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Postmaster General Cortelyou refers to William Allen White’s letter to President Roosevelt concerning the amount of money required for postage. He encloses a statement from the Post Master General’s Office and a letter from Indiana Representative Jesse Overstreet on the issue.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-25
William Allen White has heard that Representative Victor Murdock’s bill regarding mail rates will fail, and would like President Roosevelt to assist Murdock if he can, as the postal service is in great need of reform. White would visit Roosevelt himself, but his wife Sallie Moss Lindsay White is ill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-16
Assistant Postmaster General Shallenberger answers an inquiry from President Roosevelt about details given by Representative Victor Murdock in a speech to Congress. The issue is the average amount of mail carried by the railroads, which influences the amount the government pays to the railroad companies. Shallenberger describes the way in which the mail ought to be measured, provides a history of the issue and related developments, and notes that this issue has been previously examined by many lawyers. After presenting evidence for his argument, Shallenberger concludes that Murdock’s statement was incorrect.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-27
Theodore Roosevelt clarifies what his position was during the 1912 Republican Convention. He would not accept the nomination himself nor support anyone else nominated on a “fraudulent roll-call,” but he would have accepted any man nominated by the Convention had they purged the roll.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-21
The quote from Victor Murdock stating that Theodore Roosevelt is supporting Mr. Weeks is a fake. Currently, the Progressive Party is not competitive anywhere outside of California but the party’s situation could change. Roosevelt suggests that national defense could be an important issue that the Wilson administration is ignoring.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-04-10
Theodore Roosevelt tells George W. Perkins that he agrees with William Dudley Foulke’s stance on national defense. While it is good to be on record about how they feel about the Tariff Commission, Roosevelt points out people care more about national defense. Roosevelt also agrees that Victor Murdock is right about emphasizing their fidelity to the Progressive Party’s 1912 platform.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-05
Theodore Roosevelt is not able to write political letters of the kind that Charles Burdsall requests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-22
Theodore Roosevelt tells Meyer Lissner that Victor Murdock is now the Chairman of the National Committee and the recognized spokesman for the Progressive party. Roosevelt encourages Lissner to write to Murdock directly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-13
Theodore Roosevelt informs Meyer Lissner that Victor Murdock, chairman of the Progressive Party’s national executive committee, had promised to meet with him and George W. Perkins, but the recent death of his mother required that he travel to Kansas. Murdock has since returned, and Roosevelt presumes the “choice” will be made at once, with as little publicity as possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-27
Theodore Roosevelt expresses his admiration of Chester H. Rowell and says he suggested Rowell as a candidate for chairman of the Progressive Party’s national committee. However, the general feeling favored a candidate from the geographic center of the country. Roosevelt agrees that the reaction against the Progressive Party was temporary, a “stomach vote.” He says there are many opinions on the future of the party and that he has received contradictory advice ranging from continuing the fight to rejoining the Republican Party. He does not want to abandon “forward movement” through the Progressive Party, but admits it is currently impossible in many areas of the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-17
Theodore Roosevelt comments on the future of the Progressive Party; a party of “sane radicalism, sane progress.” He agrees that Victor Murdock or Raymond Robins should lead the party as they represent the practical politics and western strength of the Progressives. The conservative reaction hurt the party in 1914 as businessmen were not willing to follow George W. Perkins and were “savage” against Amos Pinchot types. Roosevelt believes they should have emphasized the party’s economic program and opposition to President Wilson. He concludes by defending Perkins’s work, funding, and leadership of the party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-11
Theodore Roosevelt tells John Milliken Parker that the Republicans have returned to power with the most extreme reactionaries but it is not possible for them to permanently win with that leadership. The Democrats also cannot be supported under the Wilson regime.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-12
Theodore Roosevelt would like Gifford Pinchot to write a few lines about the Roosevelt Dam. Roosevelt disagrees with Kent supporting Mann for Speaker. Business in Congress has shown Roosevelt that their supporters want to have a separate ticket.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-03-28
Theodore Roosevelt hopes that his party will run Victor Murdock for Speaker. Roosevelt also hopes the “near-Progressives” will join with them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-03-19
Theodore Roosevelt has written to Governor Stubbs and Representative Murdock regarding the election. He hopes that Senator Bristow will run for reelection as a Progressive. Roosevelt believes that it would be a calamity to try and remove George W. Perkins from the party and encloses a letter he wrote Gifford Pinchot on the subject.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-19
President Roosevel thanks Frank P. MacLennan for his letter. He is glad to have seen MacLennan and been able to say to Representative Victor Murdock what “he so rightly deserved.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-05
Since Congress as failed to act, President Roosevelt has decided that the administration should act in regard to the “railroad mail matter.” Roosevelt believes Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou will tame the railroad lobby who successfully overcame the efforts of Kansas Representative Victor Murdock and Wisconsin Senator Robert M. La Follette to lower the railroad rates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-06
Senator Bristow reviews his plans with Theodore Roosevelt for their meeting in the near future to discuss Kansas politics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-18
William Allen White reviews the recent election in Kansas. Although the Progressives were not successful in Kansas, White is continuing to organize the party and looks forward to success in 1914. He is also working towards the completion of a novel.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-14
Schuyler A. McGinnis asks Theodore Roosevelt to write President Taft about appointing Mary Alice Murdock postmistress of El Dorado, Kansas, as a personal favor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-11