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President Roosevelt tells the recipient how much he was touched by her letter, and that he understands how hard conditions can be. A mother trying to care for nine children “is not to be blamed for one moment for setting such a dinner as Mr. Arnold describes.” Roosevelt respects the sort of people who work hard to better their conditions, even during adverse times.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-23
In her draft of a speech in response to her trial on The Woman Rebel dissemination, Margaret Sanger discusses social problems and the manner in which birth control can address these issues and help the working class. Sanger critiques anti-obscenity laws and the notion of birth control education as pornography. She asks whether former President Roosevelt is truly moral for encouraging large families and she is immoral for encouraging small families. Sanger also addresses the charge that her article concerning an assassination attempt incited murder. She includes quotations from well-known ancient orators and writers and also from Roosevelt, claiming that if these writings on assassination are not accused of inciting murder, she should not be accused of such either.
The Margaret Sanger Papers Project
1916-01
Margaret Sanger writes of her efforts and struggles to bring birth control education to working class women in order to combat issues such as infant and maternal mortality, abortion, and poverty. Sanger argues that it is unfair that she is considered immoral for urging working class couples to have small families while former President Roosevelt is lauded as moral for encouraging them to have large families in order to prevent race suicide.
The Margaret Sanger Papers Project
1917-04
The Denver Express reports on Margaret Sanger’s birth control speech at Marble Hall in Denver, Colorado. Sanger discussed the benefit of birth control for the working class. She also took issue with former President Roosevelt’s widely-disseminated ideas about race suicide, stating that if the race cannot take better care of its children, then it should commit suicide.
The Margaret Sanger Papers Project
1916-05-28
Margaret Sanger replies to former President Roosevelt’s article “Birth Control–From the Positive Side.” Sanger argues that birth control is necessary for all classes; however, it is most necessary for the working class. She criticizes Roosevelt’s approach, stating that widespread fertility should not be encouraged in order to prevent the “spawning of the slums.” She also takes issue with Roosevelt’s assessment that birth rates in France and Germany helped precipitate World War I. Finally, Sanger argues that women fear birthing children into poverty with the inability to care for them. For this reason, birth control dissemination is a necessity.
The Margaret Sanger Papers Project
1917-12
Four men dance gleefully in front of gigantic figures of “Columbia” and “Europa” who are holding hands across a body of water. At the feet of the figures are suffering, poverty-stricken peoples, with silent factories behind them. The four men are Benjamin Harrison, pointing to himself, John Sherman with a sign that states “The Sherman Bill Did It!”, William McKinley holding a sign that states “The McKinley Bill Did It!”, and Thomas B. Reed pointing to McKinley. Caption: Chorus of Republican Leaders–Hooray! We’ll make all the political capital we can of this – it’ll help the Grand Old Party!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-01-17
Print shows Uncle Sam, on the left, giving a bag of money to a man labeled “Socialist” and a bag of money to a man labeled “Businessman,” he tells them “Gentlemen, I have divided the wealth of the country equally among all the people. Here are your shares, now go ahead and be happy!” At center, “The Start”, the two men part ways with the socialist taking the path “To Idleness and Extravagance” and the businessman taking the path “To Industry and Thrift.” On the right, at “The Finish,” the two men again stand before Uncle Sam, this time the businessman is holding two bags of money and the dejected socialist is showing that his pockets are now empty.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1899-06-14
In a bird’s-eye view of Wall Street, an innocent lamb is standing in the middle of the deserted financial district. The surrounding vignettes show a society matron serving a banquet of hot dogs; a man buying eggs cheap, then trying to sell them to a stockbroker for 50 cents a dozen; an elderly man drinking wine with a beautiful young woman “Before the War,” “And Now” disgruntled and at home with his wife; and three businessmen sitting on steps outside Federal Hall, quaffing lunch from a “full dinner pail.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1914-11-07
In this article, published in the Ladies Home Journal in April 1917, Theodore Roosevelt laments that many parents who have had to work hard to earn success spoil their children by sparing them such hard work. Both wealthy and poor parents are inclined to this fault. The children of such parents lack self-reliance and hardihood, essential character traits for their own success. The result is a decline not just for the individuals but also for the nation as a whole.
1917
On the left “Under a Low Tariff” is a large, prosperous, well-fed family with servants. On the right “Under a High Tariff” is a small family sitting in a dark chamber, poring over the bills.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1911-05-17
Professor L. Valenzi writes to Vice President Roosevelt to ask for his assistance. He has included several newspapers with his letter in order to establish his credentials as an editor and journalist, a professor of Roman and Greek archaeology, and as a supporter of President McKinley and Vice President Roosevelt. Valenzi explains that his current position is very bad, as he has had to pawn most of his belongings and is having to go hungry much of the time. He writes to Roosevelt to ask for help, and believes that Roosevelt will show some generosity. Valenzi asks for a rail pass to come to Washington and explain his situation in person. This document includes a preface in Italian, and then two copies of the information described here–one in Italian, and the other in English.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901
Effie Elliott requests assistance for herself and her mother, who is a widow. Elliott says they are poor and she herself is an invalid, and she appeals for money to get through the winter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901