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Manuscript by William W. Todd with handwritten edits which describes the government as a corporation and voters as stockholders. Todd appeals to fellow businessmen saying no honest man would willingly work within such a corporation and we need to return to the government of his forefathers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-30
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary answers C. A. Smith’s question by pointing out Roosevelt’s support for the initiative and referendum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-10-04
In response to S. Janette Reynolds’s request, Frank Harper summarizes Theodore Roosevelt’s views on the temperance movement. Roosevelt supports the initiative and referendum which will allow a majority of each state to decide on temperance. He is opposed to the shipping of liquor into states that have prohibited it as he favors the “enforcement of every law on the statute book.” As an example, Harper points to Roosevelt’s enforcement of the blue laws when he was the Police Commissioner of New York City.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-10-02
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary refers John F. Busch to The Outlook of January 21 and March 5, 1911, for the answer to his question concerning the initiative, referendum, and recall.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-03-28
Theodore Roosevelt clarifies his thoughts about New York judges and discusses his beliefs on the matter with Charles McCarthy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-27
Theodore Roosevelt believes that it is nonsense to say that people will never make a mistake with the initiative, referendum, or recall. He wants the government to respond to the desires of the people but their desires do not need to be fulfilled the next moment. Two copies. Letter is dated February 31, 1911, which may have been a transposition of February 13.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-13
Theodore Roosevelt is concerned about Charles Dwight Willard’s health and asks him to have Tracy C. Becker arrange a meeting. He likes Willard’s article and welcomes open criticism. During their visit, Roosevelt wants to discuss the importance of moderation to make the reform movement national and effective. He comments on progressive measures and their reception in different areas of the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-27
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary suggests that Helen Kerns contact Senator Bourne or get a copy of The Outlook to read about Roosevelt’s position on the initiative and referendum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-13
Theodore Roosevelt would like to meet with Senator Bourne to discuss placing limitations on the use of the initiative and referendum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-27
Theodore Roosevelt generally favors the initiative and referendum but cautions against forcing acceptance of these reforms. There is a wide range of views on these reforms, and Roosevelt wants progressive support to be broad-based before moving forward.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-02
Theodore Roosevelt informs Senator Bourne that he learned the facts about Oregon from William Simon U’Ren. After reading Bourne’s speeches and hearing from U’Ren, Roosevelt changed his mind about the initiative and referendum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-11-29
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-10-19
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
English
At the suggestion of Senator Dixon, Senator Bristow provides observations on trusts, the judiciary, and the civil service that he would like to see incorporated into the platform of Theodore Roosevelt’s new party. He suggests amending the Sherman Act and advocates for widespread adoption of the initiative, referendum, and recall. Bristow would like to reorganize the federal courts to make them more responsive to modern conditions and public opinion. He would like the civil service to be based on an elective system to remove patronage and free the president to focus more on general public welfare as opposed to appointments. Bristow concludes by suggesting that the party only be referred to as the “progressive party” as this is more positive then the new or third party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-15
Washington Gladden would be pleased to host Theodore Roosevelt for lunch and invites him to stay in the Gladden home during his time in Columbus, Ohio. Gladden is hesitant to suggest a topic for Roosevelt’s speech but the current “burning question” is the initiative and referendum which he believes are popular in Ohio.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-02-10
Representative Longworth thoroughly details recent Ohio politics for Theodore Roosevelt. He is concerned about a split in the Republican Party and does not want to be forced into open antagonism with friends in the progressive wing. Longworth asks Roosevelt for advice on local and state conditions. Alice Roosevelt Longworth is sick, but they are glad to hear about Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s improvement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-13
On behalf of her students, Mary Adaline Lamb, an educator at the West Texas State Normal College, asks Theodore Roosevelt for resources on the initiative, referendum, and recall in preparation for an academic debate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-29
Livy S. Richard of The Boston Common asks Theodore Roosevelt for a statement of why he thinks Massachusetts should adopt the initiative and referendum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-28
Maurice H. Cole shares his views with Theodore Roosevelt regarding a number of topics, including public lands given to trusts and special interests; progressive reform measures like the initiative, referendum and recall; the influence of Catholics and socialists on the United States; and relations between labor and capital, and how the government can help arbitrate conflicts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-26
Thorwald A. A. Siegfriedt believes Theodore Roosevelt favors the initiative more than he admits. Relatedly, he asks Roosevelt’s opinion on the notion that “private property in bare land” is the same as “private property in things created by men” and its relationship to the government functioning for the few instead of the commonwealth.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-28
Governor Colquitt is glad Theodore Roosevelt was interested in his discussion on the principles of initiative, referendum, and recall being “contradistinguished from representative and republican form of government.” He believes such a theory would negate the need for constitutions, legislature, or Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-24