Idaho

President Roosevelt tells Idaho Governor Gooding that he had not seen a particular editorial Gooding mentioned. However, he is not surprised that it gave the wrong impression, as he feels that “the editorial writers and the correspondents of Collier’s Weekly write with a reckless ignorance of their subjects.” He will gladly speak to Calvin Cobb, but he is not sure that he can have any effect on the reporting of the eastern press. Both the men accused of the murder of ex-governor of Idaho Frank Steunenberg and the nation as a whole deserve a fair trial and to know the facts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-21

President Roosevelt explains to Hannah Kent Schoff that the reason he has not “settled the Mormon question,” as many people have asked her, is that such a question is essentially meaningless. While Roosevelt would like to see a constitutional amendment against polygamy adopted, he does not think such an amendment is needed, as there have been fewer polygamous Mormon marriages in recent years than there have been bigamous marriages among other Christian sects. Mormons have as much a right to practice their religion as any other faith, and there does not seem to him to be anything that needs to be “settled.” Attacks on Mormons in Idaho have driven them to act more like a unified group, whereas before the attacks they were beginning to divide and act more independently.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-07

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of War Taft what he has done about moving more troops into Idaho.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-18

President Roosevelt calls Attorney General Moody’s attention to the situation in Idaho relating to the trial of Charles H. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood. Roosevelt emphasizes that justice must be done, and the men must be judged related to the particular facts of the case of the assassination of ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg, regardless of the sort of labor agitation they were involved with elsewhere. Roosevelt also does not wish for there to be errors in their favor, however, and asks Moody to look into agitation on their behalf by labor unions, who are unwilling to consider the possible guilt of Moyer or Haywood. Roosevelt highlights some writings of Eugene V. Debs and Thomas W. Rowe which seem to amount “to an incitement to anarchy and chaos.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-26

President Roosevelt is not sure what the outcome of the election will be. He thinks the Republicans have 216 electoral votes. According to current vote calculations, they may win by a small majority. Roosevelt is keeping busy as president and as a presidential candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-06

President Roosevelt sends Senator Lodge a letter from Mr. Cohen, whose advice he says helps prevent Lodge and Roosevelt from making direct allusion “to either the Kishinoff massacre or the passport business.” Roosevelt hopes local troubles in a variety of states will be straightened out to prevent the end result from being unfavorable in the upcoming election. Secretary of the Navy Moody is uneasy over the tariff situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-02

The Idaho Republican convention was held yesterday and declared its support for Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-17

Senator Borah notifies Theodore Roosevelt that although four of the Idaho delegates are supporting the opposition, eight are supporting Roosevelt’s nomination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-22

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-10

Creator(s)

O'Laughlin, John Callan, 1873-1949

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Monroe G. Haight shares his opinions about Mormons in Idaho with Theodore Roosevelt. He feels that many Idaho residents want their politicians to take an anti-Mormon stand, and that doing so may help some politicians into office. Haight hopes Roosevelt can take advantage of this and further the cause of good citizenship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-01

Senator Borah encloses a photograph of the family of James H. Wallis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-12

Senator Borah sends his regrets that he cannot accompany Theodore Roosevelt on his trip through Idaho.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-09

Representative French welcomes Theodore Roosevelt to Idaho and regrets his congressional duties prevent him from greeting Roosevelt in person.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-09

John L. Canutt asks if Theodore Roosevelt thinks that women’s suffrage has benefitted Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. He also wants to know if it would benefit the country if it was adopted nationally. Canutt is asking not for a publication, but for his own benefit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-10

A letter to Attorney General Bonaparte clarifies the roles of many of the people involved in the Idaho land fraud case, describing when people entered into and left the conspiracy. It is not possible to indict several of the people, as some have since died, and the statue of limitations has run out on others. The presentation of the case to the Grand Jury will finish soon, and the author of the letter predicts that the jury will be disposed to indict, although there is some uncertainty whether convictions can actually be secured under the instructions of the court.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-07

Attorney General Bonaparte instructs special assistants William R. Harr and Peyton Gordon to avoid naming Senator William Edgar Borah as one of the persons connected with the conspiracy to murder the former Governor of Idaho, Frank Steunenberg, in any new indictments, so as not to “awaken needless prejudice against the prosecution.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-27

Attorney General Bonaparte confirms receipt of a letter from William Loeb expressing President Roosevelt’s views regarding the situation in Idaho. Bonaparte advises that before making a change in district attorneyship or marshalship in Idaho, Roosevelt should find out whether the appointees can be confirmed. If they cannot, Bonaparte recommends waiting until the adjournment of the Senate. Bonaparte suggests conferring with Senator Philander C. Knox to get an unbiased opinion on the subject. Unless they can get a new person confirmed, there will be resistance to the removal of the current office-holder, and the current office-holder will not be useful. Once it becomes apparent that a new appointee could be confirmed, Bonaparte recommends sending Alford Warriner Cooley, or another suitable person, to confer with judges and lawyers to find an appropriate candidate. Bonaparte also comments on a recent conversation he has had with Senator Charles William Fulton. In a postscript, Bonaparte tells Roosevelt about his recent experience presenting a case to the Supreme Court.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-24

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on the progress of the Idaho land fraud cases. He forwards Roosevelt his telegram to Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch demanding that N. M. Ruick take no part in the case. Bonaparte updates Roosevelt on other matters and suggests the two schedule a meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-28

Attorney General Bonaparte submits a detailed analysis of the case against Idaho Senator William Edgar Borah to President Roosevelt. Bonaparte believes, ultimately, that a postponement in the case against Borah will be necessary. Bonaparte has received reports of charges against Florida judge William B. Sheppard. In North Carolina, Bonaparte believes the situation between the legislature, the railroad, and the Federal government has been resolved, but in future would prefer to let local authorities do their own negotiating.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-01

Attorney General Bonaparte returns a speech with minor suggestions to President Roosevelt, and discusses his strategy in finding a case in which the government could convict and sentence the head of an industrial trust. In North Carolina, Roosevelt could not have altered the dispute between Federal and State authorities in the railroad rate case. Bonaparte passes along some clippings related to the case against Senator William Edgar Borah of Idaho. Bonaparte relates the progress in vetting William B. Sheppard for a judgeship in Florida. In New Mexico, Bonaparte says he has examined the charges against New Mexico District Attorney William H. H. Llewellyn, and believes he must be removed from office. Bonaparte will be in Oyster Bay on Friday.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-05