Your TR Source
Various forms of graft, fraud, and bribery were committed by San Francisco mayor Eugene Schmitz and members of the Board of Supervisors. Following trials of many offenders, a report is published on the causes of the corruption and recommendations made on how to prevent municipal corruption in the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-01-05
President Roosevelt wants to ensure that the legal rights of William D. Haywood and Charles Moyer are safeguarded and that “exact justice” is done. It has been suggested that they were extradited from Colorado in an unlawful manner and Roosevelt would like the pertinent information from the District Attorneys of Colorado and Idaho. Political pressure from the socialist and labor press will be strong in favor of acquittal, regardless of their actual guilt or innocence. The goal of federal authorities must be to “further the cause of justice.”
1906-03-26
President Roosevelt has demanded the resignation of Edward F. McSweeney, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration at New York. Henry Loomis Nelson argues that this demand is a great injustice and reviews the McSweeney case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-05
Series of letters from legal counsel of the New York and Bermudez Company to the United States Department of State, regarding the seizure of the company’s property by Venezuela.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-29
Two articles in the Denver Times outline several instances of fraud discovered in the recent election in a precinct of Denver. While investigating allegations of ballot stuffing by Democrats, the Colorado Supreme Court discovered a second instance of fraud in ballot counting. Several Democrats were also charged and referred to a grand jury for intimidating Republican voters and preventing them from casting ballots.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-03
President Roosevelt’s opinion has changed after viewing the papers in the Warfield case. Roosevelt would like Postmaster General Payne and Charles Henry Robb to interview Warfield, explain the gravity of the offense, and see if Warfield has anything to say.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-22
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow, with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Office of the District of Columbia, is currently investigating charges connected to the Post Office Department. Due to their other important public duties, his office is finding it difficult to find the time necessary to prosecute these cases. President Roosevelt suggests detailing additional staff from the Department of Justice or hiring special assistants for the Post Office cases.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-22
As the Senate committee was unable to see him, Theodore Roosevelt offers his testimony in writing. He denies knowledge of requests for campaign funds directed at the Standard Oil Company for his presidential campaign of 1904. These requests supposedly promised lenient treatment and favors in exchange for large contributions. Roosevelt offers documentary evidence that in 1904 he instructed any money received from Standard Oil to be returned. Furthermore, according to campaign records, no funds were ever received from Standard Oil.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-08-28
Theodore Roosevelt would like to meet with Gifford Pinchot to discuss President Taft’s message regarding the “Controller Bay matter.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-28
Theodore Roosevelt writes Admiral Cowles about the “delicious peaches” and tells Cowles that he wrote his sister Corinne a report regarding the family. Roosevelt remarks that President William H. Taft has assumed full responsibility for the Controller Bay matter and that Taft “knew nothing about the whole subject and took no interest in it.” Taft’s dismissal and replacement of James Rudolph Garfield as Secretary of the Interior with Richard Achilles Ballinger “insured trouble for the people and trouble for himself.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-28
Theodore Roosevelt appreciates the copy of Senator La Follette’s speech and is interested in the Ryan case around Controller Bay, Alaska. He reiterates his belief that the land should never have been given up for private use.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-19
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Gifford Pinchot on the Alaska outcome. The Outlook will be publishing an article on how the decision vindicates L. R. Glavis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-28
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Senator Lodge on his achievement with the Pension Bill and for his vote on the Lorimer case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-03
Theodore Roosevelt complains about misrepresentations in the press, such as publications appearing in Hearst’s American, and including a recent conflict with Governor Baldwin and previous battles with Senator Platt. He agrees with Senator Lodge regarding Canadian reciprocity and is distressed at the many contradictions in the potential treaty. Roosevelt believes that the Lorimer case is very clear. He views Senator Lorimer’s unexpected election, corrupt past, and the bribery confessions of Illinois legislators as sufficient proof of Lorimer’s guilt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-31
Theodore Roosevelt thinks that the Lorimer case is clear and believes that it is worse then anything done by Tammany Hall in the last thirty years. He does not want Senator Lodge to be influenced in support of Senator Lorimer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-27
Theodore Roosevelt agrees about the colliers and hopes that his statement was on point. He thought that Coe Isaac Crawford gave a powerful speech in the William Lorimer case. The zebra skin has been sent and Roosevelt is attempting to locate the missing book.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-17
Theodore Roosevelt expresses his “hearty regard” for the service Senator La Follette has done in the Lorimer matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-17
President Roosevelt received Governor of West Virginia White’s message and has directed Attorney General William H. Moody to look into the matter. He asks White to provide the names of any federal officeholders involved in lobbying or dealing in the legislature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-01
President Roosevelt appreciates Philip Battell Stewart’s work to combat corruption in Colorado, but does not feel that he knows enough about the situation to personally write about it. Roosevelt has discussed the matter with Attorney General William H. Moody to see if Roosevelt could write to District Attorney Earl M. Cranston, but has not come up with a way to do so “with advantage.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-07
President Roosevelt urges Secretary of State Hay to take quick action regarding the scandal of American diplomats in China and mentions possible replacements for Consuls John Goodnow and Robert M. McWade.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-08