Labor disputes

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles M. Harvey

President Roosevelt informs Charles M. Harvey that he has not seen James Creelman’s article. While Creelman likely does not quote Roosevelt directly, he did say something to that effect. He stated he had as much difficulty with James Wallace Van Cleave, David M. Parry, and their association as he did with Samuel Gompers and his association. It concerns Roosevelt that the National Association of Manufacturers opposes measures benefiting workingmen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft writes to President Roosevelt from Cuba. He assures Roosevelt that the recent report from the New York Herald was overblown and no cause for alarm. He also reports on the labor meeting he held with unhappy steam shovel engineers working on the Canal while in Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-07

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Conference minutes

Minutes of a conference held in Colón, Panama, between Secretary of War William H. Taft and three steam shovel operators working on the Panama Canal over the rate of pay and medical care for the operators.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-03

Creator(s)

Unknown

Story of the distinct victory over militant and despotic trades-unionism won by the Los Angeles Times

This pamphlet provides a history of the conflict between the Los Angeles Times and the Typographical Union, which it says started in 1890 and continued for sixteen years.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-14

Creator(s)

Los Angeles Times

Letter from Francis C. Travers to Theodore Roosevelt

Francis C. Travers writes to President Roosevelt comparing the revolution and unrest in Russia with the coal strike with which Roosevelt had to deal. Travers praises Roosevelt’s handling of the affair, but also says that he must also be willing to handle the trusts. Roosevelt has always been the champion of all the people, and his victory in the election of 1904 showed their confidence in him. Travers is afraid the trouble in Russia might spread in Europe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-23

Creator(s)

Travers, Francis C., 1849-1905

Letter from Oscar S. Straus to Theodore Roosevelt

Oscar S. Straus was glad to learn President Roosevelt did not accept an honorary position as president of the National Civic Federation, as contingencies could easily arise within that organization to put Roosevelt in a bad light. Straus also asks that he might be permitted to discuss the possible replacements for Ambassador McCormick before that selection is final.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-14

Creator(s)

Straus, Oscar S. (Oscar Solomon), 1850-1926

Speech by John Lewis Griffiths

John Lewis Griffiths praises President Roosevelt’s character and the achievements of his administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-03

Creator(s)

Griffiths, John Lewis, 1855-1914

Miners at Oyster Bay

Several miners visited Oyster Bay, New York, to ask President Roosevelt to investigate the labor situation in Colorado. William Loeb received them, but they did not meet with Roosevelt and declined Loeb’s suggestion that they meet with George B. Cortelyou, chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-12

Creator(s)

Unknown

Newspaper articles about the labor dispute in Colorado

John H. Murphy sends three articles to President Roosevelt regarding violence committed as a result of the labor disputes in Colorado. These include “Died in Fear of Guards, Bullpen” about a mine owner who supported unions who committed suicide because he was afraid of being arrested; “Taken on Street and Sent Away” about a union official, Thomas Nelson, who was forced to leave his home; and “Men Beaten and Turned Loose” about men who were deported from their home and were beaten when they returned despite the fact they had special permission to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07

Creator(s)

Unknown

Spirit of anarchy must be subdued

Newspaper article explaining Thomas F. Walsh’s desire to see more conservative leadership take over the mine unions so that the labor situation in Colorado can come under control. Walsh also pledges his support to President Roosevelt, Senator Fairbanks, and the entire Republican Party ticket in the upcoming election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-26

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jacob A. Riis

President Roosevelt invites Jacob A. Riis to stay at the White House while he is in Washington, D.C., on December 14 and 15. He would like to discuss the Anthracite Coal business.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from George B. Cortelyou to Edward W. Parker

George B. Cortelyou relays President Roosevelt’s call for a meeting of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission for Friday, October 24, to Edward W. Parker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-21

Creator(s)

Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel Gompers

Theodore Roosevelt writes to American Federation of Labor president Samuel Gompers that he hopes to learn more in the upcoming issue of The American Federationist about a labor leader who was arrested for murder, likely referring to John R. Lawson, who was arrested for his role in the Ludlow Massacre in Colorado. Roosevelt has heard a rumor that Lawson was not involved in the murders, despite receiving a life sentence for the crime.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-06-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Thomas

President Roosevelt has heard of the labor unrest in Nevada. He declines to allow Governor Thomas to see him, as he cannot get much time to himself in the summer. Roosevelt instead asks Thomas to write what he has to say, so he can decide whether there is any action he can rightly take.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William E. Chandler

President Roosevelt expects that certain plutocrats will support his reelection bid, but he tells Senator William E. Chandler that he has done nothing to solicit their support, nor will he “vary one hair’s breadth” in his political positions to please them. Roosevelt suspects that he will lose some plutocrats over the Northern Securities Case and the Anthracite Coal Strike, just as he will lose some labor agitators over his open shop position in the Miller case, but he believes that “decent men” from both sides will support him. Roosevelt hopes that the “usual snarl over the governorship” will not cost him the state of New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Carroll D. Wright

President Roosevelt thanks Commissioner of Labor Wright for his letter from Marblehead, Massachusetts, and tells him to “take a full holiday,” inviting him to visit the Roosevelts at their home in Oyster Bay, New York. He expresses interest in hearing more about “Murphy.” Roosevelt includes a letter and articles by newspaperman Walter Wellman regarding the labor conflicts in Colorado involving the Western Federation of Miners, which Wellman regards as a criminal organization. Roosevelt shares Wellman’s negative view of labor leaders William Haywood and Charles Moyer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt is still not sure if he should go to the meeting of the Grand Army of the Republic. While he is sure it would do some good, he also believes it would do more harm. If he spoke to the group, it would be difficult for him to refuse to talk to people associated with labor issues, which he does not want on Labor Day. Roosevelt is pleased that Lodge likes his speech, and asks if Lodge can come to visit him at Oyster Bay.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Oscar S. Straus

President Roosevelt thinks Oscar S. Straus is right but as yet Roosevelt has no justification for acting regarding the labor disturbances in Colorado. Commissioner of Labor Carroll D. Wright and his agents are currently investigating the situation, but the investigation is not complete.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philip Battell Stewart

President Roosevelt wanted to discuss the labor troubles more at length with Philip Battell Stewart. Roosevelt would like Stewart to hint to Governor Peabody that he should not call on the President unless he is powerless to restore order, as it would reflect badly on the military of Colorado.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William T. Hornaday to Theodore Roosevelt

William T. Hornaday thanks Theodore Roosevelt for the congratulatory note about Hornaday’s honorary degree from Yale University. The riots in East Saint Louis, Illinois, and personal observations of lawlessness in New York City lead Hornaday to suggest that the American people place too much value on “personal sovereignty.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-07-07

Creator(s)

Hornaday, William T. (William Temple), 1854-1937