Michigan

Peter W. Shute tells Theodore Roosevelt he is the only man to unite the Republican Party, but also suggests a new political party be formed, the Union Party. Shute believes there should be more focus on prohibition and temperance in politics, and less in the Church. Shute shares his grievances regarding William H. Taft and Robert M. La Follette and hopes Roosevelt will step up and save the party and the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Creator(s)

Shute, Peter W. (Peter Wilkes), 1843-1921

Frank Knox writes Theodore Roosevelt of the newspaper interview he gave after returning from his visit to Oyster Bay and encloses the article. Knox shares recent statistics that place Roosevelt ahead of William H. Taft and Robert M. La Follette in the race for the presidency in Michigan. Knox also believes many states will come to the National Republican Convention without instructions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Knox, Frank, 1874-1944

Senator Robert M. La Follette will be leaving Washington soon to campaign aggressively in Ohio, William H. Taft’s home state. Public opinion has changed, indicating La Follette is not in the running for the nomination, instead Theodore Roosevelt and Taft will be the ones to fight to lead the Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Unknown

After having lunch with Theodore Roosevelt, Frank Knox gives an official statement that Roosevelt is not and will not run for the nomination to become a candidate for president. Many Republicans hope Taft will turn down the nomination so Roosevelt might step up and save Republicans by becoming the Republican presidential candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-14

Creator(s)

Unknown

President Roosevelt is sorry to hear of issues in Michigan, but glad that the state will go for William H. Taft. Roosevelt is pleased that Representative Diakema agrees that William Jennings Bryan should be attacked with more force. In addition, Roosevelt feels that Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker should be disowned by the Republican party, as he is representative of corrupt practices between corporations and politicians.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt discusses a vacant judgeship in Michigan with Senator Burrows, and has asked Senator William Alden Smith his opinion on the matter as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt updates Secretary of War Taft on his conversation with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou in which he made clear that the nominee for president will be chosen based on what is best for the party. Men from various states have contacted Roosevelt attempting to convince him to run again and expressing whether they would support Taft. Evaluating the potential candidates, Roosevelt focuses on Governor Charles Evans Hughes, who is the biggest potential threat. Roosevelt says that Bishop Charles Henry Brent recently delivered a ridiculous sermon on the Philippines and that Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte has been doing well this summer despite his difficult work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

George E. Miller understands where Roosevelt stands, but explains that people are disappointed in President William H. Taft’s leadership and remember all the good Roosevelt did. With how it is looking in Michigan, Miller would not be surprised to see a “Roosevelt Renaissance.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-11

Creator(s)

Miller, George E. (George Edmund), 1858-1934

Frank Knox writes to Theodore Roosevelt about Michigan’s efforts to establish compensation laws. Knox has been working with Governor Chase S. Osborn on this issue. They have been working on a new system to eliminate the current common-law defenses, which make it difficult for workers to win damages from their employers. They suggest creating a state insurance which companies would contribute to based on their industry, similar to liability insurance companies. If an injured worker filed a claim, their award would be paid out of this insurance fund. Knox will be presenting this plan at a meeting of a large Republican club, and he asks Roosevelt to write a statement in support, which Knox can share at the meeting. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-29

Creator(s)

Knox, Frank, 1874-1944

Henry J. Pohl remembers seeing Theodore Roosevelt on Kettle Hill, Cuba, in the Spanish-American War. He has been discharged from the Army and wants to know if Roosevelt could employ him as a personal driver.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-20

Creator(s)

Pohl, Henry J., 1875-1920

Leslie M. Shaw is glad that President Roosevelt will be meeting with a committee of railroad men. Shaw notes that “at least three-fourths of the accumulated wealth of the United States has been unearned,” referring to value increases of land and real property over time. The difficulty is in how to “adjust matters that every man who has contributed capital or effort toward the development of our country shall have his fair share of the results of American effort.” Shaw identifies the corporate evils in the railroad industry as rooted in granting rebates and special privileges, and corporate control of corporations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-14

Creator(s)

Shaw, Leslie M. (Leslie Mortier), 1848-1932

Albert P. Wright writes to President Roosevelt upon hearing that someone told Roosevelt he had a drinking problem, which Wright states he does not. Wright discusses the difficulties in the Philippines, especially in regard to conflict between Filipinos and Americans. He openly divulges his antipathy for the Filipinos on the island.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-15

Creator(s)

Wright, Albert P.

Chase S. Osborn clarifies that he had invited President Roosevelt to visit him in the northlands of Michigan with the aim of giving him rest and a break, with no political or official engagements.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-06

Creator(s)

Osborn, Chase S. (Chase Salmon), 1860-1949

President Roosevelt sits at his desk with a paper in front of him and a sign that reads, “My busy day.” His “big stick” is leaned against the desk. All around him are bouquets from various states: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and “John T. Graves, Georgia, 3rd term.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-14

President Roosevelt bangs the lectern as he addresses delegates that all look like himself from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and New York. A messenger dressed like Roosevelt brings him a message. On the wall is a flag that has four large “R’s” and two big sticks.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-19

The note states that General R. A. Alger’s letter is the only letter the Department of Justice has in the marshalship case for western Michigan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-17

Creator(s)

Unknown

Several items from the editorial page of the Commercial Advertiser are highlighted. They include comments on the current gridlock in the Senate, the Michigan Republican State Convention, which endorsed President Roosevelt’s policies, and a criticism of Secretary of War Elihu Root’s response to new information about an insurgency in the Philippines. An article from the Chattanooga Times criticizes the New Orleans Picayune’s criticism of Roosevelt’s social equality platform.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-07

Creator(s)

Unknown

Senator Beveridge does not expect any Michigan opposition to Cuban reciprocity. He believes that the next election will be a Republican landslide across the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-26

Creator(s)

Beveridge, Albert J. (Albert Jeremiah), 1862-1927

President Roosevelt standing on the deck of the steamer Tashmoo with a group of men.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1902-11-13

Creator(s)

Underwood & Underwood

President Roosevelt and his party on the deck of the steamer Tashmoo. In the background the dark smoke from the steamer can be seen.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1902-11-17

Creator(s)

Singley, B. L. (Benneville Lloyd), 1864-1938