Your TR Source
President Roosevelt would like to meet Alice French, pen name Octave Thanet, if she will be in Washington, D.C., this winter to discuss social and labor matters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-18
President Roosevelt thanks Joseph Bucklin Bishop for the editorials and encloses a copy of the speech his gave in Springfield, IL, commenting that he stands “pretty square” toward labor and capital.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-06
Vice President Roosevelt applauds the articles published by George Gunton and thanks him for his addresses regarding labor unions. He often becomes frustrated by the actions of labor leaders, but he was happy with Gunton’s articles as they demonstrated the good that “has been accomplished by the unions.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-08-27
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt reports to Representative Reed that there was nothing crooked about the delay at Portsmouth. He explains that there was a labor shortage.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-27
Gifford Pinchot was away and then involved in an important legal matter. Regarding the farmers, Congress and executives should not be the only ones in control. Rather, farmers’ organizations should be supported and their input welcomed by the government. Pinchot also leaves notes with page numbers next to topics relating to labor and business; with more time he could have done more. Pinchot thinks a first draft is “not a fair subject of criticism” but does not feel the letter measures up to Roosevelt’s usual level of writing. Pinchot concludes by remarking that he enjoyed Roosevelt’s article on the League of Nations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-12-15
Thomas McKay writes Theodore Roosevelt a threatening letter after his Christmas address. McKay then goes on to discuss William H. Taft’s policies as president.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-01-21
Leigh S. J. Hunt recently returned from the Pacific Coast and will leave for a trip through the iron region. His observations lead him to believe the country is “on the eve of trying times.” Union victory in England’s labor war will likely affect the United States, possibly to the extent that the “strong men of the nation” are needed to prevent a revolution. Theodore Roosevelt’s record is sufficient that he would not need a platform, but Hunt proposes one based on universal progress, stability, and courage.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-18
Maurice H. Cole shares his views with Theodore Roosevelt regarding a number of topics, including public lands given to trusts and special interests; progressive reform measures like the initiative, referendum and recall; the influence of Catholics and socialists on the United States; and relations between labor and capital, and how the government can help arbitrate conflicts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-26
Joseph H. Rudrow thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his service as a politician. He recalls having voted for Abraham Lincoln in his concern for the unity of the country, and says that he has similar worries now due to the trusts and corporations at work in the nation, as they deprive workers of a fair share of the products of their labor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-10
Thomas W. Mayo comments on foreign labor and how political parties are accountable to the voters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-13
Charles William Eliot discusses reasons why there is no need for further restrictions on immigration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-10
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
William Kent discusses his beliefs on the Japanese racial issue in California and sends President Roosevelt an editorial from California Weekly. Kent compares what is happening on the Hawaiian islands to California and is glad that California is not being settled as rapidly as other parts of the country. Kent believes that in matters of Japanese immigrants “distance will best sanctify our traditional friendship for each other.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-29
William H. Taft tells President Roosevelt that he appreciated the letter he wrote regarding William Jennings Bryan and Samuel Gompers. He believes that it may make an impression on previously-apathetic people. Taft discusses his chances in Ohio: despite concerns from Roosevelt and the press, he believes that he will win the state.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-01
John St. Loe Strachey sends President Roosevelt a copy of his book with special binding. He is pleased that the book has been successful thus far.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-02
Seth Low forwards President Roosevelt a letter from Samuel Gompers, and comments on discussions he has recently had with many people about a bill currently under consideration. The present bill is very important to both the business and labor community, and Low is trying to navigate between the two forces.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-07
Ralph M. Easley tells President Roosevelt about some details related to the National Civic Federation. Easley spoke with Chicago Democrat Roger Charles Sullivan recently, and comments on some matters of Chicago politics. Easley also speaks about public opinion about Secretary of War William H. Taft among the labor movement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-16
William Emlen Roosevelt informs President Roosevelt that he will be unable to go on the trip with him to Indianapolis, Indiana. Roosevelt has business that he needs to attend to due to the passage of new legislation which “is very disturbing, and much of the recent legislation in many parts of the country has been most unwise.” Laborers are asking for more rights and the crops have not been growing as well so William Roosevelt is forecasting a slow economy for the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-24
John Dunbar Pringle sends President Roosevelt a marked copy of The Labor World with an editorial about organized labor. The newspaper agrees with Roosevelt’s course of action and notes that such a position takes courage.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-04
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-29
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
English