Payne, Henry C. (Henry Clay), 1843-1904

Senator Lodge acknowledges receipt of President Roosevelt’s letter expressing concern about the progress of the Republican campaign. Lodge tries to allay Roosevelt’s concern, noting that in Massachusetts the Democratic campaign has no life, and he expects it is the same elsewhere in the country. He provides examples of the success of the Republican campaign across the states.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-06

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Drs. Osler, Rixey, Magruder, and Grayson provide updates on the condition of Postmaster General Payne throughout the day. Payne rallied early on, but died by the end of the day.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-04

Creator(s)

Osler, W.; Rixey, Presley Marion, 1852-1928; Magruder, G. L. (George Lloyd), 1848-1914; Grayson, G. H.

“The Postmaster General is sinking rapidly and can last but a few minutes.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-04

Creator(s)

Rixey, Presley Marion, 1852-1928; Magruder, G. L. (George Lloyd), 1848-1914; Grayson, G. H.

Doctors Magruder and Grayson write that there has been an improvement in Postmaster General Henry C. Payne’s condition since the morning and the patient is now retaining nourishment and resting easily.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-03

Creator(s)

Magruder, G. L. (George Lloyd), 1848-1914; Grayson, G. H.

Postmaster General Payne’s physicians report that his health has deteriorated, his heart is weaker, and conditions are not good.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-03

Creator(s)

Osler, W; Rixey, Presley Marion, 1852-1928; Magruder, G. L. (George Lloyd), 1848-1914

William E. Chandler encloses a letter from Henry Robinson, who is disappointed because he does not hold a high position in the postal service. Payne, most likely referring to Henry C. Payne, is prejudiced against Robinson because of Robinson’s involvement with Chandler. Chandler wishes that Robinson could be given the postmaster position at Washington.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-12

Creator(s)

Chandler, William E. (William Eaton), 1835-1917

Senator Lodge reports to President Roosevelt about the Republican National Convention. He discusses possible cabinet appointments, the adoption of the party platform, the various speeches given, and the nomination of Senator Charles W. Fairbanks for vice president.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-25

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

George J. Obermann assures Duncan B. Harrison that although he is a Democrat he will be supporting President Roosevelt in the upcoming election. Obermann says he is sure that Roosevelt will have no trouble being reelected and that he has heard several Democrats as well as businessmen say that they are supporting Roosevelt. Obermann offers to support the campaign in any way he can.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-23

Creator(s)

Obermann, George J., 1846-1914

Edward B. M. Browne informs Elihu Root that he is now an open opponent to President Roosevelt in the 1904 campaign for President. Browne insists that Roosevelt “hates the Jews” and that he can prove that Roosevelt protected Smith, Payne, and others. Browne also suggests that several of Roosevelt’s “friends” really want him to be defeated. Browne has sent letters to General James Sullivan Clarkson concerning Roosevelt, and he urges Root to phone Clarkson to see those letters, as the “campaign of 1904 may depend upon your and General Clarkson’s actions in the matter.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-08

Creator(s)

Browne, Edward B. M.

Albert Halstead asks to be considered as a candidate for appointment to the position of postmaster at Washington, D.C.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-26

Creator(s)

Halstead, Albert, 1867-1949

O. W. Binkerd writes to President Roosevelt informing him that Binkerd has consulted with his associates and changed details of a plan for the committee. Binkerd will ask Postmaster General Payne to contact Roosevelt for an interview.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-05

Creator(s)

Binkerd, O. W.

James Bruns describes the corrupt practices, investigation, and trial of August W. Machen, a high ranking official of the Post Office Department. Bruns details the various schemes, bribes, and kickbacks that enabled Machen to become a rich man on a meager salary, and he covers the 1904 trial that led to Machen’s conviction, along with others involved in his schemes. Bruns highlights President Theodore Roosevelt’s pleasure in the outcome of the investigation and trial.

The essay is illustrated with seven courtroom drawings by Clifford Kennedy Berryman and one political cartoon.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2007

The article criticizes President Roosevelt’s conduct regarding the trial of several post office employees accused of corruption and misconduct. Roosevelt condemned them in a special message to Congress before they had been tried, which may have influenced the jury towards a guilty verdict.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-02

Creator(s)

Unknown

Senator Lodge agrees with President Roosevelt that the outcomes in Illinois and Oregon were better than expected, showing that the Republican vote is strong in the northwest. Lodge asks if Roosevelt spoke to Henry C. Payne about becoming chairman, and notes that it would be awkward to turn down now that the matter has gone so far. He would like to see Roosevelt in June, either in Oyster Bay or Washington. In a handwritten postscript, Lodge notes that it will be a shame to lose Philander C. Knox as Attorney General, but Knox’s becoming Senator is a good thing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-10

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Lucas William Nieman has written to William Loeb, asking Loeb to broach a “matter of much importance” regarding Postmaster General Henry C. Payne with President Roosevelt. Nieman has heard that Payne’s health condition is “alarming.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-02

Creator(s)

Nieman, Lucius William, 1857-1935

Civil Service Commissioner Henry F. Greene rebuts Postmaster General Henry C. Payne’s assertion that civil service laws do not apply to fourth-class postmasters, because they are not in the “classified” service. Greene cites the civil service rules to show that although they are not hired by “competitive examination,” fourth-class postmasters are classified employees and thus subject to civil service laws.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-14

Creator(s)

Unknown

Postmaster General Henry C. Payne and Henry F. Green, a member of the Civil Service Commission, have met to discuss the dismissal of Delaware postmistress Huldah B. Todd, and discovered that they are actually in agreement about her removal. The article notes that the civil service rules allow for the removal of classified employees who misuse their positions for political gain.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-16

Creator(s)

Unknown

Chairman of the Republican National Committee Henry C. Payne kicks Perry S. Heath out of the “Rep. National Comm.” Heath says, “To take effect at once, sir?” President Roosevelt looks on and says, “Excuse me while I smile.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-27

Creator(s)

Unknown

This cartoon summarizes a number of important political events in 1903, including presidential and vice presidential aspirations, the Panama Canal, Tammany Hall, equal rights, and the Post Office scandal. President Roosevelt is in the center with his gun in his hands and his foot on a dead “graft” bear.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11

Creator(s)

Gillam, F. Victor, 1858?-1920

Postmaster General Henry C. Payne and President Roosevelt ride on a Republican elephant that pulls a woman out of a Delaware Post Office by its trunk. On its leg is a “postal scandal” covering and Delaware Senator J. Frank Allee points at the woman. As Roosevelt sits on the elephant, he holds several papers, including “canal treaty” and “Alaskan boundary.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-09

Creator(s)

Rogers, W. A. (William Allen), 1854-1931