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President Roosevelt congratulates Gilbert W. Dickson, President of the Detroit Federation of Labor, on the opening of the labor carnival. Roosevelt hopes that the conditions of labor in both Michigan and the rest of the country will continue to improve for all citizens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-27
President Roosevelt sent Speaker of the House Cannon’s letter to Frank P. Sargent and Edgar E. Clark. He suggests Cannon write to Senator Boies Penrose about the John Mitchell matter. Going forward, Roosevelt directs Cannon to be careful about directly attacking labor leader Samuel Gompers and instead emphasize the administration’s recent accomplishments on behalf of labor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-17
President Roosevelt is pleased with how Secretary of Agriculture Wilson is handling the packing men. The Congressional situation in Iowa concerns him. He comments on the political conditions in various states, concluding that upsets in local matters will lead to suffering in the general government. He feels Congress was unwise in its treatment of the labor people. Roosevelt believes “in refusing any unjust demand on labor just as quickly” as any such demands on capital.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-11
President Roosevelt thanks Samuel A. Harper for his letter but chastises him for requesting more insight on Aaron Burr when Roosevelt is busy with a myriad of current affairs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-12
President Roosevelt remarks that the recent sessions of the national legislatures of the United States, Great Britain, and France have all been very interesting. Roosevelt comments particularly on a speech by Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau of France. Looking at his own career, Roosevelt expects “the swinging of the pendulum” to occur soon, as he has been president for five years already. While there may be increasing resistance from Congress, however, he believes the past five years have been extremely productive and is proud of what he has accomplished. Roosevelt is interested in the proceedings of the upcoming Hague conference, and tells George Otto Trevelyan that there is a narrow path to walk between reducing armaments among European nations, and in going too far and “having the free peoples rendered helpless in the faces of the various military despotism and barbarisms of the world.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-18
President Roosevelt thanks Speaker of the House Cannon for the letter, and comments that he had nothing but praise for Cannon’s handling of the labor situation. After reading Cannon’s speech, Roosevelt edited the letter he was going to send to Representative James E. Watson to better back Cannon up on his stance on the labor situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-20
President Roosevelt was interested in Senator Beveridge’s letter, and congratulates him about his speech. Roosevelt remarks that the trouble with revising the tariff is that no two people want exactly the same thing, and admits he is not sure how they are going to accomplish the reform.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-23
President Roosevelt has recently spoken with a number of people regarding the Panama Canal Zone, and while he feels that Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission Theodore P. Shonts and Chief Engineer John F. Stevens are too hard on Governor Charles E. Magoon, it may still be best for Magoon to be reassigned elsewhere. He tells Secretary of War Taft that he is inclined for Shonts to take the role of administrator himself, as long as Taft deems such a thing wise. That being said, he also would like William Franklin Sands to be appointed minister in spite of opposition from Shonts and Stevens, as he would better be able to work with foreign governments. In a postscript, Roosevelt also refers Taft to some letters he received from Francis B. Loomis he would like him to look into, as well as an editorial he would like Stevens to comment on.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-14
President Roosevelt authorizes Secretary of War Taft to use funds to stable the cavalry at Boise, Idaho as General Fred C. Ainsworth mentioned. Roosevelt additionally comments on several appointments, saying he believes that Walston H. Brown should be allowed to carry out his proposal, that he has decided to appoint James Shanklin Harlan to the Interstate Commerce Commission, and that he is inclined to appoint Horace H. Lurton, which will necessitate appointing a new Circuit Court Judge. Roosevelt also writes at length about some recent articles by Poultney Bigelow which contain some “slanderous falsehood,” but about which he believes some response should be made.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-17
President Roosevelt sends Secretary of State Root a letter of greeting and congratulations on the success of his recent trip to Central America. Roosevelt has enjoyed the rest he has had over the summer and is now beginning to work on the fall electoral campaigns. While the recent Congress has been very productive, Roosevelt fears that “the time has about come for the swinging of the pendulum,” and mentions some areas he believes the Republicans are weak. Secretary of War William H. Taft has decided to not accept a position on the Supreme Court, which may put him in the ranks of possible presidential candidates. Local New York elections for governor have shown Benjamin B. Odell as having an advantage over Governor Frank Wayland Higgins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-18
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock that he has asked Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill to look into complaints alleging violations of the eight-hour law, and has directed him to communicate directly with various Departments and Bureaus he needs information from in order to save time and minimize correspondence. Roosevelt directs Hitchcock to give Neill any information he may request promptly in order to facilitate his work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt informs Attorney General Moody that he has asked Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill to look into complaints alleging violations of the eight-hour law, and has directed him to communicate directly with various Departments and Bureaus he needs information from in order to save time and minimize correspondence. Roosevelt directs Moody to give Neill any information he may request promptly in order to facilitate his work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of the Treasury Shaw that he has asked Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill to look into complaints alleging violations of the eight-hour law, and has directed him to communicate directly with various Departments and Bureaus he needs information from in order to save time and minimize correspondence. Roosevelt directs Shaw to give Neill any information he may request promptly in order to facilitate his work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Taft that he has asked Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill to look into complaints alleging violations of the eight-hour law, and has directed him to communicate directly with various Departments and Bureaus he needs information from in order to save time and minimize correspondence. Roosevelt directs Taft to give Neill any information he may request promptly in order to facilitate his work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt tells Calvin Cobb that he appreciates what Idaho Governor Frank Robert Gooding is trying to do in trying to bring the murderers of ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg to justice. Roosevelt believes that the Western Federation of Miners has been conducting a reign of terror on many Rocky Mountain states, and recognizes the risk that Gooding is in in trying to prosecute them. While Charles S. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood deserve a fair trial, Roosevelt believes that their “black record of wrong-doing” should get them no sympathy. He hopes, however, that Gooding will act against both the Western Federation of Miners on the one hand and the corporations on the other, and not fall into the errors of former Colorado Governor James Hamilton Peabody.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-16
President Roosevelt assures Carrol D. Wright that he is aware of Wright’s commission, and says that while he does not wish to call upon the commission if he can help it, it may become necessary to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-10
President Roosevelt tells Earl Grey, Governor General of Canada, that he is welcome to send copies of the correspondence to S. Weir Mitchell of Philadelphia, and asks if Grey would like Roosevelt to make any further announcements of Grey’s gift. Roosevelt enjoyed seeing Earl and Lady Grey, and wished that he had the opportunity to talk to Grey about labor issues, as they “are the most important and most puzzling questions we have to deal with to-day.” Roosevelt was touched by Grey’s description of his reaction to the ceremonies near Mount Vernon, and remarks that as long as the United States respects and admires George Washington, the good character of the country will increase.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-13
President Roosevelt received the beautiful books from David Decamp Thompson. He comments on his observations of the connections between labor problems and churches and those of Young Men’s Christian Association movements and railroads.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-23
President Roosevelt asks the United States Civil Service Commission when the classification of the laborers employed as clerks will be ready, as he wishes to take up the matter. Laborers have previously been classified, and the reason to not classify the laborers employed as clerks has disappeared.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-10
President Roosevelt praises Ray Stannard Baker for his article in McClure’s Magazine about lynching. Roosevelt has admired Baker’s pieces about labor, but believes the recent piece on lynching is the best discussion he has seen of the topic anywhere, and is even better than to his other work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-02