Your TR Source
The Brooklyn Young Republican Club writes resolutions of their reasons for opposing the candidacy of Edwin A. Merritt for Speaker of the New York State Assembly and Ray B. Smith for Clerk of the New York State Assembly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-28
Brooklyn Young Republicans Club
Thomas T. Chaloner asks Theodore Roosevelt why rich corporations do not give the public a square deal and gives the example of his attempts to sell his train stop device to railroad companies. Chaloner knows his device could save lives, yet the railroad companies do not want to pay to install the device and therefore turn Chaloner away. Chaloner believes railroad companies are selling all the stock and bonds to foreign nobles, catering to them rather than making railroads safer for Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-18
President Roosevelt sends Senator O’Neil a letter before he leaves for Africa. Roosevelt mentions that he and Governor Hughes were talking about O’Neil recently, and Roosevelt remembers when he and O’Neil began together in politics.
1908-03-11
President Roosevelt believes that Chilion B. Allen understands how short of money the campaign committees are. Roosevelt believes that William H. Taft and Governor Charles Evans Hughes are doing everything they can for him, but asks for the name of Rev. D. D. of Brooklyn, who Allen says is “accepting Republican money.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt passes on a selection from Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill, suggesting that William H. Taft should not attack Samuel Gompers by name. Doing so may make labor men more likely to support Gompers. Daniel J. Keefe of the Longshoremen’s Union strongly supports Taft. Roosevelt has been speaking with Charles Hitchcock Sherrill, who says he has a plan to gain labor support in New York. Roosevelt compliments Taft on his work on the campaign trail and notes his concerns about re-electing Charles Evans Hughes as governor of New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-10
President Roosevelt has received Senator Lodge’s letter and says that if Surveyor of the Port of Boston Jeremiah J. McCarthy appeals to him, he will reach out to Mr. Reynolds. Roosevelt discusses the presidential campaign and notes that New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes has been useful in the West, but it will be a challenge to “pull him through” in New York. However, if William H. Taft’s majority is big enough, it will happen. He discusses the Republican prospects in several states.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-10
President Roosevelt appreciates Representative Sherman’s letter and notes that his reports on Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois align with outside sources. Roosevelt is concerned about New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes’s chances at re-election but believes that Hughes’s speeches in the West helped. Roosevelt is pleased with Sherman’s work during the election. He encloses a letter and notes that Kerwin or Delaney should see Sherman and that Eugene V. Debs’s article on William H. Taft should be circulated as they propose.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-09
President Roosevelt discusses the current state of the presidential election and predicts that the Republicans will win the electoral college. He notes their prospects in various states, and in particular notes that although they are “horribly handicapped” by the unpopularity of Governor Charles Evans Hughes, he believes they will win in New York. Roosevelt inquires if William Sturgis Bigelow has shown Senator Lodge the new five dollar gold piece, and reports that he plans to address the Sorbonne upon his return from Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-07
President Roosevelt doubts the advisability of William Dudley Foulke’s making a statement in favor of Representative James E. Watson without it appearing to reflect on Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon. Roosevelt is glad that Foulke thinks the campaign is going well but worries about opposition from labor parties and New York State.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-07
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from Judge John Campbell. The Republican National Committee seems to be running smoothly and Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon has been aiding Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon. Roosevelt outlines his optimism about the campaign, but admits that New York may be difficult and that he has received a worried letter from Representative Theodore E. Burton about Ohio. Roosevelt does not plan on speaking, other than potentially on labor, and he asks for William H. Taft’s input on postmaster appointments.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-06
President Roosevelt records the facts about his influence on the nomination of William H. Taft in the Southern states, countering reports in the press. Roosevelt analyzes the breakdown of support for candidates in each area of the country, and summarizes that the Northern officials followed the trajectories in their districts, and opposition to Taft in the Southern states was largely a result of the influence of outside interests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-05
