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Joel A. Hayes writes to Theodore Roosevelt about development projects along the waterfront in Oakland, California. Hayes is concerned that Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson, is allowing the railroads to modify the harbor line by constructing a sea wall and drudging the bay, which would permanently alter the waterfront.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-26
University of California President Wheeler tells President Roosevelt that most Californians are eager to show their support for Secretary of War William H. Taft’s presidential bid. The Alameda County, California, political machine generally opposes Taft, but William F. Herrin has instructed these men to support Taft. Wheeler praises Roosevelt’s skillful handling of the Berkeley, California post office matter, which Wheeler believes has secured California’s delegation for Taft. He updates Roosevelt on other happenings in California state politics and advises him to do nothing for now.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-20
Benjamin Ide Wheeler is sure Senators George C. Perkins and Frank P. Flint will agree on confirming a highly regarded man as postmaster in Berkeley. Wheeler thanks William Loeb for his assistance, and explains that the current situation has been organized to benefit Representative Joseph R. Knowland at the expense of the federal government. Unfortunately, Wheeler has recently realized that Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf was partially responsible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-03
Moses Bernard asks Fred W. Carpenter, private secretary of Secretary of War William H. Taft, to inform Taft that Charles E. Thomas should not be appointed Berkeley postmaster, an opinion which the community shares.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-21
Transcript from the Panama Canal Appropriation discussion. Secretary of War William H. Taft, as well as Senators Shonts, Hall, Perkins, Wetmore, and Warren discuss various issues regarding the salaries of the Chief Engineer John Frank Stevens, as well as the use of auditors.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-21
Mrs. James Tanner has strongly urged that a representative from California be sent to St. Petersburg, preferably Emma A. Harrington. Harrington is head of the Red Cross in California and is recommended by Senator Perkins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-04
Theodore Roosevelt is pleased with Marshall Stimson’s letter as he had been communicating with prominent men on the subject. He has tried to increase the Navy and fortify Hawaii and the Pacific Coast, but faced difficulties doing so. Roosevelt considers The Valor of Ignorance sound in its purpose but finds Homer Lea overstates matters, making his argument less impressionable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-19
President Roosevelt warns President-Elect Taft under no circumstances to divide the battleship fleet between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans prior to the completion of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt lambasts “enemies of the navy,” “timid fools,” and “conscienceless scoundrels” in Congress who are trying to sway public opinion towards dividing the fleet. Roosevelt believes that a large reason for Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War was because it divided its navy between the Baltic and Pacific while the entire Japanese fleet was also deployed together.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-03-03
President Roosevelt will show George Kibbe Turner’s letter to Secretary of the Navy Truman Handy Newberry. Roosevelt believes that he has forced the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs up to two battleships, although he thinks they should really provide for four battleships. Roosevelt reflects on his accomplishment of building up the Navy during his presidency.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-10
President Roosevelt advises Senator Knox, who will be president-elect William H. Taft’s secretary of state, on the importance and fragility of the relationship between the United States and Japan. Roosevelt explains why he believes that there is a real possibility that Japan will declare war on the United States, although this is by no means certain. Currently, many Americans are pursuing ineffectual and offensive strategies in an effort to prevent Japanese immigration to the United States. Roosevelt supports their goal but not their means. In Hawaii, meanwhile, Roosevelt disapproves of sugar planters encouraging large numbers of settlers from China and Japan to come work on their plantations. Roosevelt feels that the settlement of Hawaii by individuals from Southern Europe should be encouraged. His more general policy is threefold. He wants the government to prevent Japanese citizens from settling in America, while treating Japan “so courteously that she will not be offended more than necessary,” and building up the navy as a preventative measure. Although the value of this policy should be self-evident, Americans “are shortsighted and have short memories.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-08
