Political corruption

Letter from Ben B. Lindsey to Theodore Roosevelt

Judge Lindsey asks that President Roosevelt read the enclosed article written by former Denver District Court Judge Thomas B. Stuart on Big Bill Haywood’s trial. Lindsey describes the situation between himself and Governor Henry Augustus Buchtel and clarifies his statements regarding Senator Simon Guggenheim. Based on his knowledge of those involved, Lindsey feels that the Republican Party in Colorado is controlled by corporate interests and is largely against Roosevelt’s policies. In response, Lindsey asks if he can send Roosevelt a political pamphlet on the topic, and if they could meet in person in November to discuss matters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Letter from Bernard Moses to Fred W. Carpenter

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-21

Letter from Benjamin Ide Wheeler to William Loeb

Benjamin Ide Wheeler, President of the University of California, Berkeley, apologizes to William Loeb for being “obliged to trouble” President Roosevelt with the issue of appointing a postmaster for Berkeley. However, he strongly opposes the appointment of Charles E. Thomas as it fulfills the “private purposes of a political candidate,” that candidate being Representative Joseph R. Knowland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-20

Letter from Alford Warriner Cooley to Theodore Roosevelt

Assistant Attorney General Cooley provides President Roosevelt with a preliminary report on the circumvention or violation of laws relating to the disposal of public lands in the Territory of New Mexico, including the involvement of the Territory’s governor, Herbert J. Hagerman. Cooley presents evidence that Hagerman’s actions were both “illegal and unjustifiable.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-12

Letter from Lincoln Steffens to Theodore Roosevelt

Reporter Lincoln Steffens urges President Roosevelt to consider campaign finance reform which would replace large corporate donations to politicians with smaller individual contributions instead. He agrees with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou that it may be impracticable but thinks that even a suggestion of such a plan from Roosevelt would serve as an effective warning to corporations attempting to purchase influence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-06

Telegram from Billings, F Cash to Charles J. Bonaparte

Billings F. Cash informs Attorney General Bonaparte that he is convinced that Calvin Cobb and Governor Frank Robert Gooding were involved in timber fraud. The special agents involved in this case – Gorman, Goodwin, and O’Fallon – connected this timber fraud case to a senator who is serving as the prosecution in the trial of the murder of Governor Frank Steunenberg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-23

Testimony of Benjamin F. Sparhawk

Benjamin F. Sparhawk of the General Land Office testifies in court as to certain “wrong and irregular” acts by colleagues in his department, including improper approvals of land lieu selections and favoritism in the selection and promotion of employees. Sparhawk particularly implicates John McPhaul, his division chief.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-19

Interview between the Secretary of War, Francis B. Loomis, Herbert W. Bowen and W. W. Russell

This transcript presents a governmental interview of William Worthington Russell regarding the Mercado affair, wherein government officials were accused of profiting off of economic transactions and the sale of Venezuelan salt bonds. Russell is interviewed by Secretary of War William H. Taft, Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis, and Herbert Wolcott Bowen regarding his position as Secretary of Legation in Venezuela, and regarding Loomis’s conduct when he was the Minister to Venezuela. Russell testifies that in the Mercado claim he acted in a friendly, unofficial capacity, and did not personally profit off of anything.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-09

Letter from George von Lengerke Meyer to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Meyer reports that Russian Emperor Nicholas II is in favor of continuing the war with Japan. While the general sentiment of others favors peace, there is unanimous agreement that a continuation of war is preferable to paying a large sum in reparations. Meyer recounts accusations of corruption by the Navy Department who reportedly passed on purchasing superior warships as there would be “no commission for certain Russian individuals.” Meyer has had no response to his letters to Secretary of State Hay regarding trade with Russia but feels the matter needs to be addressed urgently if the United states is not to lose out.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-05

Letter from Francis C. Travers to Theodore Roosevelt

Francis C. Travers wishes President Roosevelt health and strength “to continue the contest for right” against political corruption and shares the encouragement of the people of New York due to his efforts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-01

Letter from William Allen White to Theodore Roosevelt

William Allen White, editor of the Emporia Gazette, informs President Roosevelt of his concerns about a new order that gives congressmen hiring and firing power over rural postmasters. White is worried that politicians he considers corrupt, like Representative Justin De Witt Bowersock, will misuse the order to fire their political opponents. White is not as concerned that this power will be abused immediately under the Roosevelt Administration’s watch or by elected officials he finds upright, like Representative William Alexander Calderhead, but that it will be abused when the Roosevelt Administration is out of power or distracted. White asks Roosevelt to assure Calderhead that the editor holds him in high regard, as White worries a rumor has made Calderhead think White considers him as corrupt as Bowersock.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-19

Letter from Francis B. Loomis to Theodore Roosevelt

Acting Secretary of State Loomis writes to President Roosevelt about the investigation of Consul General John Goodnow at Shanghai. The charges against him seem to be conclusive.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-13

Letter from Knute Nelson to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Nelson returns Secretary Pierce’s letter detailing the charges against General Counsel John Goodnow. He feels the charges, if not disproved, merit “no mercy,” but encourages President Roosevelt to allow Goodnow to present a defense.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-22

Letter from Herbert H. D. Peirce to William Loeb

Herbert H. D. Peirce provides a summary of some of the charges against Consul General John Goodnow.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-21

Letter from D. B. Fairley to Theodore Roosevelt

Chairman Fairley forwards a copy of the Republican State Central Committee’s expenditure report that was filed with the Colorado Secretary of State in order to refute charges of corruption. Fairley also states that more than 18,000 votes were fraudulently cast for Alva Adams and over 20 individuals are serving jail sentences.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-16

Letter from James Ford Rhodes to Theodore Roosevelt

James Ford Rhodes compliments President Roosevelt on the quality of his message. Rhodes is so impressed by Roosevelt he is ready to endorse almost any of his opinions, simply because they are the President’s. Rhodes feels especially that Roosevelt will inspire “young men of good family, intelligence and education to go into politics” and address the problem of corruption in state and local governments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-12

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles J. Bonaparte writes about possible nominees for postmaster in Baltimore. William F. Stone, Representative Wachter, and Senator McComas continue to disagree about the leading candidate. Factions within the Republican Party in the state are arguing. Bonaparte believes some public officials and some newspapers have been discredited in recent years for failing to speak out against elections fraud and political corruption. There is also disagreement within the National Civil Service Reform League. Some members wished to make an anti-imperialist statement by not arranging a visit to the White House during an upcoming meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-28

Letter from Lynde Harrison to William H. Taft

Lynde Harrison writes to Secretary of War Taft on the Corrupt Practices Act. Harrison, inspired by a law in the United Kingdom, wrote a similar law for Connecticut. It was not passed. He encloses a copy of the act that he submitted to Connecticut’s General Assembly. Harrison is concerned that national legislation may be necessary to address the widespread problem of bribery in elections.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-15

Act to suppress corrupt practices at elections

This is a copy of legislation Lynde Harrison submitted to the General Assembly of Connecticut. Harrison sent this copy to Secretary of War Taft following their discussions on corrupt practices.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-15

Caught in the act!

Uncle Sam and President Roosevelt stand at a “law” fence and watch a “Standard Oil monopoly” pig eat from a “rebates” trough, thanks to Roosevelt “Garfield report” light. In the trough are several papers: “semi secret rates,” “discrimination R.R. rates,” “private tank cars,” “secret rates,” “secret state rates,” and “unfair interstate rates.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04