Moyer, Charles H.

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt on his progress through Idaho, where he has been speaking on behalf of Republican candidates. The longer he is in Idaho, the more he believes that the Western Federation of Miners has been working to defeat Senator Frank Robert Gooding. He describes Gooding’s involvement related to the lawsuit against Charles Moyer and William Dudley “Big Bill” Haywood. Taft feels somewhat doubtful about Gooding’s election. Another issue of note in Idaho relates to the Mormons and their stance regarding polygamy. He also comments on elections in other areas of the country, and reiterates what he has previously said regarding the importance of Roosevelt’s influence in this election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-04

Creator(s)

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

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

Telegram from Robert Patterson to Theodore Roosevelt

The Socialist Party in New Orleans is demanding that President Roosevelt use the power vested in him by the Constitution to secure a fair trial for their comrades Moyer, Haywood, and Pettibone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-11

Creator(s)

Patterson, Robert

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 Charles Henry Robb to Charles J. Bonaparte

Assistant Attorney General Robb updates Attorney General Bonaparte on the investigation of the assassination of former governor of Idaho Frank Steunenberg. Robb focuses on the confessions of arrested individuals and accusations of mistreatment of the suspects. Robb also discusses the depth of corruption in the Western Federation of Miners.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-19

Creator(s)

Robb, Charles Henry, 1867-1939

Letter from William H. Moody to Theodore Roosevelt

William H. Moody encloses the report of Assistant Attorney General Robb regarding an indictment returned against William Haywood and Charles Moyer for the murder of former Governor Steunenberg and a subsequent trial in Idaho.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-21

Creator(s)

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

Letter from Fred W. Carpenter to William Loeb

Fred W. Carpenter returns papers to William Loeb concerning the indictment against Charles H. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood for the murder of former Governor Frank Steunenberg. He confirms that Secretary of War William H. Taft has read them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-23

Creator(s)

Carpenter, Fred W., 1873 or 1874-1957

Letter from James H. Hawley to Charles Henry Robb

James H. Hawley sends Assistant Attorney General Robb a summary of the confessions given by Harry Orchard and Stephen W. Adams in relation to the murder of Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg. Hawley also provides a background history of the Western Federation of Miners, claiming that its leadership has been responsible for numerous acts of violence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-13

Creator(s)

Hawley, James H. (James Henry), 1847-1929

Letter from Frank Robert Gooding to William L. Jans

Governor Gooding writes to William L. Jans in response to the resolution passed by the Central Labor Union of Evansville, Indiana, regarding the arrest of labor leaders for the assassination of former Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg. Gooding explains the circumstances of the arrests and assures Jans that the men will receive a fair trial.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03

Creator(s)

Gooding, Frank Robert, 1859-1928

In the matter of the application of George A. Pettibone for a writ of habeas corpus

George A. Pettibone’s lawyers submit legal documents to request an examination of the validity of his imprisonment. The document includes the criminal complaint, warrant for Pettibone’s arrest, and several affidavits from relevant individuals. Pettibone’s lawyers state Pettibone’s removal to Idaho was unconstitutional due to the fact that he was not allowed to seek legal counsel or verify the validity of his arrest with the state of Colorado’s court.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03

Creator(s)

Miller, Fred; Nugent, John F.; Richardson, Edmund F.

Letter from James H. Hawley to Charles Henry Robb

James H. Hawley sends Charles Henry Robb court documents related to the trial of Charles H. Moyer, George A. Pettibone, and Big Bill Haywood, including copies of the extradition papers and a copy of the application for a writ of habeas corpus. Hawley provides Robb with a brief overview of the court proceedings in chronological order.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-12

Creator(s)

Hawley, James H. (James Henry), 1847-1929

Statement of the Executive Board of the Western Federation of Miners

Statement criticizes Colorado Governor James Hamilton Peabody for calling out the Colorado militia to suppress and arrest striking miners during the Colorado Labor Wars, which includes the recent arrest of Western Federation of Miners President Charles Moyer. The statement criticizes President Roosevelt as being a “military Napoleon” and recommends that citizens should end his political career.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-20

Creator(s)

Haywood, Big Bill, 1869-1928; Williams, John C.

Lawlessness and labor unions

An editorial in The Outlook responds to an article in the same edition of the magazine that provides a sympathetic account of the principles and actions of the Western Federation of Miners. While the writer of the letter agrees that it is good to understand principles the same way their advocates do, it is not always good to approve them. Opinions can all be freely advocated, but all practices cannot be freely undertaken. The Western Federation of Miners are free to advocate for anarchy, but not to practice it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906

Creator(s)

Unknown

Three more John Browns

Sheet music for “Three More John Browns” written by William Cosgrove. The lyrics compare the activities of labor movements with John Brown’s actions against slavery. A portion of the proceeds will go to support the wives of Big Bill Haywood, George A. Pettibone, and Charles H. Moyer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907

Creator(s)

Cosgrove, William R., 1843-1930

State of Idaho, plaintiff, vs. William D. Haywood, et al.

Grand Jury indictment of Big Bill Haywood, Charles H. Moyer, George A. Pettibone, and John L. Simpkins for the murder of ex-Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03

Creator(s)

District Court, Seventh Judicial District of the State of Idaho

President’s reply to labor’s protest

The Albany Evening Journal editorializes on President Roosevelt’s criticism of the men on trial for the murder of Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg as “undesirable citizens.” While Roosevelt denies that his comments reflect on the men’s guilt of the specific charge, and are merely related to their general conduct, the editors note that this argument is not likely to convince those who believe Roosevelt’s remarks will influence the outcome of the trial against the defendants.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-14

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from A. W. Beckman to Theodore Roosevelt

A. W. Beckman appreciates the wise position President Roosevelt took in his letter to William Henry Jackson (Honore Jaxon), the chairman of the Moyer-Haywood Conference.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-24

Creator(s)

Beckman, A. W.

A coward in the White House

Eugene V. Debs condemns President Roosevelt for his actions in regards to the arrest of Charles H. Moyer, Big Bill Haywood, and George A. Pettibone. Debs claims that Roosevelt is a tool of the “Mine and Smelter Trust” and denounces him as a coward.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05

Creator(s)

Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor), 1855-1926

Undesirable

A letter to The Glass Worker accuses President Roosevelt of acting unfairly in the murder trial of Big Bill Haywood, Charles H. Moyer, and George A. Pettibone, who stand accused of assassinating Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05

Creator(s)

Haywood, W. F.

Plea for justice for the accused miners in Idaho

Joseph Wauhope, associate editor of Wilshire’s Magazine, details the bias of the courts and unfairness of the trial of Charles H. Moyer, George A. Pettibone, and Big Bill Haywood in the murder of Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-19

Creator(s)

Wauhope, Joseph