Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Winthrop Murray Crane
President Roosevelt provides an account of how the Anthracite Coal Strike was settled.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-22
Your TR Source
Intervention (Federal government)
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Woodard
President Roosevelt appreciates J. H. Woodard’s letter because Woodard understands the lasting implications of the Anthracite Coal Strike. Roosevelt wants organized capital and organized labor to understand that the public has a vital interest in the coal industry and that a settlement is in the interest of property because it will protect property from revolution.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-19
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nicholas Murray Butler
President Roosevelt did not see the Post editorials but believes that the Sun has “gone fairly mad.” The Sun implies that Roosevelt has been encouraging lawlessness amongst the striking anthracite coal miners. Roosevelt insists, however, that he has warned against violence and is prepared to send in troops if necessary.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-18
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John James Jenkins
President Roosevelt greatly appreciates John James Jenkins’s letter and especially liked that Jenkins understands that presidential power is limited by the Constitution, even during a crisis such as the Anthracite Coal Strike. Roosevelt has been surprised by the large number of people suggesting drastic action be taken against the coal operators or miners.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-07
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Bucklin Bishop
President Roosevelt has received conflicting reports on the level of disorder created by the striking miners. Roosevelt appears primarily upset at the coal operators for their “gross blindness” and inability to understand their duty toward the public. Roosevelt will do everything within his power in the interest of the people.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-13
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Silas McBee
President Roosevelt found Silas McBee’s account of the coal strike conference admirable. Roosevelt wishes the miners would show more sense but found the operators more disruptive at the conference.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-09
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Bacon
President Roosevelt compares the Anthracite Coal Strike situation to what President Lincoln faced during the American Civil War, including receiving wide ranging advice from extremists. Roosevelt sees problems on both sides of the strike and has received contradictory reports on the level of violence in Pennsylvania. Roosevelt favors John Mitchell’s proposition but does not believe it will be accepted.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-07
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Allen White
President Roosevelt is occupied with the Anthracite Coal Strike. Half of the advice he receives is to show no sympathy to the miners and send troops to the mines. The other half would like him to “take the coal barons by the throat.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-06
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Van Dyke
President Roosevelt has found the Anthracite Coal Strike situation “puzzling” but received a helpful letter from President Cleveland which he appreciated. Roosevelt finds the current difficulty to be that only the state of Pennsylvania can act; the national government is powerless.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-06
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Marcus Alonzo Hanna
President Roosevelt has sent Commissioner of Labor Carroll D. Wright with a proposition to John Mitchell that if the miners will return to work a commission will be appointed to investigate the issues between the coal operators and miners. Roosevelt would like Senator Hanna to influence Mitchell’s acceptance of the proposition and if he accepts Roosevelt would like Hanna’s help selecting commission members.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-05
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Grover Cleveland
President Roosevelt informs Grover Cleveland that his actions regarding the Anthracite Coal Strike have been influenced by Cleveland’s action during the Pullman Car Strike. Roosevelt currently plans to offer to create an investigatory commission if the miners will go back to work so that a solution can be agreed upon.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-05
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Bacon
President Roosevelt’s concern continues to grow over the Anthracite Coal Strike. John Mitchell dominated the meeting between President Roosevelt, the coal operators, and representatives of the coal miners. Roosevelt found Mitchell’s proposition reasonable but the coal operators advocated for military intervention in the strike which Roosevelt found to be “amazing folly.” President Roosevelt continues to seek a peaceful solution and has offered Mitchell an investigatory commission if the miners will return to work.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-05
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Seth Low
President Roosevelt has spoken with the coal operators and miners, who will now be meeting together. Roosevelt agrees with Mayor Low’s telegram and letter regarding the coal strike and may make the telegram public in the future. Roosevelt disagrees with Chaplin’s thoughts on the coal strike set forth in the pamphlet and Attorney General Knox does not believe that the Sherman Act applies to the anthracite situation.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-03
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Marcus Alonzo Hanna
President Roosevelt is disheartened at his failure to reach an agreement between the coal operators and miners. Roosevelt is unsure of his next action but the operators’ “hopeless attitude” has increased his desire for government supervision or regulation. Roosevelt thought that John Mitchell’s arbitration proposition was reasonable but the operators would not come to an agreement.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-03
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Marcus Alonzo Hanna
President Roosevelt is distressed at the Anthracite Coal Strike and resulting “coal famine.” Roosevelt knows that he has nothing to do with the coal strike but the public expects some sort of action. The coal operators do not want any interference but Roosevelt believes that concessions will be necessary. Roosevelt would like to meet with Senator Hanna to discuss the issue or at least have Hanna send some suggestions.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-09-27
Letter from Frank Knox to Theodore Roosevelt
Frank Knox agrees with Theodore Roosevelt’s assessment regarding the “negative character” of government control in Controller Bay. Knox says that they must strike a balance between government involvement and attracting private investment. Roosevelt’s declaration in a prior letter favored the idea of a government owned railroad, whereas Walter L. Fisher offered an alternative solution where the government operates the coal-fields.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-08-29
Letter from Richard Wilson Knott to Theodore Roosevelt
In speaking of Theodore Roosevelt’s partial endorsement of the proposition that the government fix steel prices, Richard Wilson Knott had in mind Roosevelt’s previous statement after Elbert H. Gary’s testimony and subsequent article in The Outlook. However, he believes he was mistaken. He feels that there are times when the government is justified in taking charge of properties, such as the Panama Canal. Knott comments that President William H. Taft’s administration has “thrown back the cause of progressive politics in Kentucky six years.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-08-19
Letter from Charles Francis Adams to Charles J. Bonaparte
Charles Francis Adams expresses his views about President Roosevelt’s intervention in the Anthracite Coal Strike, which Adams believes was an “egregious blunder.” He encloses a copy of a speech that was prepared for an anti-imperialist meeting.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-08-09
Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Robeson Taylor
President Roosevelt has received the telegram from Mayor Edward Robeson Taylor of San Fransisco and has asked Surgeon General Walter Wyman to take action immediately.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-09-05
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William D. Sohier
President Roosevelt informs William D. Sohier that he received his letter. He discusses the possibility of intervention in San Francisco, but concludes that it is not likely. Roosevelt emphasizes the need to respect the representatives and people of San Francisco and their decision.
Collection
Creation Date
1906-06-10