Logic

A bruised and beaten “Congress” is surrounded by a group of men: a “crook,” a “thief,” a “timber thief,” a “land thief,” a “briber,” and a “forger.” President Roosevelt holds the “logic” big stick and walks back to the “White House.” The timber thief says, You pretty near whipped him,” while the briber says, “Old interference is spoiling everything.” The forger says, “It was a noble battle,” while the land thief notes, “You did the best you could for us.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-08

Theodore Roosevelt refutes Amasa Pierce Thornton’s statement that Roosevelt’s platform is “abandoning civilization” by explaining that all of his proposals for judicial review were made in favor of obtaining justice for the “plain people” of the United States. He writes that he would have gladly supported someone else who made a similar, practical proposal that would allow the people to review the decisions of the New York Court of Appeals regarding the Workman’s Compensation Act, the Bake Shop Case, the prevention of child labor or over-working of women, and the elimination of the sweatshop. Roosevelt ends his argument by stating that the U.S. is the only civilized country in the world where courts are able to review acts passed by the legislature and that Thornton should call Canada and countries in Europe and the Pacific uncivilized if he really believes Roosevelt is in the wrong.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919