La Follette, Robert M. (Robert Marion), 1855-1925

In a letter to George Perkins, Oscar K. Davis, a reporter and the secretary of the Progressive National Committee, details the assassination attempt on Theodore Roosevelt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 14, 1912. Davis covers Roosevelt’s decision to leave his presidential train for a hotel in Milwaukee, the subduing of the would be assassin, and Roosevelt’s refusal to go immediately to the hospital. Davis highlights Roosevelt’s insistence on giving his scheduled speech, his dramatic turns at turning away aid, and his subsequent examination and x-ray at a Milwaukee hospital. Davis notes that he wrote the account to counter false stories about the assassination attempt that would appear in newspapers.

The letter is preceded by two introductions by Gregory A. Wynn and William N. Tilchin. Wynn provides the background and context for the letter while Tilchin discusses how he prepared the letter for publication in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Reprints of one page of the original letter and a page from Roosevelt’s bullet damaged speech join a photograph of Roosevelt’s eyeglass case in illustrating the group.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Arthur T. Morse wrote Theodore Roosevelt during his presidency and has decided to write again regarding William H. Taft. Morse feels the Republican Party accepted Taft’s platform at the last Republican National Convention, but as soon as Taft was inaugurated, he changed course. The nomination of 1912 is between Taft and Robert M. La Follette, and unless there is a deadlock and the party turns to him, Roosevelt needs to stay out of the game and not make the same mistake he made in the last election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-16

Creator(s)

Morse, Arthur T. (Arthur Tappan), 1837-1912

Peter W. Shute tells Theodore Roosevelt he is the only man to unite the Republican Party, but also suggests a new political party be formed, the Union Party. Shute believes there should be more focus on prohibition and temperance in politics, and less in the Church. Shute shares his grievances regarding William H. Taft and Robert M. La Follette and hopes Roosevelt will step up and save the party and the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Creator(s)

Shute, Peter W. (Peter Wilkes), 1843-1921

John O. Yeiser explains to Frank Harper the reason for his telegram asking permission to publicize some of his correspondence with Theodore Roosevelt. Yeiser is anxious to make Roosevelt a candidate and would appreciate being able to share something to help the movement succeed. Roosevelt’s name will be on the Nebraska primary ballot which will provide a poll of the voters preference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-17

Creator(s)

Yeiser, John O. (John Otho), 1866-1928

Nathaniel C. Wright shares a newspaper clipping with Daniel Rhodes Hanna saying he is printing the article to offset the trouble caused by what The North American has been printing regarding Theodore Roosevelt not being a candidate for the presidency. The article states that while Roosevelt has made his intentions clear, progressive Republicans have not lost hope that he will step up if their efforts to have him nominated are successful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-28

Creator(s)

Wright, Nathaniel C. (Nathaniel Curwin), 1869-1923

William H. Kelsey asks Theodore Roosevelt to keep William H. Taft from getting the Presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention. Kelsey believes if Taft wins the nomination, he will be beaten worse than any other man running for office. Although Robert M. La Follette is better than Taft, Kelsey will be voting for Roosevelt in the primaries and hopes Roosevelt will run for the office himself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

Creator(s)

Kelsey, William H. (William Henry), 1858-1936

Irving H. Trowbridge offers Theodore Roosevelt his opinion on current political conditions. Despite supporting Roosevelt’s refusal to enter the race, Trowbridge is not sure Taft or La Follette will be able to win the presidency. Based on his considerable experience, Trowbridge believes only one man can lead the Republican’s to victory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Trowbridge, Irving H. (Irving Hinton, 1849-1914)

Bela Tokaji tells Theodore Roosevelt he was astonished by the number of friends and admirers Roosevelt has in Washington, especially among newspaper men. Everyone mentions Roosevelt for the presidency. Tokaji talked with several senators but is truly a Roosevelt man and cannot be convinced otherwise.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-15

Creator(s)

Tokaji, Bela

John M. Leach asks Theodore Roosevelt to confirm that if William H. Taft is nominated, he will lose the presidency to the democrats. Leach does not understand why Taft would not step aside, and urges Roosevelt to take up the leadership of the Republican party and run for president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Leach, John M.

