Your TR Source
Charles N. Sellers grew up hunting passenger pigeons and thinks he saw some near his home in Colorado. Hearing Theodore Roosevelt wants some, Sellers asks how much he would pay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-17
Dell M. Potter and T. M. White of the Trans-Continental Good Roads Association of Arizona have invited delegates from multiple states to meet and organize the National Trans-Continental Good Roads Association. This association would build a transcontinental road through the delegates’ states. They hope Roosevelt will be the president as they believe he is the only man who can ensure success in their endeavor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-15
Anderson H. Walters directs Theodore Roosevelt’s attention to the enclosed letter from M. H. James, secretary of the William Penn Highway Association.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-03-02
J. C. Wilson warns President Roosevelt that Thomas Plunkett Fleeson, a prominent Republican in Pittsburgh, opposes William H. Taft. Fleeson plans to send out a letter to churches in a variety of states arguing that because Taft is a Unitarian, he is not fit to be president. If Roosevelt knows Fleeson personally, Wilson believes he should convince him not to send the letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-15
William H. Taft has just returned from an extensive speaking tour in the West and reports to President Roosevelt that on the whole he thinks it went over very well. He is intending not to campaign, but mostly to drum up enthusiasm and excitement. Taft also discusses at length the political situation in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. He intends to travel next through the South, stopping in Washington, D.C. before returning to Ohio. Taft is optimistic about the campaign and feels that Roosevelt’s letters to William Jennings Bryan have helped immensely.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-09
John Callan O’Laughlin provides President Roosevelt an overview of his impressions of the political mood of the country. O’Laughlin has concluded that Secretary of War William H. Taft will receive the Republican nomination for president, and recounts the various states that he believes will go for Taft, as well as the political figures who he believes should be watched or contacted in the various states. There is still substantial popular support for Roosevelt in the country, and O’Laughlin believes that if Roosevelt were to run he would win. Roosevelt’s action in ordering an investigation of the wage scale of railroad employees is very popular. Taft draws much of his strength comes from his connection to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-24
Senator Knox from Pennsylvania introduces William Loeb to his constituent John A. Herman for consideration for future employment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-18
Senator Beveridge writes to follow up on an earlier conversation with President Roosevelt about the constitutionality of the Child Labor Bill. The jurisprudence is unambiguous in demonstrating that Congress may regulate all matters relating to interstate commerce. Beveridge also notes that many initiatives by the states to solve this issue have been ineffective, citing several examples. He has also seen the popular sentiment stirred up by the long campaign against child labor, and believes this bill is an example of good governance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-22
In spite of Secretary of War Taft’s intention to suspend President Roosevelt’s order dismissing the twenty-fifth infantry because of the Brownsville affair, Roosevelt has again declared that the soldiers must be dishonorably discharged. Significant political pressure is being brought to bear against Roosevelt’s action, because if any of several states have a close election, the loss of the African-American vote could cost them the election. However, the author of the article indicts the soldiers of the twenty-fifth infantry for their actions in Brownsville, and says that they are unfit to serve in the military.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-28
Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt on the progress of his trip across the United States, as he gives speeches to help candidates in the upcoming election. Nebraska is likely to go Republican, as the prosperity there under Roosevelt’s policies has hampered William Jennings Bryan’s campaign. The person nominated for the Senate, however, is someone who Taft and Roosevelt did not wish. Public sentiment is the same as in Illinois in calling for Roosevelt’s running for president again, as his policies have been very successful. The only place Bryan may have a foothold is in Ohio. Taft thinks that William Randolph Hearst’s strength in New York has been overstated. He also informs Roosevelt about several conversations he has had with people, and about a letter he received from Gifford Pinchot.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-01
August Belmont makes Theodore Roosevelt aware of the state of the election in Pennsylvania. The situation is the reverse of the situation in New York. Belmont stresses the importance of keeping national issues out of the local elections and hopes that some voters can be persuaded to vote across party lines. If possible, and if it will not hurt the election in New York, Belmont thinks Roosevelt should involve himself in the Pennsylvania election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-18
