Hundley, Oscar R. (Oscar Richard), 1855-1921

In this edition of the “Book Reviews” section, Paul Russell Cutright and Philip J. Roosevelt provide separate but equally laudatory reviews of American Bears, a collection of writings about bears and bear hunting by Theodore Roosevelt edited by Paul Schullery. Kenneth D. Crews finds that Roosevelt plays a minor, but important, role in Carlton Jackson’s The Dreadful Month about the awful death toll in American coal mines in December 1907. John A. Gable examines Paul D. Casdorph’s Republicans, Negroes, and Progressives in the South, 1912-1916 and compares some its findings to his own work on the Progressive Party.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1983

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary suggests that D. Davidson contact Judge Hundley, who is organizing Progressives in Alabama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-09-17

Theodore Roosevelt comments on Oscar K. Davis’ letter regarding Judge Oscar Richard Hundley and William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-31

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.)

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-13

President Roosevelt is puzzled by Edgar Gardner Murphy’s objections to Thomas G. Bush’s appointment to Peace Commissioner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-08

Ormsby McHarg forwards a letter to Theodore Roosevelt written to him by Ramsay. The letter discusses Senator Albert Baird Cummins’ dinner at the Union League Club where they voted on their choice for the republican candidate. He goes on to describe the political happenings and elections in various states.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-01-02

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-11

Creator(s)

Thomas, John X., 1859-1921

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-11

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on several matters before him. Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley has been investigating the situation in Alabama, where Bonaparte deems it necessary for Roosevelt to “call down” several politicians who are complicating judicial confirmations and the workings of the attorney general’s office with concerns over political patronage. In Arkansas, Cooley reports that there are many well qualified men to replace Assistant District Attorney Ulysses S. Bratton, who has been involved in improper conduct in a case involving postal inspectors. Bonaparte has recently met with Census Director S. N. D. North and explains the problems he has encountered with obtaining an accurate census of Oklahoma Territory, resulting in problems with representation of citizens there, and makes recommendations to solve the problem. Bonaparte has requested summaries for the injunction regarding the picketing of the Allis Chalmers company in Wisconsin, and is appointing a special counsel to take charge of litigation against a prominent official there. Bonaparte is ready to move against the Tobacco Trust and James Buchanan Duke.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-18

Attorney General Bonaparte is unable to visit President Roosevelt after returning from Boston, but expects to be at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow. He needs to discuss several matters with Roosevelt, including the Idaho situation, an attorneyship in Wyoming, and the conduct of Sullivan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-29

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-10