New Mexico

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Curry

President Roosevelt is disappointed New Mexico Governor Curry appointed Albert B. Fall as attorney general and suggests he be removed. Roosevelt assures Curry the governor has the president’s support. Roosevelt instructed Special Assistant Attorney General Ormsby McHarg to set aside territorial issues and continue his prosecutions. Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley will review the situation with Curry in three months.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt instructs Attorney General Bonaparte to stop investigating the matter involving William B. Sheppard, and to fill out his appointment as the judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Roosevelt has directed Special Assistant Attorney General Ormsby McHarg to continue the prosecution in New Mexico. While Roosevelt feels that McHarg lacks the experience to handle the case, he understands that halting the prosecution would likely result in the statute of limitations coming into play. He hopes to send Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley to new Mexico to help take up the matter. Bonaparte should continue insisting on an immediate separate trial for Senator William Edgar Borah. The press continually attacks Roosevelt and Bonaparte.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alford Warriner Cooley

President Roosevelt shares with Assistant Attorney General Cooley that he thinks Special Assistant Attorney General Ormsby McHarg is not experienced enough to deal with the situation in New Mexico. Roosevelt will talk with and have him visit Cooley. Roosevelt also encourages Cooley to travel to New Mexico in the next few months.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt enjoyed visiting with Attorney General Bonaparte and agrees with his views of United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick and Senator William Edgar Borah. In a postscript, Roosevelt discusses how Ruick has been “playing a sharp, clever, tricky game” and hopes Francis J. Heney can take over. Roosevelt shares his thoughts on the situation in New Mexico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ormsby McHarg

President Roosevelt has met with New Mexico Territory Governor George Curry and shares his findings with Assistant Attorney General McHarg. Roosevelt says Curry can be trusted absolutely, and that he will aid McHarg in any possible way in his investigation of political and judicial corruption in New Mexico. Roosevelt warns McHarg that Curry’s predecessor, Herbert J. Hagerman, and his associates will do everything possible to turn him against Curry. In a postscript, Roosevelt sends a report from Bernard Shandon Rodey regarding Hagerman’s father, James John Hagerman, and his alleged corrupt practices. Roosevelt asks McHarg to visit him after his preliminary investigation of the situation but before he “probes…to the bottom.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. H. Llewellyn

President Roosevelt shares his thoughts and reasoning with New Mexico Attorney General Llewellyn regarding the removal of former Governor Herbert J. Hagerman and former Secretary of New Mexico Territory James W. Raynolds from office. Roosevelt finds the actions of Raynolds and Hagerman inexplicable, and suspects that Hagerman to be the “tool of powerful corrupt interests.” Roosevelt insists that the conduct of his appointees in New Mexico Territory must be free of misconduct or the appearance of misconduct.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philip Battell Stewart

President Roosevelt sends Philip Battell Stewart several copies of letters regarding former New Mexico Governor Herbert J. Hagerman. Roosevelt previously believed Hagerman to be “merely a fool” rather than actually corrupt, but is starting to revise his opinion. In a postscript, Roosevelt mentions that railroad attorneys in New Mexico seem to support Hagerman, causing him to believe that by demanding Hagerman’s resignation, Roosevelt stopped “some improper scheme,” and hopes the schemes will become widely public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred Henry Lewis

President Roosevelt reports that he has been “very much discontented” by the recent controversy around New Mexico governor Herbert J. Hagerman. Roosevelt initially thought Hagerman was merely foolish, but now wonders if he were not a knave like those with whom he committed a “swindling land transaction.” Roosevelt has removed Hagerman from office and appointed George Curry in his place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-27

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Acting Secretary of the Interior

President Roosevelt instructs the Acting Secretary of the Interior to remove James W. Raynolds, secretary of New Mexico Territory, from office. Roosevelt asks for a recommendation for a replacement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alford Warriner Cooley

President Roosevelt forwards some correspondence regarding former New Mexico Governor Herbert J. Hagerman to Assistant Attorney General Cooley. Roosevelt believes whether or not Hagerman himself is corrupt, his wealthy friends are “very crooked” and they intend to make trouble.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Pope

President Roosevelt informs Justice Pope that he will re-appoint him, and there is no need for Pope to come and see him at the present time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ormsby McHarg

Ormsby McHarg’s report confirms to President Roosevelt that Acting Territorial Governor of New Mexico James W. Raynolds must be removed from his post. Roosevelt believes that Henry P. Bardshar, who was a Rough Rider with him in Cuba, is an honest man. Roosevelt will write to George Curry about putting Bardshar in Raynolds’s place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-25

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to G. W. Woodruff and Jesse E. Wilson

President Roosevelt directs Acting Secretary of the Interior Woodruff and Assistant Secretary of the Interior Wilson to keep James W. Raynolds in his position as Secretary of the Territory of New Mexico until he can see New Mexico Governor George Curry in person, whom Roosevelt wishes to see as soon as possible, at Oyster Bay.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Muller

President Roosevelt requests the facts from Frederick Muller. He believes some of their friends will disagree with Muller’s assessment. David Goodrich has been very strongly in favor of the reappointment of Governor Otero.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-19

Letter from James E. Depue to Theodore Roosevelt

James E. Depue follows up on his letter to Theodore Roosevelt from the previous day, where the price sheet for the land he would like to sell to Roosevelt was mistakenly left out. He includes the property prices and informs Roosevelt that if he wishes to inspect the property he should do so soon before snowfall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-12

Letter from James E. Depue to Theodore Roosevelt

James E. Depue sends Theodore Roosevelt a report and photographs related to a land grant opportunity in the territory of New Mexico. Depue gives details on why he believes this land grant is so valuable and invites Roosevelt to invest by November 15th.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-11

Memorandum from Ernest P. Holcombe

Ernest P. Holcombe’s reports on his travels as special inspector to attend the hearing in the case of Holm Olaf Bursum v. Territory of New Mexico. Holcombe mentions his conversations with Judge Albert B. Fall, who was under the influence of alcohol. Holcombe details the proceedings of the Bursum case, which resulted in the Territory owing an amount of money to Bursum.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-19

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on several political matters. He believes the evidence that could be brought against Senator William Edgar Borah is not enough to convict him, but it is likely that Borah knew about the conspiracy. Bonaparte also wants to talk with Roosevelt about what is going on in the New Mexico Territory and the charges made against William H. H. Llewellyn. Finally, Bonaparte mentions a letter he received from W. Hall Harris about whether he should resign the postmastership in order to accept the nomination for a judgeship in Baltimore, Maryland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-11

Letter from Alford Warriner Cooley to Theodore Roosevelt

Alford Warriner Cooley reports to President Roosevelt of his visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Although the conspiracy was formed in New Mexico, Cooley observes that the main case can be brought in the District of Columbia because the overt act was committed there. Cooley details his conversation with George Curry, who expects to see the president in Saint Louis, Missouri, on October 1. After Albert B. Fall and William H. H. Llewellyn leave, Cooley does not expect to have any difficulties in New Mexico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-10

Letter from George Curry to Theodore Roosevelt

Governor Curry recently met with Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley, who will report back to President Roosevelt. Special Assistant to the Attorney General Ormsby McHarg and Territorial Attorney General Albert B. Fall are working well together and matters in New Mexico appear to Curry to be clearing up. The Republican Party is working in unison with the National and Territorial administrations, and Curry hopes to meet with Roosevelt to discuss how the topics at hand relate to assisting their “mutual friends and comrades.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-05