Your TR Source
President Roosevelt is “exceedingly concerned” about the conflict between Judge Jones and his colleague, saying it is a “bad thing in every way.” (The colleague in question is likely Oscar R. Hundley.)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-08
United States District Judge Jones expresses his interest in who will be appointed judge. He relays his knowledge and opinion of eleven aspirants. He details Hundley’s efforts to legislate discrimination against African Americans through a proposed amendment to bar African American schools from receiving equal funding to white schools. He explains the Democratic Party’s and Republican Party’s mistrust of Hundley due to his change in political parties.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-10
This memorandum describes the candidacy of Oscar R. Hundley for appointment as judge to various openings in Alabama. Hundley’s numerous endorsers are listed. Objections to his appointment are discussed, along with Hundley’s responses.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-08
Attorney General Bonaparte has spoken to Assistant Postmaster General Frank H. Hitchcock about the political situation in Alabama, particularly regarding Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar R. Hundley and an open judge seat. One faction supports Hundley’s nomination because it would be a blow to a second disgruntled faction which wants to take control of the Alabama delegation to the National Republican Convention. This faction wants Shelby S. Pleasants chosen. Bonaparte also reports on a conference with James Clark McReynolds about the Tobacco Trust. Bonaparte will be ready to brief President Roosevelt on this matter on Monday or Tuesday.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-08
Senator Dillingham of Vermont knows of no one who opposes the confirmation of Oscar R. Hundley except Senator Edmund Pettus of Alabama, whom Dillingham believes holds a personal grudge against Hundley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-24
The nomination of Oscar Hundley to the United States District Court of the Northern District of Alabama is now in the hands of a sub-committee. There is some opposition to the confirmation of Hundley because of his advocacy for an amendment to the Constitution “providing that moneys collected by white taxpayers should be used in the education of white children only, and that moneys collected from the colored people should be used for the colored schools.” This would have resulted in “colored children” being thrown out of school, as “the amount of taxes collected from colored people is very small.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-24
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary suggests that D. Davidson contact Judge Hundley, who is organizing Progressives in Alabama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-09-17
Theodore Roosevelt comments on Oscar K. Davis’ letter regarding Judge Oscar Richard Hundley and William H. Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-04-28
President Roosevelt informs Belle Alston Webb Tyler that the information he has received has been strongly in favor of judge Oscar R. Hundley. Roosevelt has been over all the charges raised against him, and believes that Hundley is all right. He has sent in Hundley’s nomination to the Senate, and would need to see proof of genuine misconduct before he would withdraw it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-31
President Roosevelt agrees that the matter that Thomas G. Bush wrote to him about “has been threshed out.” As far as Roosevelt knows, Judge Oscar R. Hundley’s course has been admirable, and he does not pay any attention to protests against him, and trusts that the Senate will not either.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-31
President Roosevelt corrects Eugene A. Philbin on a sentence in his letter regarding the administration’s treatment of Catholics in Puerto Rico. Catholics in the administration in Puerto Rico say that they are being treated fairly, and Roosevelt objects to the assertion that on a national level they are treated unfairly. He notes that Catholics often seek political appointments and promotions on the grounds that they are Catholic more often than other groups.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-15
President Roosevelt describes to Mark Sullivan the considerations that have gone into his selections for federal judgeships. Roosevelt reviews his appointments in detail, noting that some were made at the request of the local organization and some against their wishes. The goal in each case was to appoint someone “of the high character, the good sense, the trained legal ability, and the necessary broad-mindedness of spirit…essential to a good judge.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-13
President Roosevelt is puzzled by Edgar Gardner Murphy’s objections to Thomas G. Bush’s appointment to Peace Commissioner.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-06
President Roosevelt assures Judge Jones that whoever he appoints as judge, he will ask to behave in the same manner Jones has regarding patronage; that is, to keep every worthy worker, and to appoint men based only on efficiency.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-02
President Roosevelt tells Edgar Gardner Murphy that he has received positive recommendations to appoint Oscar R. Hundley to Justice for the northern district of Alabama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-29
President Roosevelt asks Thomas G. Bush about Judge Oscar R. Hundley, who Roosevelt is considering for a judgeship appointment in Alabama. Roosevelt likes to appoint Republican politicians to judgeships when there is someone fit, and sees it as particularly important to do so in the primarily Democratic South.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-21
President Roosevelt tells John James Jenkins that he does not know much about Chisolm and will look him up. He informs Jenkins that he intends to give Oscar R. Hundley a recess appointment if his nomination is not acted upon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-28
Dr. Edelman cautions Senator Bristow against pressing for the patronage resolution as he believes that it would be damaging in the South. He requests that Bristow consult with Lynn Haines and is willing to meet with Bristow afterwards.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-03-08
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-11
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
English
Judge Thomas G. Jones of Alabama wrote a letter to President Roosevelt in 1907 regarding several people who wanted government appointments. One such person was Oscar R. Hundley, who has been appointed judge in Alabama. A member of the Senate Judiciary Committee would like the President to send a copy of the letter as it relates to Hundley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-11