Your TR Source
President Roosevelt finds it unpleasant to request the resignation of a government official. Acting Governor of New Mexico James W. Raynolds’s actions make him undesirable in the office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-19
President Roosevelt informs Governor Curry of New Mexico of his upcoming discussion with Ormsby McHarg. Roosevelt insists Curry’s subordinates meet standards of honesty. He requests Curry look into former Governor of New Mexico Territory Herbert J. Hagerman’s use of public money and supposes that Willard S. Hopewell and George W. Pritchard have already been removed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-09
President Roosevelt shares his thoughts and reasoning with New Mexico Attorney General Llewellyn regarding the removal of former Governor Herbert J. Hagerman and former Secretary of New Mexico Territory James W. Raynolds from office. Roosevelt finds the actions of Raynolds and Hagerman inexplicable, and suspects that Hagerman to be the “tool of powerful corrupt interests.” Roosevelt insists that the conduct of his appointees in New Mexico Territory must be free of misconduct or the appearance of misconduct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-29
Theodore Roosevelt is disappointed about George Curry. He instructs Bronson M. Cutting to tell Curry and anyone else who asks that Curry does not have a letter from him denouncing Miguel Antonio Otero, George W. Pritchard, or Cutting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-04-22
Former New Mexico Territory Governor Hagerman responds to President Roosevelt’s letter accepting his resignation in language that “should not be considered less forceful because of the absence of harsh language.” Hagerman says that in 1898, Congress placed restrictions on land leases in New Mexico Territory which were inappropriate to the landscape and climate of the territory, and ever since, individuals and businesses have worked to skirt these restrictions. When Hagerman became governor, he tried to get guidance from the federal government regarding these restrictions and the seemingly illegal contracts granted by his predecessor, but received none. Hagerman was left to either break deals made by his predecessor, or fulfill them if no harm would come to the territory, and the Pennsylvania Land Company deal was one such deal. Hagerman holds that the action he took was neither illegal nor improper, and refutes several specific points from Roosevelt’s letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-15