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President Roosevelt requests that the employee of the Isthmian Canal Commission be placed under civil service rules.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-22
Theodore Roosevelt would be glad to appoint Grenville Dodge’s son-in-law, Frank Scott Pusey. The only complication is that the people of Iowa have already recommended Colonel Young for the secretaryship of Puerto Rico. Roosevelt would still like to see Pusey though and hopes to appoint him in the Philippines or Panama, if not in Puerto Rico.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-15
President Roosevelt sent the printed petition and the letter from the Attorney General about James Scrymser’s offer to Admiral Walker for an immediate report. Roosevelt will send William Emlen Roosevelt a copy of the letter that Roosevelt wrote Senator Lodge. Scrymser spoke of the agreement of October 14 and expects the Department of State to protect the rights of his company.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-20
President Roosevelt writes to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge about a complicated issue the State Department is facing, regarding whether or not it should arbitrate a contract dispute between two American telegraph companies in Panama. Roosevelt does not believe that diplomatic intervention from the Department of State is appropriate in this situation, because the dispute is between two American companies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-16
President Roosevelt writes to Elihu Root about whether Germany or England should “act as the policeman of the Caribbean.” Roosevelt also shares that General Leonard Wood is frustrated about not being put in command of the Philippines. Roosevelt suggests that Root stress the need to prevent change in the work being done in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-07
President Roosevelt finds reading a great comfort, a “dissipation which I have to sometimes try to avoid, instead of an irksome duty.” Roosevelt mentions that the presidential campaign is now opening and he will be nominated without opposition. He points out an inferiority with the American electoral system in comparison to the British system. Roosevelt feels his actions in ending the anthracite coal strike, and his dealings in Cuba and Panama, speak for themselves and the “rest must take care of itself.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-28
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 believes it is “absolutely necessary” to pass the Panama legislation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-14
Elihu Root informs Acting Secretary of State Robert Bacon that he hopes to reach Panama by September 16. If the USS Mayflower can be ready by then, at Colon, Panama, to take him to Cartagena, Colombia, he will probably be able to return via San Francisco.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-27
President Roosevelt would like Senator Foraker to get a rider on a pending bill that would give the President the authority to select the department that supervises the nation’s island possessions. Roosevelt believes that it would be advantageous to have their administration under the War Department, and Secretary of War Taft agrees.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-30
President Roosevelt was distressed at Representative Burton’s speech regarding the navy. He argues that a strong navy, including naval fortifications, is required for the United States to maintain its position across the globe.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-23
Alfred Noble cannot be on the Isthmian Canal Commission if he will be unable to visit Panama. President Roosevelt hopes that Noble can assist the commission in an advisory capacity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-23
President Roosevelt agrees with Elihu Root’s comments regarding corruption in New York and he is pleased that the speech will be published. The Republican Party and the country benefited from the work of Senator Hanna and his death is “very sad.” The Panama treaty appears set to pass and the cooperation with Germany on securing the neutrality of China was a success.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-16
The Arabian stallions were not sent to President Roosevelt. It was a newspaper story and the horses were actually sent to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. There might not be any horses left for Ted Roosevelt as all of Roosevelt’s horses are having health issues and he currently is unable to ride. It appears that the Panama treaty will be ratified but the situation in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) is chaotic and Roosevelt had to intervene. He hopes to defer doing more for as long as possible. Roosevelt has been paying close attention to the Russo-Japanese War. Russia had been behaving “very badly” in Asia and, secretly, Roosevelt is pleased with the early Japanese victories.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-10
William H. Taft encloses communication from the Department of State and expresses concerns about Theodore P. Shonts and John F. Stevens in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-23
President Roosevelt encloses a memorandum from Acting Secretary of State Loomis, and comments on the Culbertson resolution. If taken literally, the Culbertson resolution would require all State Department correspondence related to Panama for the last sixty years to be turned over. The administration has nothing to hide and everything of importance has been made public. Roosevelt suggests that the resolution be modified to only apply to documents dated after May 1, 1903.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-26
In response to the Senate resolutions, President Roosevelt requests all documents, sent or received and of any kind, from the State Department related to the revolution in Panama since May 1, 1903.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-26
In response to the Senate resolutions, President Roosevelt requests all documents, sent or received and of any kind, from the Navy Department related to the revolution in Panama since May 1, 1903.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-26
In response to the Senate resolutions, President Roosevelt requests all documents, sent or received of any kind, from the War Department related to the revolution in Panama since May 1, 1903.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-26
President Roosevelt does not want to constantly write to his son, Ted Roosevelt, about politics, but he understands Ted’s interest in his life and career. He believes there will be satisfactory conclusions to the Panama treaty and the “Wood controversy.” Roosevelt is less confident about the service pension bill. He remains confident that he will receive the presidential nomination, although Senator Hanna and the “Wall Street crowd” are creating a “little worry.” After the nomination, the general election will be a fight.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-29