Higgins, Frank Wayland, 1856-1907

Letter from Albert Shaw to Theodore Roosevelt

Dr. Albert Shaw of the Review of Reviews explains the delay in receiving and responding to the latest letter from President Roosevelt is due to it being misaddressed. The correspondence regards to their ongoing dispute over whether or not Roosevelt said that Cyrus Packer Walbridge is a better man than Joseph Wingate Folk (opposing candidates for Missouri governor). Shaw explains that Roosevelt had been quoted frequently in Missouri as favoring Democratic candidate Folk for governor, and that Shaw was attempting to correct this by stating that Roosevelt knew Walbridge to be a man of high character. Shaw recounts that Roosevelt wrote to him explaining that he wished to maintain a position of non-interference in state politics, and Shaw meant by his letter to correct what was being stated by Folk and the Democratic Party. Shaw continues to explain why it is wrong that Folk’s people claim Roosevelt’s endorsement and why it should be corrected.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-27

Creator(s)

Shaw, Albert, 1857-1947

Letter from Elihu Root to Theodore Roosevelt

Elihu Root sends President Roosevelt some tongue-in-cheek birthday wishes, telling Roosevelt that he has “made a very good start in life and your friends have great hopes for you when you grow up.” Root comments on the political campaigns, which are in their final days, and believes that they are going as well as possible. Democratic candidate Alton B. Parker’s change of strategy to give speeches himself has come too late to affect the outcome. Root plans to be in Washington, D.C., on Monday, and will stop by to chat with Roosevelt if he is free.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-28

Creator(s)

Root, Elihu, 1845-1937

Letter from Lucius Nathan Littauer to Theodore Roosevelt

Representative Littauer endorses the candidacy of Marcus M. Marks for Postmaster of New York City. He believes that Marks’s appointment would positively effect the political campaigns that are ongoing there. Although the campaign in New York has been hard-fought, Littauer assures President Roosevelt of their ultimate success. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-29

Creator(s)

Littauer, Lucius Nathan, 1859-1944

Letter from F. Norton Goddard to Theodore Roosevelt

F. Norton Goddard has heard of the recent death of New York Postmaster Cornelius Van Cott. At the risk of going against good taste, he advocates to President Roosevelt for the appointment of Marcus M. Marks as Van Cott’s successor, and relates the various positive traits that Marks possesses, as well as the endorsements that he has received from a variety of people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-25

Creator(s)

Goddard, F. Norton (Frederick Norton), 1861-1905

Letter from F. Norton Goddard to Theodore Roosevelt

F. Norton Goddard received William Loeb’s telegram advising Goddard that President Roosevelt would like Goddard to go see Frank Wayland Higgins. Higgins is in favor of the appointment of Marcus M. Marks as Postmaster of New York, but does not want to openly recommend him for fear of displeasing Benjamin B. Odell. There is some hesitation among Republicans to nominate Marks due to his being Jewish. Goddard asks for the intervention of Roosevelt into this matter by entering into the conversation via telegram, and discusses the possible involvement of Jacob H. Schiff and Thomas Collier Platt as well. He believes the appointment of Marks would be politically beneficial to the Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-27

Creator(s)

Goddard, F. Norton (Frederick Norton), 1861-1905

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph Bucklin Bishop continues to assure Theodore Roosevelt of winning the upcoming election citing political canvasing work showing that Republican Frank W. Higgins will win the New York state governor’s race. Additionally, Bishop writes of someone who walked Democratic presidential nominee Alton B. Parker to his hotel where he admitted personally he had no chance of winning the upcoming presidential election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-14

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Letter from William Barnes to Theodore Roosevelt

William Barnes, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Republican State Committee of New York, thanks President Roosevelt for answering his request and appointing his brother, Thurlow Weed Barnes, to a position. He reports on the status of the campaign in New York, and believes that that the national ticket will fare well in the state, and that Frank Wayland Higgins’s chances of being elected governor of New York are improving daily.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-15

Creator(s)

Barnes, William, 1866-1930

Letter from F. Norton Goddard to Theodore Roosevelt

F. Norton Goddard writes to President Roosevelt to report on a conference hosted by Governor Odell that he is attending. He describes the conference discussions and decisions about various nominations, including settling on nominating Frank W. Higgins for Governor and Julius M. Mayer for Attorney General of New York. He describes the political strategy behind the nomination of Higgins and notes that they decided to leave the nomination for Lieutenant Governor until the next day’s meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-13

Creator(s)

Goddard, F. Norton (Frederick Norton), 1861-1905

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph Bucklin Bishop writes to President Roosevelt about the progress of the Republican campaign in New York state. He notes that feeling against Governor Odell is strong and may hinder Lieutenant Governor Higgins’s election, but they may be able to win the state based on pro-Roosevelt feelings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-04