President Roosevelt agrees with William Kent, and outlines the foreign policy stance he believes the United States should follow in its relationship with Japan. Roosevelt has come to see the matter of Japanese workers immigrating to the United States as “a race question.” He believes that Japanese citizens should not be permitted to settle permanently in America. However, Roosevelt does not want to provoke a war by offending the “sensitive” Japanese government and population. Current legislation in California and Nevada banning Japanese children from public schools frustrates him, because it is offensive to Japan and does not prevent immigration. Roosevelt wants to forbid Japanese immigration while treating the Japanese government politely and continuing to build up the American navy. He seconds Kent’s view that Japanese laborers should not work on Hawaiian sugar plantations. Roosevelt would prefer to send laborers from Spain, Portugal, or Italy, who could become naturalized United States citizens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-04
President Roosevelt saw Senator Frank P. Flint, who has been very helpful, after receiving Governor Gillett’s message. On Flint’s advice, Roosevelt sent a telegram to Speaker Philip A. Stanton of the California State Assembly that Stanton may publish. Roosevelt asks Gillett to see Stanton. He approves of Gillet’s course of action, and will happily offer additional assistance if Gillett thinks he could be useful.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-06
President Roosevelt tells his son, Theodore Roosevelt, about Ethel Roosevelt’s dance last Friday. Roosevelt is currently struggling to manage the conflict between California and Japan, and is not entirely optimistic that he will succeed. One California senator, Frank P. Flint, has been very helpful. The other, Senator George C. Perkins, is a “feebly malicious angleworm.” Roosevelt sends Ted a copy of his upcoming speech on Abraham Lincoln.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-06
President Roosevelt agrees with Frederic Remington that Japanese immigration to America should be prevented. However, he is frustrated by certain politicians like California’s Senator George C. Perkins who are trying to implement policies that insult the Japanese government and do nothing to prevent immigration. Roosevelt is working towards a solution that will preserve peaceful relations with Japan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-07
President Roosevelt informs President-Elect Taft that he has written to Senators Shelby M. Cullom and George C. Perkins as Taft requested, and will recommend that the Embassy be created. Roosevelt asks if he should additionally issue a message as soon as First Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon becomes Secretary of State. Roosevelt will shortly appoint the six engineers who are to accompany Taft on his journey to inspect the Panama Canal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
President Roosevelt tells Columbia University President Butler that as soon as William Torrey Harris, United States Commissioner of Education, announces that he is retiring, Roosevelt will announce that Elmer Ellsworth Brown will be his replacement. He will write to Harris along the lines that Butler suggested.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-17
President Roosevelt does not need any more endorsements to convince him to appoint Elmer Ellsworth Brown as United States Commissioner of Education, but asks Columbia University President Butler to tell University of California President Benjamin Ide Wheeler to secure the support of the two Senators from California. As soon as current United States Commissioner of Education William Torrey Harris resigns, Roosevelt will appoint Brown. He asks Butler to tell Brown to come visit Washington, D.C., as Roosevelt wishes to speak with him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-09
President Roosevelt plans to send a message to Congress recommending the rebuilding of public buildings in San Francisco belonging to the Post Office, Treasury, and War Departments, and asks Secretary of War Taft to prepare figures for him detailing the costs associated with repairing buildings belonging to the Department of War in San Francisco, as well as those damaged in Sacramento, San Jose, and Oakland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-23
President Roosevelt plans to send a message to Congress recommending the rebuilding of public buildings in San Francisco belonging to the Post Office, Treasury, and War Departments, and asks Secretary of the Treasury Shaw to prepare figures for him detailing the costs associated with repairing buildings belonging to the Department of the Treasury in San Francisco, as well as those damaged in Sacramento, San Jose, and Oakland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-23
President Roosevelt plans to send a message to Congress recommending the rebuilding of public buildings in San Francisco belonging to the Post Office, Treasury, and War Departments, and asks Postmaster General Cortelyou to prepare figures for him detailing the costs associated with repairing buildings belonging to the Post Office Department in San Francisco, as well as those damaged in Sacramento, San Jose, and Oakland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-23