The authors argue that Pennsylvanians have the right to complete information about the new State Capitol, especially regarding cost. While the authors favor the new building and acknowledge the expenditure required for such a grand building, they feel the furnishing was a “reckless and wanton extravagance.” Thus, they conclude there was dishonesty and abuse of position by someone on the Board, a matter which should be investigated.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-30
Senator Penrose writes to President Roosevelt that he had a “satisfactory” talk in Philadelphia with the President of United Mine Workers, John Mitchell. Mitchell’s organization is friendly to Roosevelt, has not been “disturbed over the Gompers assault,” and Penrose feels that the United Mine Workers are in a “pretty fair frame of mind.” Penrose notes that he plans to see Mitchell again to better understand the situation with Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon’s district and other districts throughout the country. Penrose also tells Roosevelt that he is in accord with Senator Philander C. Knox, who will be seeing Roosevelt in a few days, and who would like to discuss Roosevelt’s speech in Harrisburg.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-19
Representative Watson describes for President Roosevelt the stump speaking situation in preparation for the November House of Representatives election and focuses on the need for more strong speakers. Watson asks if Roosevelt can give John Lewis Griffiths a leave of absence from his position as Consul to Liverpool because Griffiths’ speaking abilities make him helpful on the campaign trail. Watson also notes that Roosevelt’s letter dismissing the issues in the controversy is the “most effective campaign weapon.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-19
Philander C. Knox has sent a memorandum about the political situation in Pennsylvania, which includes four pages about local action and later pages about Roosevelt’s responsibilities. Knox enclosed copies of the Republican, Democratic, and Lincoln platforms.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-22
The Press expresses the opinion that “Republican candidates for Congress should have no opposition from Republicans.” Republican candidates in local elections in Philadelphia were successful, while several districts in the interior of Pennsylvania named candidates against “regular Republican nominees.” The article states that even if there is opposition to the president’s policies, support for a Republican Congress is wise.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-02
Judge Advocate General Davis recommends allowing Theodore Roosevelt to execute Article III of the existing treaty with Cuba to restore order to the island without having to get permission from Congress. Davis references the Whiskey Insurrection of Western Pennsylvania 1794 and other cases to make his point.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-15
John A. Sleicher asks President Roosevelt for “one or two good, stirring sentences” that he could use in conjunction with a cartoon he is creating for the magazine Judge to help the Republican ticket in Pennsylvania. In addition, Sleicher is glad Roosevelt has come out for Herbert Parsons, who will need all the help he can get. Sleicher also suggests that the Secretary of the Treasury make his examination of national banks as carefully and as conservatively as possible in order to give a feeling to the people of greater security in the national banking system.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-30
Commissioner of Corporations Garfield informs President Roosevelt that the report on oil will be finished soon but not to publish it before consulting with Attorney General William H. Moody to ensure that pending charges are not disrupted by publication of the report. Garfield finds it interesting that some claim foreign trade is being hurt by these charges but that the oil and beef industries are profiting from violating federal law. Garfield is monitoring a fascinating local election which Representative Theodore E. Burton of Ohio is leading. Some in the election are pushing for an open convention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-03
Luther R. Smith, private secretary to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock, and William Spencer Sturgess met with ex-Governor Miguel Antonio Otero, ex-Attorney General George W. Prichard, and Republican Chairman of New Mexico Holm Olaf Bursum in El Paso, Texas. Smith and Sturgess tried to convince Bursum to go against joint statehood in New Mexico. Bursum declined, stating that he had told William H. Andrews and President Roosevelt that he and Solomon Luna would vote in favor of joint statehood. Smith and Sturgess then said that they are “getting up a job” on Andrews to get him arrested on some charges connected with the Enterprise National Bank. William H. H. Llewellyn is confident that joint statehood will get through unless the cause is hampered by “such fellows as Smith.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-05