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President Roosevelt invites David Decamp Thompson to write to him at any time. He agrees that he should assent to the proposed Oklahoma constitution even if he feels it still has some defects. Roosevelt sees Thompson as one of the real forces for good in the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-27
President Roosevelt believes that Judge Hosea Townsend’s age and health make it undesirable to appoint him, a topic Roosevelt and Charles Emory Smith have discussed before. Roosevelt believes he and Smith feel the same way about Judge Luman F. Parker.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-28
President Roosevelt is pleased with the conclusion Attorney General Bonaparte came to and appreciates his advice. Roosevelt suggests edits for Bonaparte’s letter and memorandum addressed to William H. Murray on the Oklahoma constitution matter. This exchange is likely related to objections Roosevelt had to segregationist and racist clauses in the new state constitution. In a post script, Roosevelt mentions an editorial that advises similar action to that which Bonaparte advised in connection with Assistant Attorney General James Clark McReynolds and tobacco antitrust cases.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-09
President Roosevelt informs Attorney General Bonaparte that he has directed the Department of Commerce and Labor to make the census of Oklahoma Territory that Bonaparte suggested. Roosevelt trusts Bonaparte’s judgement regarding a novel way to deal with the illegal tobacco trusts that had recently been proposed. Roosevelt would prefer to see the trust offenders put in prison, but thinks the seizure of businesses acquired against the law will be almost as effective.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-20
President Roosevelt sends an extract of a letter from Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte regarding the necessity of authorizing funds to create an accurate census of the territory of Oklahoma in advance of admitting it to the United States. Roosevelt instructs Secretary of Commerce and Labor Straus to proceed with executing this census as soon as possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-20
President Roosevelt informs Attorney General Bonaparte that Oklahoma Governor Frank C. Frantz will meet with Bonaparte on Monday and encloses a telegram from the attorney for the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention to Frantz. Roosevelt has already informed the men that Bonaparte had advised him not to express his opinion of the Oklahoma constitution. He would like to talk over the decision of Judge John L. Pancoast with Bonaparte. Roosevelt also encloses “two letters addrest to representative Watson about the Oklahoma constitution.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-16
President Roosevelt acknowledges the invitation of the governors of Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin, to make a trip on the Mississippi River with the Inland Waterways Commission. He reflects on the importance of the nation’s rivers as “highways” for products to supply any inadequacy of means of transportation over land. He intends to travel with the Commission down the Mississippi for three or four days in October. A note at the bottom of the letter indicates that it was sent to each of the governors who signed the invitation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-16
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-25
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
President Roosevelt assures Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock that he sympathizes with his view on the benefits of the Act of March 3, 1901 towards the operations of the Department of the Interior and the Native American communities they oversee. Roosevelt believes that reserves of coal, asphalt, oil, and gas found on Native American lands must not be sold “to the highest bidder,” but should be leased or worked by a corporation formed for their benefit. Roosevelt supports Hitchcock’s actions towards the preservation of the nation’s timber.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-01
President Roosevelt responds to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp’s letter concerning the investigation of the Governor of Oklahoma, Frank C. Frantz. Investigators questioned men concerning Frantz and his brother, however it is unclear if the statements are true, or merely gossip. Roosevelt believes the situation reflects poorly on the character of the Governor and ex-Governor of Oklahoma.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-02
Rudolph Forster is sorry to inform Jake L. Hamon, Oklahoma Republican territorial committee chairman, that President Roosevelt cannot visit any state or territory during the campaign, but is “deeply interested in the success of the Republican party.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-03
President Roosevelt sends Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock letters from Representative J. S. Sherman and Fulton and requests Hitchcock provide a statement about the Cherokee payment. He chastises Hitchcock and Governor Frank Wayland Higgins for publishing his correspondence with them and discusses the potential political fallout.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-27
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-18
President Roosevelt attempts to calm Oklahoma Governor Frantz, and advises him to act deliberately in gathering affidavits showing what William J. Burns is supposedly charging him with, instead of making wild accusations. When Roosevelt heard from Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock that there were potential charges being levied against Frantz, he felt sure that the charges would not be justified, but advised Hitchcock to nevertheless investigate. Roosevelt assures Frantz that it would require proof of Frantz’s supposed misdeeds for Roosevelt to believe that he was guilty, and says that he will not help his case by acting rashly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-03
President Roosevelt asks Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Burford to speak with Oklahoma Governor Frank C. Frantz and read the letter Roosevelt recently sent Frantz. Roosevelt promises to not believe any charges against Frantz unless they are proven beyond any doubt, and will punish secret service agent William J. Burns if he has indeed been acting as Burford has written. He wants written statements and affidavits he can use and publish either showing Frantz’s innocence and character, or showing evidence of wrongdoing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-04
President Roosevelt comments on the difference in the statements of United States Geological Survey Director Charles D. Walcott and William Cameron, Mine Inspector of Indian Territory regarding the value of coal in the Indian Territory fields, and asks Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock if there is anything they need to do about the matter at present.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-04
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-05
President Roosevelt asks Attorney General Moody if it would be possible to send some people to Alaska to investigate North Dakota Senator Porter J. McCumber’s allegations against Alaska District Judge James Wickersham. Roosevelt mentions he may also ask Moody to send some men to Oklahoma to investigate the situation there, as Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock has taken a disliking to Oklahoma Governor Frank C. Frantz and has sent an agent to investigate him who in the past has made a “yellow-magazine report.” He does not wish these sorts of investigations to become over-zealous. Roosevelt does not wish to interrupt Moody’s vacation, but asks him to find out about these two matters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-06
President Roosevelt tells United States Marshal Porter that the most important thing for him to do is continue as he has been and show the inhabitants of the territory that he is the best official, and comments about the chances of securing Porter’s appointment as United States Marshal in the new state of Oklahoma. Roosevelt advises Porter to avoid getting tied up with politicians “that would mean in the smallest degree a deviation from what is right and straight,” although he would like if Porter identified himself with Republicans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-09
President Roosevelt appoints Judge Clayton a member of the board which will apportion the Indian Territory into fifty-five districts, from which delegates will be selected to attend a convention to create a constitution for the proposed state of Oklahoma. Roosevelt has designated Judge Joseph A. Gill as the other judge authorized to be given this duty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-22