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President Roosevelt wants to investigate the political activity in the Porter-Wadsworth district, including all its postmasters. He asks Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou for suggestions about who should conduct the investigation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-27
President Roosevelt informs Frederick C. Stevens that William Loeb has taken over the investigation of John A. Merritt, but Loeb is away on holiday, so Roosevelt has sent Stevens’ letter to Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou with instructions to take “immediate and drastic action” in the case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-11
President Roosevelt sends Secretary Cortelyou information about John A. Merritt, who is causing trouble for Representative Peter A. Porter in his district. Roosevelt asks Cortelyou to contact Merritt about the matter. In a postscript, Roosevelt asks Cortelyou to contact Archie Dovell Sanders as well, to convince him to stop causing trouble in the election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-11
New York State Republican Committee Chairman Woodruff updates William Loeb on the campaigns of Fifth Assembly District Leader Robert A. Sharkey and of Senator Eugene Mabbett Travis for control of the Eleventh Assembly District in New York. Woodruff feels he can neither support not speak out against Governor Charles Evans Hughes at this time, and he is worried Stevens’s victory in Niagara will encourage those hostile to President Roosevelt. He assesses other district candidates and their potential to have a positive impact. Although he knows Loeb may not be able to help directly, he appeals to him for aid if possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-19
New York Republican State Committee Chairman Woodruff counters William Loeb’s suggestion that John A. Merritt visit President Roosevelt in mid-October, stating that it will be too late for Merritt and James Wolcott Wadsworth to influence political matters this fall in order to strengthen their position in the spring when the National Convention delegates are elected. Their success would ensure the elected delegates support Roosevelt. Woodruff believes Roosevelt and Loeb should meet Merritt and especially Wadsworth, as he is an independent man of means who can aid the cause.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-26
A newspaper article speculates on who will be named the postmasters of New York City and Washington, D.C. In New York, postmaster Cornelius Van Cott died and the office is vacant. It has been reported for some time that President Roosevelt does not intend to reappoint John A. Merritt as the postmaster of Washington, D.C., despite Merritt having support from Senator Thomas Collier Platt and the late Postmaster General Henry C. Payne.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-10
President Roosevelt’s information suggests that the charges against John A. Merritt and Archie Dovell Sanders do not warrant their removal, but he will let James Wolcott Wadsworth know if anything suggests otherwise. He congratulates Wadsworth on his work in the last election. He also assures Wadsworth that he does not take the charges and insinuations against him seriously, but that he cannot appear that he is championing people who oppose Governor Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-09
President Roosevelt instructs Treasury Secretary Cortelyou to get an immediate report from John A. Merritt regarding his political activities while holding public office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-07
President Roosevelt explains his recent actions to Senator Platt, saying that he understood that Platt wished for John A. Merritt to be made Collector of Customs at Niagara, and that he appointed Benjamin F. Barnes to succeed Merritt as Postmaster of Washington, D.C., on the recommendation of Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou. If he had known that Platt would take an interest in who would replace Merritt in this position, Roosevelt would have waited.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-01
President Roosevelt agrees with Charles J. Bonaparte’s proposed course and does not believe that a reference to Thomas W. Gilmer or John A. Merritt is necessary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-27
Postmaster John A. Merritt may retain his office, and President Roosevelt is favorable towards filling a vacancy with Mr. Robinson. It is necessary to find the best possible man for each vacancy and let the public see their efforts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-24
Senator Lodge asks President Roosevelt to wait to take action regarding Merritt and Saunders until he can speak to him about the political conditions in Lockport.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-07
Peter A. Porter informs President Roosevelt of the results and Republican victories of the recent elections in New York. Porter wants Roosevelt to know that many purported loyal Republican officeholders displayed treachery by working to prevent Republican wins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-08
Senator Platt finds the appointment of General John A. Merritt as collector at Niagara Falls agreeable to him. However, Platt is not pleased with the appointment of Benjamin F. Barnes as postmaster at Washington, D.C. He believes that the appointment will be criticized.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-02
Postmaster General Wynne tells William Loeb that both Comptroller of the Currency William Barrett Ridgely and Attorney General William H. Moody have stated it is in violation of the law to detail clerks to the White House from the Post Office Department or a post office. As such, Postmaster John A. Merritt is responsible for three months pay illegally given to the clerk detailed to the White House. Wynne inquires if the Executive Office has a fund that could reimburse Merritt, or if he needs to go to Congress for relief.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-05
Senator Platt does not know how Assistant Postmaster General Robert John Wynne got the idea he does not think well of William C. R. Hazard. Platt tells President Roosevelt to send Wynne to him, and he will clear things up.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-11
Senator Platt asks the reason for delay in the confirmation of John A. Merritt as U.S. Postmaster of Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-07
Holmes Conrad writes to President Roosevelt concerning Seymour Wilcox Tulloch’s letter to Roosevelt. Conrad comments that the letter is in bad taste by trying to determine Roosevelt’s actions concerning appointments to public office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-04
Attorney Charles J. Bonaparte addresses the legal investigation into the actions of Baltimore Postal Service employees. Bonaparte writes of his correspondence with Holmes Conrad and Charles Emory Smith and discusses the Bristow Report, John A. Merritt’s charges against Seymour Wilcox Tulloch, and the case of Comptroller Robert J. Tracewell. Bonaparte also expresses his disappointment regarding the Democratic win in the Maryland election, drawing a comparison to the election of 1899, when Arthur P. Gorman lost to Louis E. McComas.
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Charles J. Bonaparte and Holmes Conrad, Special assistants to the Attorney General, submit a supplementary report regarding accusations by Postmaster John A. Merritt against Seymour Wilcox Tulloch, who, for many years, was cashier of the Washington Post Office and Secretary of the United States Electric Light Company, which gave the appearance of a conflict of interest. In their opinion, Merritt’s charges against Tulloch were unsubstantiated. They pointed out, however, that several questionable postal practices should be discontinued.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-11