Philippines

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt updates Secretary of War Taft on his conversation with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou in which he made clear that the nominee for president will be chosen based on what is best for the party. Men from various states have contacted Roosevelt attempting to convince him to run again and expressing whether they would support Taft. Evaluating the potential candidates, Roosevelt focuses on Governor Charles Evans Hughes, who is the biggest potential threat. Roosevelt says that Bishop Charles Henry Brent recently delivered a ridiculous sermon on the Philippines and that Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte has been doing well this summer despite his difficult work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Silas McBee

President Roosevelt shares editor of the Churchman Silas McBee’s interest in and puzzlement over the sermon of Bishop Charles Henry Brent of the Philippines, which he analytically criticizes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of War Taft and has removed the reference to receivership from his speech. The “Philippine question” is the only point on which he remains uneasy. He details his thoughts and concerns about the United States’ continued relationship with the islands, including their strategic importance in the event of a conflict with Japan and the issue of granting autonomy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Merriman C. Harris

President Roosevelt is glad to hear from Bishop Harris. Roosevelt cannot contemplate war between the United States and Japan, especially since both countries strive to develop the Pacific. He will do what he can to ensure the United States treats Japan and its people fairly. However, large numbers of foreign wage workers create economic pressures.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Truman Handy Newberry

President Roosevelt believes the arguments of Admiral H. N. Manney against sending the naval fleet to the Pacific are absurd. If the arguments were true in a time of peace, they could more readily be applied in the event of war, in which case the United States should resign itself to giving up the Philippines, Hawaii, and Alaska, as well as Puerto Rico and the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Franklin Bell

President Roosevelt sends Major General Bell’s report to Secretary of War Taft. Roosevelt compares the threat of Japan conquering California in a war to the possibility of losing the Philippines or Hawaii. Roosevelt will do his best to prevent any wrong being done to Japan. He will also keep the country in readiness should war break out, though he expects that having someone like Senator Eugene Hale as chairman of the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs may make that difficult.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Meade Bowers

President Roosevelt wants the Albatross to go the the Philippines next October as requested by Dean C. Worcester, Secretary of the Interior of the Philippine Islands. Roosevelt has enclosed a letter from Worcester for George Meade Bowers, Director of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, and would like to hear from Bowers as soon as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Leonard Wood

President Roosevelt tells Major General Wood that his recent letter impressed both Secretary of War William H. Taft and himself. Roosevelt is attempting to convince Congress to grant Wood the tract of land he desires at Fort McKinley, but he has a hard time convincing them on military matters. He informs the Major General that he will be stationed in the Philippines until after the elections when he will be brought back to America, and that Taft will visit the country in September.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Grey

President Roosevelt tells British Ambassador to the United States Grey that Rennel Rodd was offered a position interacting with the US government, but turned it down. Roosevelt contrasts the attitudes and relations of a number of different countries with America and England, and takes a specific focus on Japan. Roosevelt notes that Japan has continued preparing for war over the last decade, and writes that there will be industrial competition between Japan and European countries. He also wonders if they are planning on invading America, Germany, or the Philippines. Roosevelt wants the United States and Japan to sign a treaty stating they will keep their citizens out of each other’s labor markets. Roosevelt closes by remarking on the similarities in governmental thinking and military approach between the United States and England.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ebeneezer J. Hill

President Roosevelt found Representative Hill’s letter very interesting and will bring it before the Cabinet. Nothing will be done about the currency question in the Philippines until Roosevelt hears from Governor Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Emlen Roosevelt

President Roosevelt does not think a government cable between the United States and the Philippines is desirable. A private company has submitted a proposition to lay a cable and if James Alexander Scrymser or any one else wants to talk about the matter they should do so without delay.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-09-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Thomas J. C. Williams to Theodore Roosevelt

Thomas J. C. Williams elaborates on a letter Theodore Roosevelt previously sent to him, providing more context after doing some investigating. The letter was from Ida B. Huber, the wife of former United States Army Sergeant Joseph N. Huber who is out of work, and the family is struggling. Williams says “the family will now be cared for” and thanks Roosevelt for sending him the letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-13

