Monopolies

An act to amend an act entitled “An Act to Protect Trade and Commerce against Unlawful Restraints and Monopolies”

This act seeks to amend a previous act dealing with the restraint of trade through monopolies by adding several sections detailing procedures for filing contracts with the Interstate Commerce Commission in order that they might be investigated by the commission. Additionally, this act proscribes that the Interstate Commerce Commission be enlarged to nine members, with additional members to be appointed by the president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-01

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge shares with President Roosevelt the points he went over with Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley and District Attorney Asa P. French regarding the investigation of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Company and Charlie Morse’s supposed steamship monopoly deal. Lodge discusses his concerns about the severe decline in stocks, the possibility of a financial panic, and the potential impact on future election results.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-12

Letter from John C. Cutler to Theodore Roosevelt

Utah Governor Cutler praises President Roosevelt’s letter to William Henry Jackson (Honore Jaxon) and agrees with Roosevelt’s view that everyone who violates the law should be punished – representatives of labor and capital alike. He supports Roosevelt’s criticism of labor representatives as “undesirable citizens,” and his applying the same moniker to capitalists like Edward Henry Harriman who form monopolies. Cutler believes in cooperation between government and capitalists, but when railroad executives abuse their rights, they ought to be censured. He supports Roosevelt’s position on this matter and believes leaders from other states will, as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-24

Fraternity

The news clipping pokes at Theodore Roosevelt’s “All-American” persona despite being from a long line of New Yorkers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-11

Letter from Hamlin Garland to Theodore Roosevelt

Hamlin Garland praises President Roosevelt’s efforts to take on the oil and beef industries. Garland assures Roosevelt that he is doing the right thing in breaking up monopolies. As a man who espouses the free trade philosophy, Garland wishes Roosevelt would stay another four years, but does not oppose William Jennings Bryan in the upcoming election. Many others, including Bernard Shaw, Rudyard Kipling, and more also approve of Roosevelt. Garland has been received very well by Ambassador Whitelaw Reid and saw Roosevelt’s daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, at an event recently.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-16

Letter from Brooks Adams to Theodore Roosevelt

Brooks Adams thanks Theodore Roosevelt for introduction and kindness. Adams supports absolute control of all property by monopoly or regulation of prices subject to monopoly by government. Adams expresses his conviction by quoting Bible passage, Luke 9:62.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-14

Letter from John St. Loe Strachey to Theodore Roosevelt

John St. Loe Strachey sends his condolences to President Roosevelt for the San Francisco earthquake. Strachey also discusses ways to prevent monopolies and a new company in the British army.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-23

Letter from Frank Putnam to Theodore Roosevelt

Before President Roosevelt gives his planned “The Man with the Muckrake” speech, Frank Putnam of National Magazine asks him to read an article which he believes demonstrates that there is genuine, widespread resentment about economic oppression throughout the country. Putnam admires Roosevelt and believes that he could play a role in the “Third Revolution,” which will free people from “industrial bondage.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-11

Letter from J. W. Midgley to Theodore Roosevelt

J. W. Midgley writes to President Roosevelt outlining Midgley’s attempt to bring down the meatpacking transportation trust. Midgley offers his services to President Roosevelt and also asks for a visit to the White House.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-15

Chronology January 1879 to December 1883

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.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1985

Muzzle for Wickersham?

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

The issue

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-03

The smile that should come off

President Roosevelt has a large “monopoly” smile and eyes and ears in the shape of G.O.P.: “Grand Old Pig.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-09

Henpecked

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-12

Court enjoins Judge Grosscup

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-18

Judge Grosscup takes his own medicine

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-18

Address by Dr. Schurman

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-20

Car trust exacts heavy rate toll

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-09

Statement by Henry W. Taft

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-30

The outlook – Mr. Roosevelt discovers England

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-27