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Letter from Whitelaw Reid to Theodore Roosevelt

Whitelaw Reid writes to President Roosevelt to inform him that he met with Governor Odell, who seems to agree that the interview he granted which put him at the forefront of the campaign rather than Lieutenant Governor Higgins was a mistake. Reid goes on to detail aspects of the Republican campaign that he is supporting and to express his opinion that Roosevelt is guaranteed to win New York state, but he is not sure the same is true of Higgins.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-01

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Letter from James Wilson to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of Agriculture Wilson reports to President Roosevelt on his campaign activities in West Virginia and New York. He reports strong numbers at open houses and meetings in various states, but also reports that voters are upset by Governor Odell and unsure about Lieutenant Higgins, who might cost Roosevelt some votes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-26

Creator(s)

Wilson, James, 1835-1920

Letter from Cornelius Newton Bliss to Theodore Roosevelt

Republican National Committee Treasurer Bliss responds to President Roosevelt’s previous letter agreeing that the conflict between Governor Odell and Lieutenant Governor Higgins is likely to have an adverse effect on the Republican results in the New York state election. He stresses that by emphasizing the national issues they can mitigate the situation. He then describes an upcoming campaign meeting at Madison Square Garden and applauds Chairman Cortelyou’s work on the campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-03

Creator(s)

Bliss, Cornelius Newton, 1833-1911

Letter from George B. Cortelyou to Theodore Roosevelt

Republican National Committee Chairman Cortelyou writes to President Roosevelt about the progress of the Republican campaign. Cortelyou outlines his strategy to allow the Democratic Party to articulate their platform and then attack it in advance of the election. Roosevelt should maintain his current activity and Cortelyou will let him know if speeches or writing are needed from him. Despite some criticism, he believes the Republican headquarters is being run well overall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-02

Creator(s)

Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940

Letter from Thomas Collier Platt to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Platt expresses his concern to President Roosevelt about the Republican campaign in New York state, noting that while there does not seem to be a risk of losing the national election in that state, there is a risk of losing the state offices. Platt is writing to 15,000 of his supporters and asking them to aggressively support Lieutenant Governor Higgins.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-03

Creator(s)

Platt, Thomas Collier, 1833-1910

Letter from James Sheffield to Theodore Roosevelt

Commissioner Sheffield writes to President Roosevelt to inform him that he will attend a meeting of Republican lawyers regarding the formation of a club to counter the Democratic Constitutional Club, a move which Sheffield advises against. However, he does advocate for the creation of a group that would support the neutrality of the judicial bench and “could be made politically useful in other ways.” He concludes by complimenting Chairman Cortelyou’s work and the selection of Lieutenant Governor Higgins for Governor and expresses his confidence that the national campaign is going well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-21

Creator(s)

Sheffield, James R. (James Rockwell), 1864-1938

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge thanks President Roosevelt for his letter. He approves of the selection of Lieutenant Governor Higgins as the Republican nominee for New York State Governor. He goes on to explain why he thinks D. Cady Herrick is a poor choice for the Democratic nominee and to speculate on who the papers will endorse. He asks Roosevelt’s opinion on two other matters, the appointment of a new Commander of the North American Squadron, and a letter he has received from George Mayer on the need to build a new Customs House and expand the size of the Appraisers Department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-23

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Nicholas Murray Butler to Theodore Roosevelt

Columbia University President Butler writes to President Roosevelt to convey his opinions on the current political climate including public sentiment against Governor Odell, Lieutenant Governor Higgins’ suitability to run for Governor but inability to inspire great passion, and Butler’s confidence that Roosevelt will win the national election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-26

Creator(s)

Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph Bucklin Bishop writes to President Roosevelt about the Republican election strategy. First, he notes that he does not think Chief Judge Parker’s Democratic nomination acceptance letter will increase his success in the campaign. Then he goes on to say that Parker’s ideas about pensions make for a delicate political situation. Finally, he says he is getting conflicting reports on the situation in New York and the conflict between Governor Odell and Lieutenant Governor Higgins, and he will update Roosevelt when he knows anything definite.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-27

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge writes to President Roosevelt about the progress of the Republican campaign. Lodge approves Lieutenant Governor Higgins as candidate for governor of New York. He believes that Chief Judge Parker is playing politics with his Democratic nomination acceptance letter. He is confident that Massachusetts and New York will both go Republican in the election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-27

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Joseph Bucklin Bishop to Theodore Roosevelt

Joseph Bucklin Bishop writes to President Roosevelt with an update on the Republican campaign in New York. He notes that there is widespread feeling against Governor Odell across the state, which is a potential danger for Lieutenant Governor Higgins’s candidacy, but Bishop remains confident that both Roosevelt and Higgins will win in New York state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-30

Creator(s)

Bishop, Joseph Bucklin, 1847-1928