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Senator John H. Mitchell insists that William McKinley had promised his son an appointment as captain in the Quartermaster’s Department but there is no record of such a promise. President Roosevelt would like young Mitchell to be made a first lieutenant if he does well on the examination.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-18
President Roosevelt encloses a report made my U.S. Attorney Francis J. Heney which alleges that Senator Fulton and Senator John H. Mitchell recommended George C. Brownell for District Attorney knowing that he was guilty of fraudulent conduct. They made other recommendations for appointments knowing that John Hicklin Hall, a potential appointee, would not prosecute Brownell for criminal misconduct if he were appointed. In light of these revelations, Roosevelt will appoint Charles E. Wolverton as District Judge of Oregon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-20
President Roosevelt tells Attorney General Moody that his reservation about appointing Thomas A. McBride was that he was concerned he was loyal to John H. Mitchell, but he now believes that McBride will be acceptable. He was impressed by Charles Erskine Scott Wood’s letter about Oregon politics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-14
President Roosevelt returns Senator Mitchell’s letter. The only course open to Senator Platt seems to be to remain as chairman of the committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-24
President Roosevelt requests a full report on the letter from Senator Mitchell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-15
President Roosevelt encloses a letter he sent to the Oregon Senators.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-25
President Roosevelt requests the information regarding Mr. Knowles’s unfitness to serve as register of the land office in La Grande, Oregon. Senator Mitchell, Senator Fulton, Binger Hermann, and J. N. Williamson will not withdraw their recommendation until seeing the evidence of Mr. Knowles’s unfitness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-18
President Roosevelt is not willing to appoint Mr. Knowles and would like Senator Mitchell and Senator Fulton to recommend another candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-01
There is a dispute between the Senators from Oregon, Joseph Simon and John Mitchell, over appointments. President Roosevelt has decided to submit Bibie’s name first and Steele’s a few weeks later.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-02-17
The writer asserts that Max Pracht and W. Scott Smith are “working together” and offers evidence. Pracht was suspended from the Land Office for insubordination and sought help from Senator John H. Mitchell; but when Mitchell was unable to help, Pracht turned to Smith and Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock to obtain his current post at the War Department. Events discussed since then by Pracht could only be known through a source close to the Secretary of the Interior such as Smith.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907
Max Pracht reports on corruption in the land office that he witnessed while a special agent in Colorado. Pracht details the misuse of government funds by William A. Richards, Commissioner of the General Land Office, and his report of it to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock and Hitchcock’s private secretary W. Scott Smith. The final two pages detail Pracht and Smith’s relationship.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-22
Francis J. Heney, the recent United States District Attorney for Oregon, informs President Roosevelt that Governor Chamberlain will be appointing John M. Gearin as a United States Senator in Oregon to replace Senator Mitchell, who is deceased. Chamberlain wants permission from Roosevelt to publicly announce that Roosevelt approves of Gearin’s appointment. Heney will wait to hear from Roosevelt about his wishes in the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-13
Senator Fulton writes to President Roosevelt regarding District Attorney Heney’s report that charges Fulton with supporting John Hicklin Hall for district attorney in return for his agreement not to prosecute Senator Brownell. Fulton discusses errors in the report and affirms that he believed Brownell was being unfairly persecuted, but states he never bargained with Hall. Furthermore, much of the evidence comes from letters by Senator Mitchell, which Fulton claims he did not see. Fulton includes copies of the correspondence between Brownell and himself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-12
Oregon District Attorney Heney states Senators John H. Mitchell and Charles William Fulton entered into a conspiracy with former district attorney John Hicklin Hall. The senators agreed to procure the reappointment of Hall if Hall refrained from prosecuting George C. Brownell and James U. Campbell in the Oregon land fraud trials.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-17
A. A. Lindsley believes President Roosevelt could not have appointed a better person than William W. Cotton as judge. Lindsley discusses the political situation in Oregon, focusing on the reorganization of the Republican party following heavy political corruption.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-08
Senator Fulton thanks President Roosevelt for the answer to his prior letter, and suggests that Roosevelt may misunderstand his attitude regarding the issue of the Oregon land fraud trials. He seeks to clarify his stance, noting that he does not maintain the innocence of everyone, but rather only spoke on behalf of U.S. Marshal Walter F. Matthews. He has hardly spoken about anyone else involved with the trial, other than a comment about Senator John H. Mitchell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-22
President Roosevelt describes his recent experience with the coal strike. He shares his opinions about how the political machines and the corporate interests operate in a different world from the majority of people in the country. Roosevelt chose to interfere in the strike to protect the masses, and he hopes it will be over soon.
1902-10-16
The Republican leadership of Portland, Oregon, and Multnomah County argue for supporting President Roosevelt and Senator Mitchell at the Republican primary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-20
George Frisbie Hoar discusses President Roosevelt’s policy concerning Panama and the debate in Congress concerning the constitutionality of the president’s actions, as well as recent newspaper reports along similar lines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-24
Senator Fulton reports to President Roosevelt that Republican members of the Oregon State Legislature have met and unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing Roosevelt’s administration and his bid for renomination as the Republican presidential nominee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-22