Kentucky

Joseph S. Sherley invites Theodore Roosevelt to visit the Kentucky Fish and Game Protective Association.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-20

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

Enda Rogers has some older, handwoven textiles and an almanac she offers to sell to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt or any of her friends. She is selling them to benefit her grandmother and aged parents.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-28

Leslie Combs recounts the victories won by Progressive Republicans at the Kentucky state convention. Judge Edward C. O’Rear was nominated for governor, Senator William O’Connell Bradley’s candidate for lieutenant-governor was rejected, and O’Rear’s platform was largely adopted. Combs believes that if O’Rear wins, the Progressive Republicans will take control of the state party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-14

Basil Wilson Dukes has heard from Leslie Combs that the political scene with Mexico may result in war. Combs explained that Theodore Roosevelt might recruit a regiment of calvary were this to occur, and Dukes requests that Roosevelt consider using the regiment from Kentucky. The “Kentucky Boys” were some of the best during the Civil War, and would be honored to be of use were war to begin. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-22

Will W. Duffield tells Theodore Roosevelt about a kind of “industrial” church they are planning in Harland, Kentucky. The $16,000 building will have a reading room, lecture room, library, and gymnasium. They have already raised $11,000 for the project. He hopes Roosevelt could help them raise the additional $5,000.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-08

Creator(s)

Duffield, Will W. (Will Ward), 1858-1939

Richard Wilson Knott regrets that he was unable to visit Theodore Roosevelt on his trip to New York. He shares that in Kentucky the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for governor is Edward C. O’Rear, who is a progressive Republican. Knott hopes that O’Rear will be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-03

Creator(s)

Knott, Richard Wilson, 1849-1917

John B. McFerran discusses the poor condition of schools in rural Kentucky and his efforts to improve them. Feeling that Theodore Roosevelt could “arouse a genuine interest,” McFerran asks him to lecture on the “absolute necessity” of taking better care of children through education.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-26

Brutus J. Clay invites Theodore Roosevelt to his home in Kentucky to shoot quail, as well as to meet prominent citizens from the state. He would also like Roosevelt to give two speeches.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-01

Grosvenor Dawe informs Theodore Roosevelt that six other governors are heading representative committees at the Southern Commercial Congress, with more expected. The Congress “typifies a new union of the South along the constructive lines of commerce and business” compared to the unity of fifty years ago during the Civil War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-16

Roger Williams asks Theodore Roosevelt to dedicate an upcoming horse show in Kentucky.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-06-16

Mark Sullivan praises the speech President Roosevelt gave at the Abraham Lincoln celebration in Kentucky. Professor Abbott of the New York Law School thought it one of the three best pieces ever written about Lincoln. Sullivan includes two newspaper clippings that also praise Roosevelt’s speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-15

Governor Willson of Kentucky praises the speech President Roosevelt recently gave at the Abraham Lincoln celebration in Kentucky, and relates the enthusiasm that Kentuckians have for Roosevelt. Willson regrets that he did not get a chance to present Andrew Cowan, his wife Anna G. Cowan, and Emilie Todd Helm, half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln, to Roosevelt. Willson and his wife Mary are coming to the inauguration, and will stay with Associate Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan a few days beforehand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-15

John Burroughs is starting for California and will not see Theodore Roosevelt before his long African hunt. John Muir will meet Burroughs in Arizona and go with him to the Petrified Forest and the Grand Canyon. Burroughs looks forward to the natural history notes that Roosevelt will bring back with him from Africa and congratulates Roosevelt on his recent speech in Kentucky, which he says contains many “noteworthy passages.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-20

William S. Cowles loved President Roosevelt’s letter about William H. Taft and has recently heard that Roosevelt will likely help Taft win Kentucky. He is intently watching the aeroplane and makes suggestions for utilizing the the Washington Monument to speed up the process of building the new station in Washington, D.C.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-14

William H. Taft writes to President Roosevelt with a letter from Military Governor of the Panama Canal Zone Richard Reid Rogers requesting an investigative commission be formed on the tobacco issue in Kentucky, but Taft thinks it best to stay out of it. William Jennings Bryan is spreading incorrect information about Taft’s actions in the Philippines, and Taft plans to respond in a speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-15

Senator Lodge writes to President Roosevelt from the Republican National Convention in Chicago to update him on some of the events that have occurred thus far. There was previously some talk of compromise with regard to the Kentucky cases, but after receiving Roosevelt’s telegram people accepted that each case had to be dealt with on its own merit. Lodge thinks that the Louisiana compromise was wise, as the Henry C. Warmoth delegates are the only real organization, but have also made declarations about white supremacy that Lodge thinks would not be good to tie the Republican party to. Secretary of War William H. Taft seems likely to receive most of the votes to nominate him to run for the presidency. Lodge will not have much say over the platform, as he will be presiding, but will do what he can. He is glad that Roosevelt’s fall from a horse was not serious.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-09

John Callan O’Laughlin provides President Roosevelt an overview of his impressions of the political mood of the country. O’Laughlin has concluded that Secretary of War William H. Taft will receive the Republican nomination for president, and recounts the various states that he believes will go for Taft, as well as the political figures who he believes should be watched or contacted in the various states. There is still substantial popular support for Roosevelt in the country, and O’Laughlin believes that if Roosevelt were to run he would win. Roosevelt’s action in ordering an investigation of the wage scale of railroad employees is very popular. Taft draws much of his strength comes from his connection to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-24

Major Russel, in response to Colonel Gardiner’s request, gives his military history, starting with his entry into the military in 1861, until he was, to his surprise, taken out of service in 1871. He believes this was a result of General John Gibbon’s dislike of him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-24

Newly elected Governor of Kentucky, Augustus Everett Willson, treasures President Roosevelt’s letter expressing pleasure in his election. He thanks Roosevelt and strives to be useful in Kentucky. He and Mary Elizabeth Ekin Willson have an upcoming meeting with Justice John Marshall Harlan and hope to thank Roosevelt in person.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-15