higgins to take a prominent part in the campaign. The most important thing is to get national issues to the forefront of the New York campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-02
President Roosevelt is not pleased with the actions of the Treasury Department. He has received several nominations for the squadron and will consult Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton regarding Harry. Roosevelt believes Frank Wayland Higgins will win the election for New York governor over D. Cady Herrick.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-24
President Roosevelt has forwarded Arthur von Briesen’s letter to Mr. Coolidge so that he might be provided with the requested information, and Roosevelt has also written to Hogarty, the day laborer. Roosevelt assures von Briesen that Frank W. Higgins will be a worthy successor to New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-27
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 thinks Lieutenant Governor Frank W. Higgins an admirable man, and it seems he will be elected governor of New York in November. Roosevelt is only concerned about the factional fight.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-17
The election in New York is doubtful and President Roosevelt hopes that Secretary of War Taft can speak in the state at some point in October. The doubt stems from Governor Benjamin B. Odell’s unpopularity. Roosevelt is concerned that the Democrats could make the New York election a state campaign and not a national campaign. Roosevelt is pleased that Taft liked his letter of acceptance. Alton B. Parker will only be able to respond by great dexterity and has been forced to rewrite his letter to the press. The only way for Parker to win the election is through trickery.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-17
Things are looking good for the election in November, but President Roosevelt believes there may be a problem in New York. Roosevelt is amused that he has received support from Robert Treat Paine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-20
President Roosevelt would like to begin a sharp, aggressive campaign against Justice Herrick.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-22
President Roosevelt believes that Frank W. Higgins would make an excellent governor of New York, but he knows that Higgins’s opponents will claim he is a “tool” of current Governor Benjamin B. Odell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-15
President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of State Hay that the Parker Constitution Club is the “most absurd feature” of the Democratic Party’s presidential campaign. Roosevelt encloses a cartoon that he thinks will amuse Hay. He also worries that the New York governorship race might swing the state’s electoral votes to the Democrats.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-15