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President Roosevelt returns a letter and a memorandum to Secretary of War Taft and shares his thoughts concerning the proposed Isthmian Canal Committee. Roosevelt asks Taft to have William Barclay Parson and John Findlay Wallace give their opinions on Lindon W. Bates’s canal proposal followed by a review by “the best engineers obtainable.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-13
President Roosevelt accepts John Byrne’s proposal to come to Washington, D.C., to discuss the business aspects of the Panama Canal, but will wait until after his upcoming inauguration. Roosevelt has some candidates for the Isthmian Canal Commission for Byne to consider.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-18
President Roosevelt fundamentally agrees with Henry S. Pritchett and James Ford Rhodes about the Southern question. Although Roosevelt believes it is unwise and impractical to repeal the Fifteenth Amendment now, he does agree it should not have been passed in the first place. The president can also agree with Pritchett and Rhodes that Congress should not press for active enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment; however, it cannot go too far with Mississippi Senator John Sharp Williams having more power than Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon. Roosevelt believes Southern states cannot enforce the laws themselves because they are trying to readopt slavery through peonage. Additionally, Southerners demand the exclusion of African Americans from offices, although Southerners have approved of Roosevelt’s choices for offices in the South on the whole even though the president has appointed some African Americans. Roosevelt insists he has tried Pritchett’s course of action, but it has not worked because the South has not met him even halfway. The president believes cooperation depends on Southerners, and the difficulty will vanish when they “quit lying.” Finally, Roosevelt says he has not observed outside criticism of the South and asks Pritchett how Congress needs to respond since it has not controlled the South. Roosevelt concludes by asking for one specific thing he is doing wrong, as he wants to learn.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-14
President Roosevelt tells James Ford Rhodes he has just finished reading his fifth volume, which has tied in well with Roosevelt’s other readings of Thomas Babington Macaulay’s History and Abraham Lincoln’s letters and speeches. Although the president agrees with Rhodes that the right is not all on one side and the wrong is not all on the other in quarrels, Roosevelt thinks the American Civil War is the exception, as he believes “the right was exclusively with the Union people.” Roosevelt talks about his plans to build up the Navy to avoid war, believing the Panama Canal will help. Finally, he discusses problems he has been having with the tariff and Southern states. He disagrees with Rhodes that the South is not trying to reinstate slavery, as there is peonage in three states right now. Roosevelt closes by mentioning how his opponents helped him during the election campaign.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-29
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of War Taft that by executive order, he is placing the supervision and direction of the Isthmian Canal Commission, including jurisdiction and function of the commission, under Taft’s direction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-18
President Roosevelt’s congressional district feels as if it should get special consideration in terms of speakers. Roosevelt believes the speakers should emphasize the Panama Canal as a central accomplishment of his administration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-09
President Roosevelt confirms his receipt of two of Secretary of War Taft’s letters regarding the Isthmian Canal. Roosevelt tells Taft that the Commission’s duties and personnel should be rearranged. Roosevelt notes confusion over points made over Admiral John Walker but plans to clear it up with Colonel Frank Hecker and William Parsons once they return.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-01
President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Gurney Cannon, Chairman of the Notification Committee, to formally accept his nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and to approve the platform adopted by the Republican National Convention. In the letter, Roosevelt provides a comprehensive defense of his foreign and domestic policies and outlines what he believes are the major differences between the Republican and Democratic parties in the upcoming election. Roosevelt discusses, among other topics, his position on international relations, antitrust legislation, tariffs, the gold standard, pensions for Civil War veterans, the military, civil service, commerce, agriculture, taxation, and self-government in the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-12
President Roosevelt has sent Governor Odell’s letter to George B. Cortelyou regarding H. B. Smith. Roosevelt will follow Odell’s suggestion and send for Samuel Decker Coykendall and Brackett and asks Odell to “make it all right” with Gilbert D. B. Hasbrouck that he is sending for Coykendall. Roosevelt also thanks Odell for his notes on Roosevelt’s speech and will try to work in what he suggests about the Isthmian Canal Commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-16
