Oregon

Letter from Jonathan Bourne to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Bourne and other Oregon legislators recommend that George A. Westgate be named as the Surveyor General of Oregon. They are eager to name a replacement because the last Surveyor General was dismissed for poor conduct, and Westgate is known to be a man of integrity. Regarding the upcoming election, Bourne believes the public will resist any effort by Roosevelt to name his own successor, even though many would like him to run for office again. He believes New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes would be the people’s choice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-03

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt with his thoughts about various topics: who to nominate for postmasterships in New York; Senator Borah’s land fraud case; the proposed constitution for Oklahoma in preparation for admittance to the union; the schedule and itinerary for a series of campaign speeches through the Midwest and West; and the address he is preparing concerning the Brownsville Affair. Taft lays out his thoughts concerning the differences between Roosevelt and the likely Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan’s political philosophies, in particular how they view the accumulation of wealth by individuals and interstate corporations, especially railroads.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-16

Letter from Jonathan Bourne to William Loeb

Senator Jonathan Bourne is disappointed that the cherries he sent William Loeb did not arrive in good condition. He blames the shipper. He hopes to see Loeb and his wife in Oregon soon and is glad to hear of the improvement in Katharine W. Dorr Loeb’s health. He appreciates Loeb’s advice to hike and encloses a letter to President Roosevelt that he would like Loeb to deliver.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-22

Memorandum for the Attorney General as to Inspector Neuhausen’s report on Mr. Bristol

Henry Martyn Hoyt summarizes a report on U.S. District Attorney William C. Bristol’s alleged involvement in the Oregon land fraud scandals. Hoyt concludes that were the government to continue to retain Bristol’s services, its position in the land fraud cases would be weakened. While there may be a scenario where all of Bristol’s actions were legitimate, the author finds Bristol’s position to be precarious.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-16

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

Letter from Henry Waldo Coe to Theodore Roosevelt

State Senator Coe asks President Roosevelt whether or not Coe should run for a short term U.S. Senate seat in Oregon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-14

Letter from William H. Moody to William Loeb

Attorney General Moody acknowledges receipt of William C. Bristol’s report to the Department of Justice, which William Loeb had forwarded to him. Moody requests Loeb also send him Bristol’s report to the president so that Moody might continue the investigation, most likely regarding Bristol’s dismissed nomination for district attorney for Oregon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-16

Telegram from Francis J. Heney to Theodore Roosevelt

Francis J. Heney notifies President Roosevelt that Special Inspector Thomas B. Neuhausen has exonerated William C. Bristol from any imputation of questionable conduct in the Oregon land fraud cases.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-07

Letter from Francis J. Heney to Theodore Roosevelt

Francis J. Heney writes to President Roosevelt regarding Senator Charles William Fulton’s response to the reports made by Heney during his recent tenure as the district attorney for the state of Oregon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-10

Letter from Charles William Fulton to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Fulton writes to President Roosevelt regarding District Attorney Heney’s report that charges Fulton with supporting John Hicklin Hall for district attorney in return for his agreement not to prosecute Senator Brownell. Fulton discusses errors in the report and affirms that he believed Brownell was being unfairly persecuted, but states he never bargained with Hall. Furthermore, much of the evidence comes from letters by Senator Mitchell, which Fulton claims he did not see. Fulton includes copies of the correspondence between Brownell and himself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-12

Letter from Francis J. Heney to Theodore Roosevelt

Francis J. Heney, the recent United States District Attorney for Oregon, informs President Roosevelt that Governor Chamberlain will be appointing John M. Gearin as a United States Senator in Oregon to replace Senator Mitchell, who is deceased. Chamberlain wants permission from Roosevelt to publicly announce that Roosevelt approves of Gearin’s appointment. Heney will wait to hear from Roosevelt about his wishes in the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-13

Letter from Francis J. Heney to Theodore Roosevelt

U.S. Attorney for Oregon Francis J. Heney writes to President Roosevelt about an enclosed report concerning Senator Charles William Fulton. Fulton admitted that he asked the former U.S. District Attorney for Oregon John Hicklin Hall to intercede on Winlock Steiwer’s behalf.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-17

Letter from Francis J. Heney to Theodore Roosevelt

Oregon District Attorney Heney states Senators John H. Mitchell and Charles William Fulton entered into a conspiracy with former district attorney John Hicklin Hall. The senators agreed to procure the reappointment of Hall if Hall refrained from prosecuting George C. Brownell and James U. Campbell in the Oregon land fraud trials.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-17

Report on land fraud case

President Roosevelt’s administration responds to charges that the investigation of several land fraud cases is not being pursued with vigor by the Department of the Interior. The report denies these claims and presents details of indictments and convictions already achieved. A large number of parties attempted to defraud the government of public lands, and some of the cases are still underway, requiring secrecy until conviction of the guilty parties is achieved.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904

Letter from Malcolm A. Moody to Gifford Pinchot

Malcolm A. Moody writes to Gifford Pinchot to discuss staff appointments at the Roseburg Land Offices.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-17

Letter from George E. Chamberlain to Theodore Roosevelt

George E. Chamberlain writes to President Roosevelt to discuss members of the Oregon government. He does not understand the relationship between Judge McBride and Mr. Wood. However, he does “not believe any of the gentlemen whose names have been suggested for Judge are connected” with land fraud. He appreciates Roosevelt’s efforts toward good government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-21

Letter from W. S. Smith to Benjamin F. Barnes

W. S. Smith sends a United States Secret Service agent’s report on G. B. Hegardt, who was recommended by Senator Fulton as receiver of the land office at Roseburg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-03

Letter from A. A. Lindsley to James Sullivan Clarkson

A. A. Lindsley believes President Roosevelt could not have appointed a better person than William W. Cotton as judge. Lindsley discusses the political situation in Oregon, focusing on the reorganization of the Republican party following heavy political corruption.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-08

Letter from Homer Davenport to Theodore Roosevelt

The father of Homer Davenport has a friend, G. A. Waggoner, who wrote a book called Stories of Old Oregon. Waggoner was one of the early Oregon pioneers. Davenport was asked to send the book to President Roosevelt and knows that the book would please Roosevelt and his family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-05

Letter from William H. Moody to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Moody informs President Roosevelt that Judge William Ball Gilbert has designated a judge for the trials of the Oregon land fraud cases following the death of Judge Charles B. Bellinger. Moody questions whether Gilbert has the authority to do this.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-01