Bela Tokaji informs Theodore Roosevelt that the people have no confidence in William H. Taft and Robert M. La Follette will be unable to secure enough delegates to be nominated for president. Tokaji does believe Roosevelt would have enough delegates to become the presidential nominee and will win. Tokaji is a “Magyar” by birth and he is determined to agitate for Roosevelt’s nomination, no matter what Roosevelt says.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-25

Creator(s)

Tokaji, Bela

Walter L. Houser assures Theodore Roosevelt that every possible effort is used to nominate the Progressive Republican candidate, Philip Fox La Follette, at the Republican National Convention. Houser believes every part of the country has Progressive sentiment and all that is needed for success is organization and activity in every state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

Creator(s)

Houser, Walter L.

Donald Livingston informs Theodore Roosevelt of the political situation in South Dakota, as Livingston sees it. William H. Taft is disliked and many are indifferent to Robert M. La Follette, though Livingston believes he is to radical, but thousands hope Roosevelt will be nominated their lives would be restored. Livingston also believes a new Senator could enter the race if Roosevelt was the presidential candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-15

Creator(s)

Livingston, Donald, 1860-1932

Frank Knox writes Theodore Roosevelt of the newspaper interview he gave after returning from his visit to Oyster Bay and encloses the article. Knox shares recent statistics that place Roosevelt ahead of William H. Taft and Robert M. La Follette in the race for the presidency in Michigan. Knox also believes many states will come to the National Republican Convention without instructions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Knox, Frank, 1874-1944

Malcolm D. Hart informs Theodore Roosevelt that there is more support for Roosevelt in the south than for William H. Taft, but Roosevelt doesn’t hear about it because southern republicans are afraid Roosevelt won’t accept a nomination and declaring support for Roosevelt could jeopardize their interests. Hart encourages Roosevelt to say he will accept a unanimous nomination before Taft’s supporters have too much control. Hart advises Roosevelt that he is certainly stronger than Taft, or anyone else, in Virginia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Hart, Malcolm D. (Malcolm Duncan), 1866-1950

Paul V. Collins thanks Peder Hjelmstad for his letter, which they will publish without the mention of Hjelmstad’s choice of presidential candidate. Collins asks Hjelmstad what the farmers of North Dakota think of Theodore Roosevelt. Hjelmstad apparently replies on the bottom of the original letter stating that if Roosevelt were to declare himself as a candidate, he would most likely win the farmers of North Dakota, but since he is neither running nor endorsing another candidate, Hjelmstad believes La Follette will win North Dakota.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Collins, Paul V. (Paul Valorous), 1860-1931

Albert L. Doeg tells Theodore Roosevelt that the people of northwest Minnesota support Roosevelt becoming the next president and they hope he will agree to be the Republican presidential candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-13

Creator(s)

Doeg, Albert L., 1861-1916

John O. Yeiser responds to Theodore Roosevelt with appreciation for Roosevelt’s personal feelings about running for President, but Yeiser wishes Roosevelt to know he will not be discouraged from seeking to nominate Roosevelt. Yesier explains his reasons for wishing Roosevelt to be nominated over William H. Taft and Robert M. La Follette. If nominated, Yeiser believes Roosevelt will do his duty and accept.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-01

Creator(s)

Yeiser, John O. (John Otho), 1866-1928

John O. Yeiser thanks Isaac T. A. Reneau for volunteering to support this work of bringing Roosevelt’s men together in his city in order to get Roosevelt nominated for President. They are not asking Roosevelt what he thinks, but Yeiser does not believe Roosevelt would refuse the nomination and allow Taft to win again. Yeiser encourages Reneau to get the “real rough Roosevelt men” to sign the petition, and the rest will follow and Roosevelt will be elected President.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-29

Creator(s)

Yeiser, John O. (John Otho), 1866-1928

Senator Robert M. La Follette will be leaving Washington soon to campaign aggressively in Ohio, William H. Taft’s home state. Public opinion has changed, indicating La Follette is not in the running for the nomination, instead Theodore Roosevelt and Taft will be the ones to fight to lead the Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Unknown

Charles Richard Van Hise speaks of the nuances present in monopolies and unrestricted competition in the American economy. Van Hise gives the railroads system as an example of successful use of commissions with no price competition. His thesis proposes there can be great economic advantage to maintain a concentration of industry and therefore those corporations should not be broken up by enforcing the Sherman Act. Instead, commissions should be created to determine prices and Van Hise provides a list of powers these commissions should have and how to achieve success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-09

Creator(s)

Van Hise, Charles Richard, 1857-1918