President Roosevelt responds to a recent letter from Lyman Abbott and addresses a number of Abbott’s inquiries. Roosevelt references a book he sent to Abbott, most likely Presidential Addresses and State Papers, and provides specific page numbers regarding tariffs, the Philippines, Panama Canal, and labor. Roosevelt reiterates that his administration is “neither against corporations or labor unions” and concludes that his record is one of fulfilled promises.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-23
Andrew V. Henry writes in support of subsidies for American shipping. He argues that the United States does not have an adequate merchant marine force and that the economy is losing out on the benefits of reduced freight rates. Other article topics include the banning of indecent theater posters in New York, David J. Brewer’s recent commencement speech, a poem by Minna Irving, and details of the bribery charges against Frank J. Gethro.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-31
Francis B. Loomis informs William Loeb that Walton H. Brown will be sending the President his memorandum on contractors for the Panama Canal shortly. It has been difficult to gather the best contractors in the country, because they are all busy with numerous projects. Many contractors would be willing to work on the canal, but, as they have “contracts aggregating millions of dollars” that they will have to accept or reject, they would like to know “in a general way” how their proposals are being regarded. Loomis would not like Loeb to publish the clipping that he sent, as it was just for Roosevelt’s reference.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-16
Philippe Bunau-Varilla, an engineer of the Panama Canal, writes to the New York Evening Post to clarify publicly why he dropped his libel lawsuit against the newspaper. As Bunau-Varilla counters recent negative remarks made by the Post, he recounts his role in the Panama Canal’s construction, discusses the injustice of the Dreyfus Affair, and asserts that he is indifferent to further attacks from this newspaper.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-31
These draft resolutions of the Republican party in the state of Ohio endorse President Roosevelt’s administration. They describe his enforcement of Inter-State Commerce and Anti-Trust Laws, advancing the Panama Canal project, passing the Hepburn Act regulating railway rates and a bill on meat inspection, and his foreign policy. The resolutions urge Congress to pass a “stringent immigration law” to ensure that only the most industrious immigrants are allowed to enter the United States. They discuss the country’s industrial progress and condemn dishonest business practices. They close by reaffirming support of a protective tariff.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906
Secretary of State Taft offers Theodore Roosevelt feedback on Roosevelt’s letter to Watson. Taft does not think it wise for Roosevelt to equate support for an investigation into the Panama Canal and support for a sea-level canal, solely with people who oppose the canal. Taft also does not think that Roosevelt should include those who oppose the canal with those who oppose the San Domingo treaty, which he thinks will be passed next winter, if Roosevelt handles the political situation correctly. Roosevelt should call public attention to “the wonderful record of the present Congress” through a letter to pressure Congress to ease its resistance. Taft also believes Roosevelt should include a line citing the need for stronger government regulations to protect the working classes from “abuses by organization of power” in connection with Congress’s current resistance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-14
President Roosevelt introduces General Davis, the newly appointed governor of the Panama Canal Zone.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-09
President Roosevelt officially grants supervision of the Panama Canal construction and governance of the Panama Canal Zone to Secretary of War Taft in cooperation with the Isthmian Canal Commission. Roosevelt provides instructions for how to govern the canal zone, construct the canal, and maintain the region.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-09
President Roosevelt defends his actions regarding the selection of a secretary for the Isthmian Canal Commission. He encloses copies of letters that explain his position on the issue and does not wish to bother the Commission about their decision. Roosevelt recommends that Nicholas Murray Butler contact Governor Odell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-03
Theodore Roosevelt has heard from several people that they believe that although he was initially supporting O’Brien for the position of Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission, he was ultimately going to “throw over” his support in favor of Joseph Bucklin Bishop. Roosevelt thinks it is unwise to give the appearance of any double dealing in the matter and hopes to discuss things with Bishop in person.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-25
President Roosevelt thanks John Bigelow for his statements regarding Roosevelt’s role with the Panama Canal. He agrees that Secretary of State John Hay and Philippe Bunau-Varilla should be commemorated in some way. Roosevelt would also like to recognize Marcus Alonzo Hanna.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-14