Moody, William H. (William Henry), 1853-1917

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge is glad to hear of Judge Horace H. Lurton’s opinions; Lodge is most concerned at present with the difference between nationalists and separatists. Lodge would like to see a judge on the bench who holds the views of Alexander Hamilton and John Marshall not Thomas Jefferson and John C. Calhoun. He would someday like to see Attorney General Moody in the Supreme Court. Lodge closes with a discussion of his anxiety regarding the campaign in Maine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-10

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry Cabot Lodge spoke with Attorney General Moody about the platform he is preparing for the Republican State Convention. During their conversation, Lodge learned that President Roosevelt is thinking about appointing Democratic Judge Horace H. Lurton to the Supreme Court. Lodge has strong feelings that the Republican Party should only appoint Republican judges. As a Hamiltonian in his beliefs on the Constitution, he worries about appointing a “strict constructionist who inherits the separatist tradition.” Lodge concludes with some comments about William Jennings Bryan, the beef trust, and “the silver question,” also called bimetallism.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-01

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Meyer agrees with everything President Roosevelt said in his letter and appreciates the opportunity to be in St. Petersburg during the peace negotiations. Meyer is honored to join Roosevelt’s cabinet next winter. Meyer discusses conditions in Russia he has witnessed like Russians living conditions, their oppression, their lack of education, and the difficulty the Socialists or Anarchists will have in convincing the people that the Tsar is not “their little Father.” Meyer expresses his concern that the Revolutionists want everything at once and that none among them is a stand out leader. Meyer discusses the progress of his cure in Bavaria but assures Roosevelt that he is ready to return to St. Petersburg at a moment’s notice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-02

Creator(s)

Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-1918

Letter from James Rudolph Garfield to Theodore Roosevelt

Commissioner of Corporations Garfield informs President Roosevelt that the report on oil will be finished soon but not to publish it before consulting with Attorney General William H. Moody to ensure that pending charges are not disrupted by publication of the report. Garfield finds it interesting that some claim foreign trade is being hurt by these charges but that the oil and beef industries are profiting from violating federal law. Garfield is monitoring a fascinating local election which Representative Theodore E. Burton of Ohio is leading. Some in the election are pushing for an open convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-03

Creator(s)

Garfield, James Rudolph, 1865-1950

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to William Loeb

Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte returns to William Loeb a letter from Congressman Amos L. Allen and explains its peculiar circumstances. Navy Paymaster Samuel McGowan has charged Bonaparte’s secretary, Henry C. Gauss, with forging a letter making charges against McGowan. Though Gauss is no friend to McGowan, Bonaparte does not think that Gauss sees McGowan as an enemy; nor does he think Gauss so foolish as to attempt such a “silly, childish trick.” Thus, Bonaparte doubts the accuracy of the handwriting analysis McGowan had done on the letter and asks Loeb to offer an opinion once he reviews the papers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-24

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Sprague Smith

Charles Sprague Smith has written to Attorney General William H. Moody recommending that Charles Evans Hughes be the Republican nominee for Governor of New York. Smith offers his assessment of the possible Democratic nominees, Congressman William Randolph Hearst, and New York County District Attorney William Travers Jerome.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-24

Creator(s)

Smith, Charles Sprague, 1853-1910

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge praises President Roosevelt’s letter. Lodge thinks Speaker Cannon’s speech on the labor issue was courageous, and he deserves to have them stand by him. Lodge has seen indicators that Charles E. Littlefield will win, which he thinks will have a great influence for good throughout the country. Lodge has written to Attorney General Moody that the Republican party ought to draw its platform in exact accord with Roosevelt’s letter. Henry Melville Whitney, Eugene Foss, and the Boston Herald are pressuring Governor Guild to come out for present revision and against Roosevelt, which Lodge thinks would be a foolish thing to do. Lodge feels that the Republicans should all unite on Roosevelt’s letter. John B. Moran is apparently going to carry off the Democratic nomination, and Lodge thinks this will lead to a nasty personal campaign in which Republican union will be all-important.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-28

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft agrees with President Roosevelt’s decision to appoint John Marshall Harlan. Taft then analyzes the political considerations in making the appointment of the Supreme Court justice who will succeed Henry Billings Brown. Taft also expresses concern about Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal John F. Stevens’s inability to answer the charges of Poultney Bigelow’s article in The Cosmopolitan, even if the charges have no foundation. In addition, Taft notifies Roosevelt that he tried to get Major George W. Goethals, an army engineer, to be Secretary of the Board to live on the Isthmus of Panama, but the presence of Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission Joseph Bucklin Bishop prevents it. Taft recognizes that Congressman Julius C. Burrows is “indignant” about Taft’s involvement in the appointment of District Judge in the Western District of Michigan, but Taft does not think Burrows is justified.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-21

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge is glad President Roosevelt is going to write the letter he mentioned, and he agrees with the statement regarding the tariff that Roosevelt proposes putting in it. Lodge hopes that Attorney General William H. Moody will say something similar in Massachusetts, and mentions that he himself wrote something almost exactly the same recently. Lodge looks forward to reading the biography of Alexander Hamilton that Roosevelt sent him. He comments that he is printing a small volume of essays and speeches, and would like to include the small piece he wrote about Roosevelt, if Roosevelt does not mind.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-11

