Your TR Source
Judge Jones reflects on recent attacks by former Alabama Governor B. B. Comer to Theodore Roosevelt. Jones also comments on his involvement in a railroad rate case, and hopes that his actions did not make Roosevelt regret the faith he had placed in him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-23
Former Alabama Governor B. B. Comer explains his quotation of Theodore Roosevelt. While Comer thought Roosevelt’s quotation applied to Judge Thomas Goode Jones in its criticism, he did not mean to commit Roosevelt to this application of his words. Comer has always used Roosevelt’s name with discretion, and made his reference sincerely, even though he acknowledges Roosevelt may not agree with how he applied it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-22
Judge Jones sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of the “Observations,” to which he had previously referred, and which former Alabama Governor B. B. Comer had written a reply to. He does not want to burden Roosevelt by requesting he read the whole thing, and has therefore marked several passages that he feels are of particular interest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-21
Governor Osborn returns Senate Bill 419 to the Senate President Kline without approval. He discusses the history of the bill at length and is convinced it should not become law. Osborn also calls for Justice Bird to either reside in Lansing as the law requires or resign his position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-27
Justice Spring found Theodore Roosevelt’s editorials on Nationalism and the judiciary interesting and was pleased Roosevelt quoted him. He discusses how judges beliefs influence their interpretations of the Constitution and rights of the public, particularly noting John Marshall and Roger Brooke Taney. Then he discusses the role the three branches of government regarding law making and interpretation. Spring will send an article he wrote responding to Roosevelt’s 1905 recognition of Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-17
George W. Gage has recently finished reading Theodore Roosevelt’s most recent article on the judiciary, and agrees with everything Roosevelt has written. Gage has worked as both a lawyer and a judge, and shares his opinion that “the moral or mental bent” of judges and the bench frequently influences how a law is interpreted much more than what the law itself says, and that two different judges may judge a case very differently depending on their beliefs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-18
Justice Clarke acknowledges the tenth anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt appointing him to the Supreme Court of New York, a life-changing event. He wants Roosevelt to know that he still has the same warm and personal affection for him. Clarke read Roosevelt’s African articles with interest and followed his European tour with pride. Clarke discusses a possible additional term and what it is like serving as a justice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-21
Emory Speer agrees with Theodore Roosevelt’s opinion in The Outlook regarding the interest judges should have in the laboring masses. He sends a copy of his ruling in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers case, which is one of the most pleasing incidents in his long judicial career. Only Roosevelt’s public praise of his work in the chain gang case and the Greene and Gaynor case equals it. Speer wishes Roosevelt safe travels.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-03-18
Attorney General Bonaparte responds to President Roosevelt’s request for information on any judges whose actions may warrant impeachment. Bonaparte describes the actions of Judge Peter Stenger Grosscup, who, in collaboration with clerk Marshall E. Sampsell, has used his position to solicit free rides from railroad companies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-07
Lyman Abbott writes to President Roosevelt regarding the recent judgements passed down by Ashley M. Gould and Daniel Thew Wright, of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia in a case involving labor leader Samuel Gompers. Abbott thinks that Gould was correct in issuing an injunction, but is less certain about Wright’s actions. He believes that Roosevelt is correct to not interfere at this point.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-27
Oscar R. Hundley appreciates the opportunity to write frankly to William Loeb, and says that he does not have any intention of giving Charles H. Scott a recommendation. Scott was elected as a delegate to the Alabama state convention by both administration and anti-administration forces, and chose to attend the anti-administration convention in spite of the work done for him by the administration forces to elect him national committeeman. Hundley also talks about his conflict with Judge Thomas Goode Jones, and how this relates to the proceedings of the anti-administration forces in Alabama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-11
Attorney General Bonaparte provides President Roosevelt with notes and suggestions on his upcoming message. In particular he suggests modifications on portions relating to labor liability laws and employee compensation for injuries. Bonaparte also suggests removing the words “good” and “bad” from the portion on trusts, as certain trusts are claiming to be “good” trusts to avoid injunctions. He also provides comments on changing wording to avoid accusations of naming specific individuals, and on the language in the delicate sections about judges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-22
Judge Lurton supports Judge Jones and his opinions on a series of rate cases he had recently handled. While Jones’s decisions have been controversial, Lurton assures Jones that his decision was necessary to preserve the balance between federal and state powers, as he also believes the cases in question clearly fell under federal and not state jurisdiction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-18
Attorney Otto Gresham sends President Roosevelt a letter from Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Gresham shares his views, as well as the views of various local lawyers and judges, on Landis’s actions and the proceedings of the Standard Oil case. Gresham also summarizes the conversations he had with Landis regarding the potential reversal of the case and the imposition of the fine. After discussing the history of law in Britain, Gresham concludes that the people support Roosevelt in his actions to control the corporations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-04
Secret Service Chief Wilkie decodes and forwards two telegrams from Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch to Attorney General Bonaparte. The first confirms the present parties and the forthcoming report. The second confirms that District Attorney N. M. Ruick is behaving, and asks that Bonaparte wait for further information before asking Judge William B. Gilbert to send another judge.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-03
Attorney General Bonaparte has heard from Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch that Judge Frank Sigel Dietrich has asked Judge William B. Gilbert to bring in another judge for the senator’s trial. Judge William Henry Hunt has been suggested. Bonaparte asks for President Roosevelt’s input before he responds to Dietrich.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-04
New York State Representative Parsons was pleased to see President Roosevelt’s statement regarding apportionment, and asks William Loeb to thank Roosevelt for considering Judge Charles M. Hough for the Board of Visitors at West Point.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-19
John Allison, Chancellor of the Davidson Chancery Court in Tennessee, notes that the African American churches and organizations protesting President Roosevelt’s dismissal of a battalion of African American soldiers have not made any resolutions condemning the soldiers that he believes are responsible for killing innocent civilians in Brownsville, Texas, nor have they expressed any sympathy for those victims or regret at the conduct of the battalion whom he believes are protecting the murderers. Allison tells President Roosevelt’s secretary, William Loeb, that this is typical behavior for African Americans, and he urges Roosevelt not to countermand his order of dismissal because it might embolden the “worst elements of their race.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-21
Secretary of the Interstate Commerce Commission Moseley informs Attorney General William H. Moody that Judge Horace A. Lurton has, with one exception, decided against the government in every case under the interstate commerce law. Lurton was involved with the Geddes case, along with Judges Henry Franklin Severens and John K. Richards.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-22
Secretary Montalvo sends instructions from President Roosevelt to General Rodriguez to be distributed among the chiefs operating in the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas, and Santa Clara, Cuba. The chiefs are to allow all prisoners or others repenting of their error to return to their homes peacefully. Prisoners captured while in command of bands shall be detained in their respective camps until the government resolves to restore them to liberty or place them at the disposition of the special instructional judge. Rebel chiefs who have surrendered should also be allowed to return to their homes with assurance of no further molestation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-27