Creator(s)

Williams, Thomas J. C. (Thomas John Chew)

Letter from Frank A. Edwards to Theodore Roosevelt

Frank A. Edwards informs Theodore Roosevelt that he seeks a letter of introduction or endorsement to General Leonard Wood to support his work on an Italian–English Military Dictionary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-11

Creator(s)

Edwards, Frank A. (Frank Augustine), 1851-1915

Letter from James Franklin Bell to Theodore Roosevelt

United States Army Chief of Staff Bell thanks President Roosevelt for the opportunity to read General Leonard Wood’s correspondence and states that he has always had a high respect for him. Bell agrees with Wood’s letters and orders, particularly one paragraph that highlights a system of military competition used by the French Army with much success. Although Bell would like to see more of this type of competition, he has not advocated for this in the entire Army due to a lack of officers in the United States, as most are stationed overseas. He concludes by informing Roosevelt that he has kept these matters strictly confidential as the president requested.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-12

Creator(s)

Bell, James Franklin, 1856-1919

Letter from Frank W. Carpenter to Clarence Ransom Edwards

In anticipation of General Edwards’s arrival in Manila, Frank W. Carpenter informs him of the political and economic conditions of the Philippines during American occupation. Carpenter has lived in the Philippines for nine years and has a thorough understanding of the Filipino people. Although many in the United States worry about an insurrection in the Philippines, Carpenter assures Edwards that most Filipinos are peaceful and that public order is in good condition. Carpenter believes that a Nationalist majority in the Assembly would be beneficial to American interests, even though people in the United States think differently.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-06

Creator(s)

Carpenter, Frank W. (Frank Watson), 1871-1945

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft updates President Roosevelt regarding the management of the National Parks. Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park S. B. M. Young would prefer rangers to the military, and Taft agrees with him, but Congress is putting the responsibility of park management on the War Department rather than the Department of the Interior. Taft warns that he accidentally engaged in cards on a Sunday, in case the press finds out. While traveling, he saw Secretary of Commerce and Labor Oscar S. Straus, and they discussed both Japanese naturalization and immigration of Russian Jews. Taft briefly lists his upcoming speeches.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-04

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Until he is able to form his report, William H. Taft asks that President Roosevelt hold off on making a statement about the Philippines. Taft plans to express to the people of the Philippines that they have the opportunity now to prove self-government will be successful, and that any action by Americans at this point would be to prevent violence. Reservations from Congress about funding fortification projects will likely be impacted by the recent events concerning Japan, and Taft will press for the funds while still acting in accordance with Roosevelt’s wishes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-31

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft agrees with President Roosevelt on Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s speech and on the negative press from the New York papers. He describes his trip thus far and makes predictions about his success based on what he has been told. In light of the gerrymandering involving Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, Taft asks Roosevelt to help defeat an inadequate constitution in Oklahoma. Taft has asked Joseph L. Bristow to form another report on Panama, and he mentions an editor named Joseph Ralph Burton who has been attacking Roosevelt. Taft discusses the political campaigns and conflicts in the states he is passing through, in particular the political campaigns in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Denver. Taft’s mother Louise Maria Torrey Taft is recovering, and although the trip has been exhausting, Taft has a few days of rest ahead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-30

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from George Curry to Theodore Roosevelt

Governor George Curry introduces President Roosevelt to Charles E. MacDonald, an army doctor with whom he served in the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-19

Creator(s)

Curry, George, 1861-1947

Letter from Charles Henry Brent to Lawrence F. Abbott

Bishop Brent writes how glad he is that the editors of The Outlook are supporting “manly sport” in the Philippines by offering an “Outlook Cup” as a tennis trophy. Brent believes the church should support healthy recreation more than it does, and he does not fear criticism which may come for this.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-20

Creator(s)

Brent, Charles Henry, 1862-1929