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Senator Proctor writes to President Roosevelt to clarify his opinion on the promotion of military officers. Proctor does not recommend appointments based on statehood or individual desires; rather, he recommends the best person for the position. Proctor believes that Eugene Frederick Ladd would be an excellent choice due to his service in Cuba.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-08
President Roosevelt appreciates Chief of Staff Bell “taking thought in advance.” He instructs Bell to show the letter to General Fred C. Ainsworth, who will follow through with Bell’s suggestions concerning sending officers to Cuba.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-01
President Roosevelt tells Senator Proctor “the question is now academic,” as Major Eugene Frederick Ladd was recommended for a vacancy, which has “from the beginning” put him second to Captain Benjamin Alvord.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-05
President Roosevelt explains how his view of military promotions differs from Senator Proctor’s view. Proctor wants men to be promoted to “recognize” a particular state, in his case, Vermont, while Roosevelt wants to promote people based on merit. Roosevelt does not want to run the army in the interest of politicians. Instead, he wants to run the army “in the interest of the entire American people, and with an eye single to making it the best it can possibly be.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-03
President Roosevelt requests more information from Senator Proctor about the alleged promise he made with General Francis Safford Dodge to appoint Hugh J. Gallagher.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-27
President Roosevelt explains to Senator Proctor why he chose Captain Benjamin Alvord to be promoted to Assistant Chief of the Record and Pension Office. Roosevelt personally wanted to appoint his friend John H. Parker, while Proctor suggested Eugene Frederick Ladd. However, in order to avoid the appearance of favoritism, Roosevelt asked Secretary of War William H. Taft to have the general staff evaluate all the candidates and make a recommendation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-31
Provisional Governor Taft updates President Roosevelt on the progress of disarmament in Cuba. Frederick Funston is not as effective in managing the details of disarmament as Taft had hoped. Taft does not want to avoid responsibility for some of the mistakes, but feels that Funston lacks capacity as an executive. There is also some delay in dismissing the militia because of corruption. Secretary of State Elihu Root’s publication of the correspondence between the United States Government and former Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma has caused surprise among the Moderate Party in Cuba.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-06
After speaking with Frank S. Cairns and Eugene Frederick Ladd, Secretary of War Taft believes the Cuban government under President Tomás Estrada Palma cannot continue. A small number of rurales and militia are spread around the island, with artillerymen and a few thousand municipal police concentrated in Havana. Insurgents are surrounding the city and also areas of Santa Clara, slowed by the arrival of United States troops on the Denver. Estrada Palma lacks support and is unprepared, and his office under Fernando Andrade is linked to abuses of power and election fraud. Without public support, Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon and Taft cannot recommend supporting Estrada Palma, yet insurgents still need to be driven out to protect the Cuban government and its people. A meeting will be held today with liberal leader Alfredo Zayas y Alfonso as well as insurgent leaders. Forcible intervention on the part of the United States cannot be avoided and Roosevelt’s approval is sought to move forward.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-21
James Franklin Bell, Chief of Staff of the United States Army, proposes a plan to President Roosevelt to disarm Cuban insurgents. The plan, based on experience in the Philippine-American War, involves discreetly gathering information through American officers in Cuba, with the “consent and cooperation” of Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-30
Senator Proctor disagrees with President Roosevelt about the selection of generals from among the ranking captains of the Army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-31
Senator Proctor continues to argue that Major Eugene Frederick Ladd was worthy of receiving “the first appointment,” and he encloses letters from several others to support his assessment of Ladd.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-02
Redfield Proctor believes that Theodore Roosevelt is free from favoritism. Roosevelt has never agreed to a single request regarding the Army that Proctor has made. Proctor has also never asked for an Army appointment because the person was from Vermont, but due to their qualifications.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-20
Senator Proctor sends President Roosevelt correspondence from the President of Cuba, Tomás Estrada Palma. Proctor believes Major Eugene Frederick Ladd deserves the promotion more than Benjamin Alvord, but notes Roosevelt has promised General Grenville Mellen Dodge that he will appoint Hugh John Gallagher to this position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-25
Senator Proctor is concerned that none of the three Vermont officers he has recommended have been promoted. Proctor outlines the three cases: Colonel Miller, Colonel Stephen Perry Jocelyn, and Major Eugene Frederick Ladd, and asks Roosevelt to see things from his point of view. Proctor believes that his acquaintance with the army and his support of Elihu Root entitles him to “a little consideration.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-06
Senator Proctor continues to protest President Roosevelt’s promotion of Benjamin Alvord to an officer position over Eugene Frederick Ladd. Proctor says that the position was only kept by the appropriations committee because they believed that the spot had been promised to Ladd.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-05
Senator Proctor expresses dismay that Eugene Frederick Ladd did not receive a promotion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-03
Benjamin F. Barnes relays messages from Senator Redfield Proctor which express dismay that Eugene Frederick Ladd did not receive a promotion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-03
Redfield Proctor discusses the promotion of Captain Gallagher over Captain Ladd.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-29
Tasker Howard Bliss recommends Eugene Frederick Ladd for appointment as treasurer of the Panama Canal Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-09
Colonel Edwards, Chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, writes a letter of recommendation concerning Eugene Frederick Ladd to Chief of Staff Young.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-26