President Roosevelt thanks Lawrence F. Abbott for his answer to R. T. Vann. The only way Roosevelt influenced office holders was by preventing them from nominating him for a third term. He details what candidates the office holders were mostly supporting in various states. Enclosed are two letters regarding Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, one from Mrs. Williams which Roosevelt would like to see published and one which has already been published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-03
President Roosevelt appreciates J. H. Claypool’s positive news about Governor Charles Evans Hughes, but he can not stump during the campaign. The information about John Worth Kern and John Edward Lamb is interesting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-01
President Roosevelt responds to William Jennings Bryan’s public letter by comparing Bryan’s platform with those of the current administration and of William H. Taft’s campaign. Roosevelt lists the cases that have been brought against the trusts, the railroads, and the shippers under his administration. He explains his actions in relation to the panic of 1907, outlines the reasons the trust magnates will support Bryan, and defends his actions related to campaign funding. Roosevelt critiques Bryan’s defense of Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathan Haskell by reiterating the extent of his corruption, and determines that it reflects directly on Bryan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-27
President Roosevelt writes to Chairman Frank H. Hitchcock of the Republican National Committee regarding T. Coleman Du Pont, head of the National Republican Committee Bureau of Campaign Speakers. Roosevelt believes Du Pont’s resignation would have had a better effect if it had happened when initially suggested. He instructs Hitchcock to guard against the opposition’s use of the situation in their campaign and explains the differences in the seemingly similar cases of Du Pont and Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell. There has been distressing feedback from New York State, especially concerning the renomination of Governor Charles Evans Hughes and the dissatisfaction of the labor crowd, and Roosevelt outlines persons who should be brought in to assist with securing New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-26
President Roosevelt tells Republican State Committee Chairman Woodruff that he hopes there will be support for judges Abel E. Blackmar and Luke D. Stapleton, who were appointed by Governor Charles Evans Hughes and represent both political parties. Roosevelt has scheduled Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield for Woodruff’s Saturday night meeting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-25
President Roosevelt agrees with William H. Taft’s view on tariffs but advises him to tread lightly and cautiously on all policy matters. Roosevelt also advises that Taft resist any attempts by George Barnsdale Cox to push him into the wrong positions, but that he remain on good terms, to avoid coming off as Governor Charles Evans Hughes does. Roosevelt advocates that Taft act as he did when in similar positions, avoiding conflict but fighting when necessary. Roosevelt believes he has taken a good shot at William Jennings Bryan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-24
President Roosevelt responds to William Jennings Bryan’s telegram regarding Democratic National Committee Treasurer and Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell’s actions in Ohio, by discussing Haskell’s actions in Oklahoma, where he allowed the Prairie Oil and Gas Company to build against an attempted injunction by Oklahoma Attorney General Charles West. Roosevelt asks Bryan to contrast his actions towards Haskell with William H. Taft’s actions toward Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, and lists the reasons Haskell is unfit for any office. Such reasons include his actions on the child labor bill, land fraud cases, and educational taxes, all of which have been covered in the press. Roosevelt offers an analysis and criticism of Bryan’s “radical” propositions and plans for breaking up corruption, and concludes that it is Taft whose actions prove his ability to deliver for the American people.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-23
President Roosevelt supports the idea of the meetings with New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes and William H. Taft as speakers, but he disagrees with William L. Ward’s feeling that William Jennings Bryan has a chance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
President Roosevelt sends William H. Taft a copy of the letter he sent to Treasurer of the Campaign Committee George Rumsey Sheldon regarding campaign contributions, after a complaint from Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt asks Taft to take more aggressive action against William Jennings Bryan, perhaps giving a speech like the one recently given by New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Many have suggested that T. Coleman DuPont should not be in charge of the Speakers Committee, and if it were up to Roosevelt he would be removed. Roosevelt has given the press a copy of a letter from Taft to Arthur I. Vorys in which Taft’s independence is full display, to counteract the press coverage of the supposed reconciliation with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt advises Taft, in his speech, to speak about the connection between William Randolph Hearst and the Democratic National Committee. In a postscript, Roosevelt advises Taft to remove Sheldon if he did in fact solicit the donations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21