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President Roosevelt informs Frank Hinchman Platt that according to Cuban Occupation Governor Charles E. Magoon, there is likely not much they can currently do about the telephone issue. The election of the Cuban Congress should sort it out.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-10
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Wright that Governor Charles E. Magoon never said anything about bringing about the withdrawal of Cuban Liberal leader Alfredo Zayas y Alfonso. He suggests Wright inquire of Magoon what his reasons are. Additionally, Roosevelt instructs it is not their business to interfere for or against either Cuban political party. He does not care what the press says and will respond to any formalized statement about Cuba.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-28
President Roosevelt reviewed Enrique Loynaz del Castillo’s letter with Governor Charles E. Magoon. Roosevelt believes that Castillo is correct, and has directed Magoon to prepare for evacuation on January 28.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-25
President Roosevelt thanks Attorney General Bonaparte for his interesting letter and for what Bonaparte has done with the Indian Territory. Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte on the most important part of his letter about the Standard Oil Company.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-10
President Roosevelt insists that the United States will not establish a protectorate in Cuba, but will keep its promise to leave the island as soon as peace and order is established and a new government in place.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-22
Attorney General Bonaparte informs President Roosevelt of his meeting with Charles B. Morrison regarding the Standard Oil case. Morrison reported that Standard Oil magnates had met with Frank B. Kellogg and himself confidentially to come up with a settlement that would “preserve them from a criminal prosecution.” Bonaparte told Morrison that the government could not deal more favorably with the Standard Oil Company as compared with the Drug Trust and that the whole matter would have to be presented to President Roosevelt for consideration. Bonaparte also mentions other matters, including correspondence from Governor Charles E. Magoon of Cuba and the present situation in Oklahoma Territory.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-08
Joseph Bucklin Bishop informs President Roosevelt of a situation in the Panama Canal Zone beyond the scope of canal construction. Bishop describes how the executive order signed on November 17 virtually abolished the office of Governor and conferred power on the General Counsel, creating a bad situation in which General Counsel Richard Reid Rogers took advantage of his new power. When Secretary of War Taft visited in March, he issued a new executive order to address this situation, conferring the majority of government power on the chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission and acted on by the governor of the Panama Canal Zone, Joseph C.S. Blackburn. Bishop states that Blackburn is doing excellent work and is well-respected, unlike Rogers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-06
Secretary of War Taft reports to President Roosevelt from Cuba. Charles E. Magoon is keeping everything under control and Taft plans to inspect the troops soon. Taft discusses his worries about his brother, Charles Phelps Taft, having set him up as an opponent to Senator Joseph Benson Foraker in the upcoming election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-09
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-07
Captain Pendleton describes the aftermath of the earthquake in Kingston. Pendleton reports that over 400 people have been killed, including the Cuban Consul, and 400 more are wounded.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-17
Secretary of War Taft returns the letter written by Ambassador Barrett. His staff are hard at work to suppress yellow fever. No expense is being spared, including labor or supplies. Taft also forwards a letter from Governor Magoon about yellow fever in the isthmus and asks that Roosevelt return it when he is finished with it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-20
Secretary of War Taft responds to a letter from Senator Lodge regarding treaties that President Roosevelt has given to the Senate. Taft breaks down Lodge’s questions about articles in the treaties regarding legal and constitutional aspects, and evaluates amendments that the Senate proposes to add. Taft points out that the treaties currently under discussion refer to previous conventions which established a Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, and discusses how the powers of this court interact with the powers of the United States government, specifically with reference to the making and execution of treaties. Taft also encloses a memo by Judge Charles E. Magoon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-07
A “Republican steam shovel” with the face of President Roosevelt takes out several rocks: “Democratic opposition,” “political criticism,” and “rail-road obstructionists.” Several men watch, including Panama Governor Charles E. Magoon, John F. Stevens, Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission Theodore P. Shonts, Joseph Bucklin Bishop, and Uncle Sam.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09
Discussion of the Pacific Coast Chinese Exclusion bill, particularly how it will affect the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-23
H. F. N. reports to Secretary of State Root regarding the salary paid to Charles Edward Magoon, who serves as Military Governor of Panama, a member of the Panama Canal Commission, and Minister to Panama. Magoon receives $10,000 as Governor, $7,500 as Commissioner, and no salary as Minister.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-15
President Roosevelt tells Harry Johnston that he does not believe that the United States will intervene in Haiti, although he thinks that it ought to. Roosevelt does not like to act unless he can get the support of the American population behind him. In many cases in Central America and the Antilles, it either took a long time for the population to embrace interference or they never became interested. Roosevelt would have liked the United States to act in Venezuela, Central America, and Haiti, but says that people are “not merely blind, but often malevolently blind, to what goes on.” Roosevelt is pleased that Johnston’s impressions of New York are going to be published, and hopes that his thoughts on the Southern United States are likewise published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-04
President Roosevelt discusses his intentions in relation to Cuba with Secretary of State Root. Roosevelt is against building a naval base at Bahía Honda, with many reports on file describing its unsuitability. Roosevelt thinks that when Cubans elect a new, independent government, it should be with the understanding that all the acts of the American provisional government be automatically codified into law and all new Cuban officials must uphold this condition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-20
President Roosevelt thinks that William H. Taft is correct, and is glad that they have spoken to Frank B. Kellogg and William L. Ward, as it appears that Frank H. Hitchcock is becoming the favorite. Roosevelt believes Hitchcock will be a very good choice to help run Taft’s campaign. Roosevelt also responds to a letter from Taft regarding Frank Maximilian Steinhart, and comments on some business involving telephones.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-02
President Roosevelt approves of Secretary of War Taft’s recommendation for the purchase of property in Cuba from the Roman Catholic Church at the price of $360,900.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-18
President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of War Taft’s recommendations regarding the water contracts in Cienfuegos, Cuba. He will direct Occupation Governor Charles E. Magoon to issue a decree which will put them into effect.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-04