Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt concurs with Daniel Rhodes Hanna about his point on big business. Roosevelt suggests that those on Wall Street would rather any candidate but him, because he insists upon regulation on big business.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-02-05
The bill calls for the creation of the Sherman Law Commission with nine commissioners who will oversee the licensure of those engaging in trade and commerce worth over $10,000 in a day and ensure such organizations are not participating in restraint of trade. The commission will also set prices of goods bought and sold by licensees.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-16
Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt between January 1879 to December 1883. Notable events include Theodore Roosevelt’s engagement and marriage to Alice Hathaway Lee, his appointment to the New York State Legislature, and his first visit and buffalo hunt in North Dakota.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
The author of this article argues that the United States Supreme Court is working with the American Tobacco Company to dissolve the illegal company but, in allowing a new company to be created, are forming a monopoly that will drive out independent retailers from the tobacco industry. To avoid the scandal and lawsuits that will come if the Supreme Court continues on their path, the author suggests the Supreme Court request a full inventory of the assets of all the companies forming the new trust and verify all stocks and bonds under the companies, especially the American Cigar Company, are covered. The second suggestion made is to make coupons illegal because the issuance of coupons runs independent retailers out of business.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-21
Part four of Hearings before the committee on interstate commerce starts part way through a hearing in which Mr. Martin answers questions from the senators regarding the dissolution of trusts and the consequences to stockholders. A statement of Andrew Jaritz begins on page 174 in which Jaritz presents his ideas and conclusions on the permanent and progressive habits of economic legislation and the need for economic principles. Jaritz suggests the government frame trusts within the context of the economy and work for the people to set reasonable prices and prevent waste by the producers and the consumers. The government could then profit from the savings and continue regulating and enforcing economic legislation by forming a new department of economic policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-17
Senate testimony of Felix H. Levy for the Committee on Interstate Commerce.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-16
Franklin Ford discusses the history of the banking and exchange systems and their importance to the history of the State, dating back to King Henry I.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-18
Charles Richard Van Hise speaks of the nuances present in monopolies and unrestricted competition in the American economy. Van Hise gives the railroads system as an example of successful use of commissions with no price competition. His thesis proposes there can be great economic advantage to maintain a concentration of industry and therefore those corporations should not be broken up by enforcing the Sherman Act. Instead, commissions should be created to determine prices and Van Hise provides a list of powers these commissions should have and how to achieve success.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-09
Hugh Gordon Miller, former special assistant to Attorney General George W. Wickersham, strayed from his speech at the New York Credit Men’s Association’s dinner to “take a few flings” at an unnamed public official, generally assumed to be Wickersham. An excerpt from Miller’s speech is included.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-27
President Roosevelt—It—wears a number of signs: “imperialism,” “protection for monopoly,” “personal orders substituted for acts of Congress,” “militarism,” “extravagance,” “my Cortelyou—the fat fryer,” “standpatism,” and “promotion of personal favorites.” His “party” and “despotism” legs crush “international law” and “the Constitution of the United States.” He holds “the big stick” in one hand and a revolver in the other.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-03
President Roosevelt reads a paper with “a few words about tariff revision” in a “President’s Message” theater. The crowd looks up at a “protected monopolies” man sweating.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-06
Uncle Sam, with a “monopoly” eye patch and “graft,” “steal,” and “imperialism” bandages on his face shies away from an angry woman labeled “Republican High Tariff.” The woman holds a child-sized Roosevelt who jeers at Uncle Sam, saying, “Ba-a-a, you old goat.” Caption: Uncle Sam: By Gosh! I’ll get a divorce in November.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-12
President Roosevelt has a large “monopoly” smile and eyes and ears in the shape of G.O.P.: “Grand Old Pig.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-09
An injunction was issued by Judge John B. Wilkinson, of Huntington, West Virginia, restraining the Triple State Gas Company from merging with the United States Natural Gas company, which would have monopolized the natural gas supply of West Virginia and eastern Ohio. The injunction affects Judge Peter Stenger Grosscup, who was named to the board of the United States Natural Gas company. However, Grosscup is well known for his writings against monopolies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-18
An injunction was issued by Judge John B. Wilkinson, of Huntington, West Virginia, restraining the Triple State Gas Company from merging with the United States Natural Gas company, which would have monopolized the natural gas supply of West Virginia and eastern Ohio. The injunction affects Judge Peter Stenger Grosscup, who was named to the board of the United States Natural Gas company. Grosscup, who is is well known for his writings against monopolies, “will at least know how the defendant feels” the next time he issues an injunction against monopoly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-18
In excerpts from his speech, Jacob Gould Schurman discusses concerns with large corporations and ways to make competition fairer. He believes the solution is not socialism. Rather, he suggests the public should abolish special privileges to corporations. Schurman is glad President Roosevelt mentioned this issue in his annual message and agrees with his suggestion of giving the Interstate Commerce Commission more power. In addition, Schurman suggests other policies for reform, including an income tax and changes to the tariff and the Philippine policy. Schurman looks forward to when the Philippines will have an independent republican government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-20
Government investigations have revealed that many railroads have been violating portions of the interstate commerce act with regards to rebates and monopolies, and a number of railroad executives will be called upon to testify before the Interstate Commerce Commission. It is anticipated that testimony will show that the passage of the Elkins law did not stop the practice of paying rebates, but simply changed the form they took. This article presents additional analysis of what is expected to be presented to the commission, as well as the anticipated witnesses to be called.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-09
Henry W. Taft believes there is no adequate foundation for a statement made by Alton B. Parker that the common law can serve as a legal remedy against trusts and monopolies. Taft maintains that it is necessary for laws restricting monopolies to come from the federal level in order to appropriately apply criminal penalties and work at a national scale. Taft also quotes extensively from three letters by Thomas Jefferson to show that Jefferson, the founder of the Democratic party, opposed the common law being applied at a national scale.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-30
At the Jamestown Exposition, President Roosevelt spoke highly of England. Other Americans usually disregard England, but Roosevelt reminds his fellow Americans that the United States developed its intellectual origins out of English philosophy. However, the United States should watch out for the rich magnates and monopolies in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-27
A baseball game between the “Ultimate Consumer A. C. [Athletic Club]” and the “Monopoly Giants” is underway. A “Giants” ballplayer is sliding head-first into a base and is being tagged out by a “Consumer” ballplayer with a ball labeled “Tariff Reduction.” Although the base runner has not even reached the base, the umpire labeled “Congress” calls the base runner, who winks and points at the umpire, safe. Caption: “He’s safe!”
“Safe” has a double meaning. Besides the baseball context, the Congress–represented by a caricature of Senator Nelson Aldrich of Rhode Island, author of the Payne-Aldrich Act, which raised tariff rates–made things safe for trusts (monopolies), in the eyes of Puck Magazine.