Oklahoma--Indian Territory

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank C. Frantz

President Roosevelt laments Governor Frantz’s defeat but notes that he made a gallant fight. Roosevelt wants to appoint a Choctaw man named Samuel Downing to succeed George K. Prichard as US Marshal for the central judicial district of Indian Territory. Roosevelt had to remove another man, a Chickasaw named Benjamin H. Colbert, so he would like to appoint another Native American.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt thanks Attorney General Bonaparte for his interesting letter and for what Bonaparte has done with the Indian Territory. Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte on the most important part of his letter about the Standard Oil Company.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-10

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank C. Frantz

President Roosevelt tells Frank C. Frantz, Governor of Oklahoma Territory, that he cannot make the announcement that Frantz has requested, but will make every effort to prevent graft in the territory and protect Indians that need it. Roosevelt has particular affection for Oklahoma and Indian Territory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Nagel

President Roosevelt asks Charles Nagel to act as a supervisor or director on behalf of the U.S. government regarding Indian Territory town site suits. Roosevelt notes that William Dudley Foulke’s findings show that Native American people have been largely swindled out of their land; subsequently, the president desires a representative for the government with a positive reputation. Roosevelt tells Nagel he can pick his subordinates who will do the bulk of the work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-21

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on various matters before the Department of Justice, specifically pertaining to the cases of William Edgar Borah and N. M. Ruick. Bonaparte also goes into great detail about the case of the People of Puerto Rico vs. the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church in Puerto Rico. He encourages Roosevelt not to get involved but instead to let the courts work it out. In a postscript, Bonaparte discusses the political considerations of federal appointees who run for elective office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-15

Memorandum from Stanley Wellington Finch to Charles J. Bonaparte

Stanley Wellington Finch informs Attorney General Bonaparte about Special Agent William E. Johnson’s action regarding liquor traffic in Indian Territory. The Department of the Interior does not want to withdraw Johnson from his current work and would not do so unless requested by President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-13

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte informs President Roosevelt about a variety of telegrams he has received pertaining to current issues, such as the trial in Idaho concerning Senator William Edgar Borah, the work of Special Assistant U.S. District Attorney Grace Humiston (Mrs. Quackenbos), and a revised constitution for the Territory of Oklahoma.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-10

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte acknowledges receipt of William Loeb’s letter regarding enforcement of the law regarding alcohol sales in Indian Territory. Bonaparte also lists his thoughts regarding the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company immunity. If the action is deferred until after a decision in the court of appeals, it would cause a delay of many months. Bonaparte informs President Roosevelt that he is willing to read the entire testimony if Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis assembles it. At the end, Bonaparte includes a copy of a telegram he received about another instance of a request for immunity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-09

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Lawrence O. Murray

Attorney General Bonaparte responds to Lawrence O. Murray’s letter inquiring about the census of the Oklahoma Territory. Bonaparte informs Murray all that is needed is accurate information of the population, which will allow fairness and equity in districting members of the legislature. He requests the information as soon as possible after the September 17 election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-08

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft agrees with President Roosevelt on Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s speech and on the negative press from the New York papers. He describes his trip thus far and makes predictions about his success based on what he has been told. In light of the gerrymandering involving Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, Taft asks Roosevelt to help defeat an inadequate constitution in Oklahoma. Taft has asked Joseph L. Bristow to form another report on Panama, and he mentions an editor named Joseph Ralph Burton who has been attacking Roosevelt. Taft discusses the political campaigns and conflicts in the states he is passing through, in particular the political campaigns in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Denver. Taft’s mother Louise Maria Torrey Taft is recovering, and although the trip has been exhausting, Taft has a few days of rest ahead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-30

Letter from John M. Taylor to Theodore Roosevelt

John M. Taylor sends President Roosevelt a copy of a letter which Captain Allyn Capron sent to Judge John Robert Thomas, from Cuba in 1898. Taylor describes his part in having helped to recruit two companies of Rough Riders from Indian Territory, and reminds Roosevelt that he came to San Antonio, where he was introduced to Roosevelt by Thomas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-22

The thrifty citizens of prosperous Muskogee, Indian Territory, greeting President Roosevelt

A packed crowd greeting President Roosevelt

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1905-04-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt believes the statements made by Delevan Smith in the Indianapolis News are patently false, and that refuting them will bring them undue attention. Because William Dudley Foulke insists that a reply be made, however, Roosevelt writes to refute the charges of a scandal involved in the purchasing of the Panama Canal zone from France. Roosevelt particularly refutes the charge that the affair has not been transparent, as documents related to it have been freely available. Roosevelt has refuted other false charges leveled against his administration, but the newspapers continue to print them, so he doubts whether his denial will be effective.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt tells Attorney General Bonaparte that he is sorry to hear about John Carter Rose, and advises him to follow the course that he set out to find another candidate for the position, and to act similarly in finding a person for the Indian Territory. In a postscript, Roosevelt suggests Bonaparte consider Wade H. Ellis for the position, and comments about the choice of the Chairman of the Republican National Committee, where he would prefer Frank B. Kellogg to Frank H. Hitchcock.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt instructs Attorney General Bonaparte to initiate lawsuits to remedy the actions of former New Mexico Governors Miguel Antonio Otero and Herbert J. Hagerman. He asks Bonaparte to consider having a speech made to explain what is wrong with the proposed Oklahoma constitution. In the postscript, Roosevelt asks Bonaparte if they could visit about how to approach anti-trust cases involving railroad companies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard C. Adams

President Roosevelt is not sure how to respond to Richard C. Adams, nor does he know what he would say to Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock about the matter. Roosevelt agrees, however, “that the administration only wants to know what the Indians wish and what is best for them, and will do all it can to meet their needs.” 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James K. Jones

President Roosevelt shares Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock’s report on the “Barnsdall matter” with Senator Jones and asks for Jones’ comments. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. S. Sherman

President Roosevelt confesses to Representative Sherman that he does not know what to do about the Oklahoma and Indian Territory matter. He sent Sherman’s and Fulton’s letters to Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock a letter he received on behalf of Theodore N. Barnsdall regarding the leasing of oil and gas lands in Indian Territory and Oklahoma. As Roosevelt is not especially familiar with the issue, he asks Hitchcock for his opinion on the matter, and will likely solicit opinions from other members of the cabinet as well. Roosevelt outlines the various leases, sub-leases, and agreements Barnsdall entered into in involvement in the oil and gas trade. Roosevelt asks for detailed comments on the various points of the letter so that he will be able to respond knowledgeably. In a postscript, he also asks Hitchcock to send a copy of this letter to Alban B. Butler for his commentary, as he is a reputable, independent oil operator who can offer his knowledge of the issues.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte that he has had to refuse both invitations, and remarks that he “shuddered slightly at the usual ‘Excellency’ in the Mayor’s letter.” Secretary of State Elihu Root has given Roosevelt details about the running of the Department of State for the next several months, but Roosevelt has not heard from any other Cabinet members apart from Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-05