Miller, William A., 1850-

Letter from Paul Morton to E. P. Ripley

Paul Morton believes President Roosevelt’s position is that neither labor nor capital should dominate the White House, but both should be treated with “exact justice.” Morton assures E. P. Ripley that Roosevelt is not against anyone who happens to be rich, but he does believe that many large fortunes in the country have been achieved in unfair ways and that a rich man should not be able to dodge responsibilities or be given special privileges because of his wealth.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-31

Summary of a letter from John Robert Procter

The Civil Service Commission disapproves of William A. Miller’s dismissal from his position as assistant foreman at the bindery of the Government Printing Office. Miller was dismissed due to his removal from the local International Brotherhood of Bookbinders.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-13

Letter from F. C. Nunemacher to Theodore Roosevelt

F. C. Nunemacher approves President Roosevelt’s decision to reinstate William A. Miller to his position at the Government Printing Office. Miller lost his job after being expelled from the labor union. Nunemacher supports an employee’s right to join a union but does not believe that employees should be discriminated against due to union membership or their decision not to join a union.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-22

Letter from William Loeb to George B. Cortelyou

William Loeb expresses that President Roosevelt would like Secretary of Commerce and Labor Cortelyou to meet with Public Printer Francis Wayland Palmer. The President believes that there is a strong case against Palmer, and Palmer needs to understand that a public official is not to “pay heed to the dictation of any outside organization.” The President would also like Palmer to make a full report on the matter and meet with Attorney General Philander C. Knox to make a full explanation of the charges.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the American Federation of Labor

President Roosevelt defends his actions in the William A. Miller case, stating that union membership cannot be a factor in employment any more than creed, color, or birthplace. Miller’s fitness for the position will be settled as part of routine administrative detail. Item includes draft with handwritten corrections.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

In accordance with the decision of the Civil Service Commission, William A. Miller will be reinstated at the Government Printing Office. President Roosevelt will withhold his final decision until the investigation of Miller’s second communication is complete. His initial impression is that Miller’s removal violated the law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Morgan Davenport

President Roosevelt appreciates Professor Davenport’s article in The Outlook. Roosevelt believes that he has dealt fairly with labor unions, although sometimes he has acted to keep them in check.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. R. Bowker

President Roosevelt tells R. R. Bowker that he would not be willing to appoint a man who had any relation with Town Topics. He asks if Bowker knows anything about William A. Miller, who currently heads the university press for the University of Chicago, or about William Sidney Rossiter, Chief Clerk at the Census Bureau.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William E. Chandler

President Roosevelt expects that certain plutocrats will support his reelection bid, but he tells Senator William E. Chandler that he has done nothing to solicit their support, nor will he “vary one hair’s breadth” in his political positions to please them. Roosevelt suspects that he will lose some plutocrats over the Northern Securities Case and the Anthracite Coal Strike, just as he will lose some labor agitators over his open shop position in the Miller case, but he believes that “decent men” from both sides will support him. Roosevelt hopes that the “usual snarl over the governorship” will not cost him the state of New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt asks Secretary of Commerce and Labor Cortelyou to review a letter that he believes was written by a “sincere and honest man.” Roosevelt believes he has stated his position regarding the case of William A. Miller firmly and emphasizes that the settlement of the question is separate from Miller’s guilt or innocence. The government is emphatically an “open shop” in regards to labor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to L. Clarke Davis

President Roosevelt thanks L. Clarke Davis for the editorial and feels the same about the Miller case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herman Henry Kohlsaat

President Roosevelt thanks Herman Henry Kohlsaat for the editorials. Roosevelt understands that the Miller case will be damaging politically but he is satisfied with his actions and knows he was absolutely right.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Oscar S. Straus

President Roosevelt would like to discuss the Miller case with Oscar S. Straus. Roosevelt believes that his actions in the Miller case complement his action during the Anthracite Coal Strike, the opposition being the labor unions and not the “big, monied men.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Emory Quinby

President Roosevelt saw the Detroit Free Press editorial and it stated his attitude perfectly. Roosevelt believes that what he did in the Miller case supplements his actions in the Northern Securities case and the Anthracite Coal Strike.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Elihu Root

Secretary of War Root is in London with the Alaska Boundary Tribunal and President Roosevelt provides updates on various events and political issues in the United States including the post office scandal, State Senator Greene, and political candidates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt encloses clippings regarding the Miller case. Roosevelt wants it made known that the question of Miller’s expulsion from the trade union or of non-union men in the Government Printing Office precludes Roosevelt from taking up the case.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John C. Shaffer

President Roosevelt was pleased with John C. Shaffer’s editorial on the Miller case. After exhaustive consultations, the general opinion is that only “simple remedial measures” are necessary for currency legislation. Roosevelt defends his past action of accepting special train service from the railroads.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ernest Hamlin Abbott

President Roosevelt objects to an editorial that appeared in The Outlook on the Miller case. Miller was reinstated, the labor union did not strike, and the case was closed. Roosevelt believes that he handled the issue “squarely” and brought about a final decision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Harrison Gray Otis

President Roosevelt supports labor unions and capitalism, but his actions are being attacked in the press from both sides. The leading papers for each side are the New York Sun, which supports capital, and the New York Journal, which supports labor. Roosevelt finds it difficult to avoid “dishonest misrepresentations” of his speeches and positions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-05

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to George B. Cortelyou

President Roosevelt instructs that William A. Miller be reinstated and kept at work during the investigation of the charges against him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-25