Postmasters

Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1884 to December 1891. Notable events include the deaths of Alice Lee Roosevelt and Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, Roosevelt’s time on his ranch, the completion of Sagamore Hill, Roosevelt’s engagement and marriage to Edith Kermit Carow, Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt’s birth, the “Great-Dieup” of cattle in North Dakota, and the founding of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1985

Postmaster General Payne was shocked at the clipping in the Washington Evening Star that stated that fourth-class postmasters are in the classified service, and believes that President Roosevelt is as surprised as he is. Payne had asked Charles J. Bonaparte to examine the Civil Service Act and rules and regulations to ascertain whether fourth-class postmasters were transferred to the classified service, and encloses the reply that he received. Payne balks at transferring the fourth-class postmasters to the civil service, as it would be a radical shift.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-15

John Edward Charles O’Sullivan Addicks stands behind Delaware Senator J. Frank Allee who grabs the collar of a “post-mistress.” Caption: “Personally obnoxious.”—Senator Allee, Delaware.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-08

Postmaster General Henry C. Payne and President Roosevelt ride on a Republican elephant that pulls a woman out of a Delaware Post Office by its trunk. On its leg is a “postal scandal” covering and Delaware Senator J. Frank Allee points at the woman. As Roosevelt sits on the elephant, he holds several papers, including “canal treaty” and “Alaskan boundary.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-09

President Roosevelt holds an “executive order” and a “classified service” umbrella to keep dry from the dark clouds of “political patronage.” Over a dozen “fourth class postmasters” run toward him as two “congressmen” look surprised.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The day prior to this cartoon’s publication — and, significantly, while Congress was recessed — President Roosevelt signed an executive order for the classification by competition of all fourth-class postmasters in fourteen states between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River, an area containing more than half of the United States population, and approximately a third of all such postmaster positions. That group of employees comprised one of American politics’ richest caches of patronage jobs, a source of influence and power for politicians.

In this issue of Postal Information, the sender has highlighted an item titled “Services of Notaries who are Government Officers,” which contains an amended order from Acting Postmaster General P. V. De Graw. The order states that no employee in executive service for the government who is also a notary public should charge or receive compensation for performing a “notarial act” during work hours, or for a government employee in their official capacity. The order is modified to exclude rural carriers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-14

In this article, Thomas G. Bush of Alabama discusses his thoughts on President Roosevelt, economic progress in the South, and race relations. Bush notes Roosevelt has appointed Republicans and Democrats for postmaster positions in the South and that the president is not in favor of social equality to African Americans. Additionally, Bush mentions Roosevelt’s hope that business development will grow in the South by the end of his term so that it will be an “equal sharer in the prosperity of the whole country.” Finally, Roosevelt believes the Panama Canal will help open up trading between the South and Asian countries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-23

Registry return receipt for a letter sent from William Loeb to George Cabot Lee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-05

Registry return receipt for a letter sent from William Loeb to George Cabot Lee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-05

President Roosevelt thanks Senator Lodge for his letters and asks him to write as often as possible, as he feels out of touch with politics. He is exhausted from all his activities in San Francisco. He will take up the Post Office matter as soon as he gets back, and asks to hear Lodge’s thoughts on the matter.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-05-13

Theodore Roosevelt has been informed that “certain office-holders” in Postmaster General George von Lengerke Meyer’s department intend to go to the Republican National Convention as delegates to express their support for Roosevelt’s renomination. Roosevelt tells Meyer that “this cannot be” and asks him to inform the officers that any advocacy or positions in favor of Roosevelt will be “regarded as a serious violation of official propriety.”

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1907-11-19

Theodore Roosevelt assures George von Lengerke Meyer that he is just as frustrated with the Dallas postmaster situation as Meyer. If the postmaster is asked to resign, the postmaster should be the only person notified, not anybody else. Roosevelt will speak with Meyer about the matter next week.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1907-09-19

President Roosevelt is concerned to hear about the sickness of George von Lengerke Meyer’s daughters. Roosevelt appreciates the tact with which Meyer approached the circumstances surrounding James N. Sutton’s death. Roosevelt approves the appointment of Edward M. Morgan as postmaster of New York. He appreciates Meyer’s faithful service in the position of Postmaster General.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1907-07-10

Representative Beidler writes to Senator Foraker advocating on behalf of Mr. Batt’s candidacy for city appraiser, noting that many current posts are held by appointees from the 21st district of Cleveland while Mr. Batt is from the 20th.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-12

Samuel W. Meek recommends that President Roosevelt encourage Senator Joseph B. Foraker to remove his opposition to the appointment of Charles C. Dewstoe as postmaster in the event that Edmund H. Zurhorst is removed from the position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-19

Governor Richard Yates believes that President Roosevelt’s postmaster appointees are opposed to him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-21

President Roosevelt requests Gilbert Christian Greenway’s opinion on the character and reputation of Postmaster Brizzolara of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-24

The Chairman of the Republican Central Committee in Denver, Colorado, warns of efforts to discredit active local Republicans working to consolidate the party by the Democrats.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-08

Alford Warriner Cooley understands that Assistant Postmaster General Robert John Wynne asked for an unspecified matter to be returned to the Civil Service Commission, because Cooley had initially submitted it directly to the Commission instead of through the Postmaster General’s office, and Postmaster General Henry C. Payne objected. The commission does not object to its return.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12

Memorandum supporting the simplification of regulations pertaining to the removal of postal employees.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-10-13