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Memorandum from Nelson P. Webster to William Loeb

Nelson P. Webster asks William Loeb if all the papers related to the Moyer, Haywood, and Pettibone case should be sent to the Attorney General. The three were charged with the murder of former Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-14

Creator(s)

Webster, Nelson P., 1862-1935

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft discusses the process of hiring labor for the Panama canal project. Taft believes that they can hire Chinese labor, and he prefers workers from China over locals and the Caribbean in general. Taft also believes they should not let any contracts before they receive all bids and that if they start advertising now, they can bring over the first wave of workers from China. Taft estimates that they need no more than 2,500 men but should leave room in the contract for more if need arises. John F. Stevens also believes they should employ workers from a variety of places, including Spain, in case they end up having problems with one particular group. They will begin once he hears back from President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-27

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft responds to President Roosevelt’s offer to appoint him to the Supreme Court as a replacement for Justice Henry Billings Brown. While Taft sincerely wishes to accept, he believes he should stay as the head of the War Department for the time being, given the situation in Panama and in the Philippines. He addresses several issues, including an ongoing investigation into possible misconduct in the War Department. He summarizes the great progress that has been made in the Philippines, as well as some of the challenges that remain. Taft feels responsible for these issues and thinks he would be able to help push through measures in the next session of Congress that would benefit the Filipinos. Given his reluctance, Taft proceeds to give his opinion on other potential candidates to the Supreme Court. He favors the appointment of Horace H. Lurton over William H. Moody.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-30

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from Paul Morton to Theodore Roosevelt

Paul Morton discusses traveling in Europe and the quality of the roads. He believes prison labor should be used to improve American roads. Morton saw Alice Roosevelt while traveling and says she looks well and does her father credit, although she wishes she had more time to write to him. Morton thinks Theodore Roosevelt should consider William H. Moody for a Supreme Court position if he will not nominate William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-17

Creator(s)

Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Letter from Charles W. Russell to William H. Taft

Acting Attorney General Charles W. Russell has reviewed the agreement that Secretary of War Taft sent to him regarding the hiring of Chinese laborers to work on the construction of the Panama Canal. Russell notes the contract specifies that the laborers will work ten hour days, with additional time to be considered overtime, and clarifies that this clause does not present any issues, as Congress passed an act stating that previous acts limiting the hours of laborers in the United States does not apply to foremen and laborers employed in the construction of the Panama Canal. Further, Russell finds no issue with the provision stipulating that the laborers will be deported from Panama at the conclusion of their contract. Russell concludes that the agreement is “within the ‘authority of the Commission and according to law'”–an opinion with which Attorney General William H. Moody agrees.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-12

Creator(s)

Russell, Charles Wells, 1856-1927

Telegram from the Midvale Steele Company to Theodore Roosevelt

Midvale Steel Company addresses President Roosevelt sending him a message regarding shipbuilding companies nabbing armor-plate contracts. Midvale Steel Company President Harrah discusses the challenges of bidding for contracts such as vying against certain competitors for contracts. Harrah suggests that it would be beneficial for Midvale Steel Company to win the armor-plate contracts since the company is cost effective, does fair bidding, offers timely deliveries, and has a record of reliability.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-13

Creator(s)

Midvale Steele Company

Letter from Lyman Abbott to Theodore Roosevelt

Lyman Abbott, of The Outlook, expresses disappointment to President Roosevelt in not being able to publish the Attorney General’s report respecting the Moyer and Haywood case, but appreciates Roosevelt’s interest in the matter and he will instead publish the anonymous letter along with an editorial.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-29

Creator(s)

Abbott, Lyman, 1835-1922

Letter from Edwin A. Jones to William Loeb

New York attorney Edwin A. Jones acknowledges receipt of William Loeb’s note, which included words from Senator Thomas Collier Platt regarding the United States judgeship. Jones gives his opinion about possible appointees, noting that he favors J. Addison Young over Charles M. Hough. Jones has encouraged Young’s friends to seek support from Representative Herbert Parsons in order to increase Young’s chances of being appointed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-19

Creator(s)

Jones, Edwin A. (Edwin Artimus), 1872-

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft informs President Roosevelt that his wife Helen would like to see him before he makes his final decision about whether to appoint Taft to the Supreme Court. In advance of a meeting between them, Taft reviews for Roosevelt both of their positions on the matter. Taft aspires to a judicial position and would like to one day be Chief Justice, although he is reluctant to leave his current position as Secretary of War. However, if Roosevelt believes that putting him on the Supreme Court better serves the public, Taft will accept. Helen “feels deeply on the subject” and Taft asks Roosevelt to “bear with her in any exaggerated ideas” and ambitions she may have for him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-14

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from S. H. Cowan to Theodore Roosevelt

On behalf of Senators Jonathan P. Dolliver and Joseph W. Bailey, S. H. Cowan sends President Roosevelt the amendment written by Attorney General William H. Moody. The amendment refers to Congress regulating interstate commerce.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-28

Creator(s)

Cowan, S. H. (Samuel Houston), 1858-1928

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to George von Lengerke Meyer

Senator Lodge reports to Ambassador Meyer regarding the date when Attorney General William H. Moody is expected to leave President Roosevelt’s cabinet, making an opening for Meyer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-08

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924