Railroad law

President Roosevelt holds a bow with an arrow labeled “Tariff Revision” and two other arrows in his mouth, “Income Tax” and “Inheritance Tax.” Just beyond him is a man labeled “Trusts” with a large apple labeled “The Tariff” on his head. The man has the arrows, “Anti-rebate,” “Anti-trust” “Railroad Rate Law,” and “Pure Food” in his chest, and he is saying, “The most unkindest cut of all!” Caption: “See if you can hit the apple, Mr. Roosevelt.”

Comments and Context

Both President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Elihu Root went public with ideas about economic and governmental reforms that shocked many people in the Republican Party and on Wall Street. Chief among these were theoretical considerations of a national income tax and a national inheritance tax. These concepts previously had been relegated, and rejected, by many Americans as Populist or even Socialist dogma.

The year 1906 had been one of tremendous ferment in politics and the economy — laws, regulations, Muckraking agitation, arrest of corporate leaders, elections of reformers. Roosevelt inspired some of these movements; he was pressured by some of them; and he did have a fear of revolution if mild reforms did not anticipate unrest. As he included some of these ideas in Annual Message in December, he made sure that Root, who agreed with the thrust of these reforms, went public too — thus removing some of the sting felt by conservative Republicans and financiers.

The London Times relays reports from its correspondent in America regarding various issues and events in the United States. In particular, the correspondent provides updates on political policies and legislation, as well as events that have happened in Washington, D.C., and between the United States and countries abroad, such as Venezuela and Haiti.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-30

Because President Roosevelt has been vocal about his policies, there was nothing novel in the “vigorous” speech he had delivered the day before, but there is a need for him to reiterate his policies to dissipate misconceptions. Roosevelt argues that he is for the preservation of property rights, but against the predatory practices of wealthy men. Roosevelt says that past misdeeds, which were not illegal when committed, should be forgotten. Roosevelt outlines ways to govern the railroad trusts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-31

A figure with the head of a steam locomotive leans back in a chair and reads over a scroll of paper labeled “railroad rate bill.” The bottom of the bill continues down to the floor and out of sight with many further pieces of paper labeled “amendment.” To the right stands the figure of Theodore Roosevelt, looking on and leaning on his “big stick.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1906-02-06

Theodore Roosevelt argues that the United States needs to pass legislation regulating railroad securities so their value cannot be inflated. Roosevelt acknowledges there may need to be some leeway for newer companies building in remote areas, and he argues against regulating existing railroad securities, but he firmly believes that the credit and the development of the nation as a whole will be better if established railroad companies are forbidden from inflating the values of newly issued securities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

Unknown

Bluebeard, wearing a hat labeled “Bankruptcy” and holding in his raised left hand a clock labeled “Obligations,” holds a sword in his right hand and confronts a woman labeled “Railroads” who begs for mercy, just as a knight labeled “Increased Freight Rates” enters from the left.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-12-17

A sculpture labeled “Pocahontas pleading for the life of John Smith” depicts Theodore Roosevelt labeled “The Great Father” holding a big stick over his head and standing over John Smith labeled “Railroads,” about to strike him, as Pocahontas labeled “Wall Street” tries to stop Roosevelt.

Comments and Context

The cover of Puck with L. M. Glackens’s distinctive but unusual cartoon requires familiarity with contemporary events and popular trends in 1907. Readers of the day would not have required more than rudimentary labels that were, actually, largely superfluous for them.

The “Jamestown Exposition” was a major event of the day, held to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of that seminal American colony in Virginia. Not that the United States lacked for World’s Fairs or near equivalents — the Chicago Columbian Exposition; the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo; the St Louis World’s Fair — but the Jamestown celebration was the closest America could organize for a birthday party. Among its celebrants and speakers was President Roosevelt.

Lyman Abbott draws Theodore Roosevelt’s attention to an item in The Globe which might amuse Roosevelt and William H. Taft. Abbott also discusses an amendment to the Dolliver bill which Judge Taft approves.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-09

President Roosevelt writes to his Kermit and says people have been asking his to make a speech on the railroad situation, but he has said all he wants to say. Roosevelt compliments Kermit on learning to jump on a horse, gives updates on the family, and describes the spring scenery.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1907-03-31

John Allison examines Richard Olney’s article on the constitutionality of the United States Congress delegating control of railroad operations and rates to a commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10

Theodore Roosevelt replies to William Davenport Hulbert’s letter, expressing his desire that Hulbert should come east to personally discuss viewpoints on the government’s role in Alaska, particularly in regard to coal fields and railroads there. Roosevelt believes that it has been difficult to develop Alaska due to the type of laws “under which the Guggenheims acquired the Cunningham claims,” but does not want to go against the law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-29

Theodore Roosevelt believes Senator Jonathan Dolliver and Representative William Hepburn both played significant roles in creating the Act referenced in a previous letter. Roosevelt says Dolliver had as much to do with its passage as anybody in Congress, and without him, it would not have passed through the Senate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-10-02

President Roosevelt assures Lawrence F. Abbott that he has followed the course of The Outlook. Roosevelt believes Abbott is correct in thinking that bankers and businesses will eventually look at the course that Roosevelt currently advocates, in the way the railroads now view legislation they had previously opposed. Roosevelt encloses an address by Robert Mather of the Rock Island Railway, who had previously been an enemy of the rate bill. Roosevelt also thinks that Abbott will like his message to Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-12

President Theodore Roosevelt thinks John A. Sleicher is “right about my meeting those railroad men.” The railroad men need to announce that they accept and will work with the government regulation. They are being cooperative now, but it would have been better had they thought to do this a year ago.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-12

President Roosevelt encloses a telegram from Patrick H. Morrissey and asks Senator Hepburn if Morrissey could be summoned before his conference committee. Roosevelt assumes that Hepburn wants the opinions of the best men from railroad organizations before they pass legislation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-21

James Kennedy reminds Theodore Roosevelt of a previous letter he sent containing a speech he gave to Congress about railroad legislation. He resends a copy, and asks that Roosevelt carefully consider and respond to it, as it is relevant to a recent decision made.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-18

William Vanamee informs Theodore Roosevelt of Chester Hardy Aldrich’s stance critiquing the interpretation of Railroad Rate Law and notes it is popular to criticize the courts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-16

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-11

Creator(s)

Miller, Irvin R. (Irvin Randolph), 1883-1954

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Frank Knox thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his courtesy and found the luncheon at the Astro Club “most interesting.” He suspects Charles S. Mellen of trying to “put one across” again and feels Edgar J. Rich overly emphasizes the need for immediate legislation regarding the Boston and Maine railroad’s illegal rates. Knox shares further concerns and thoughts about New Hampshire’s fight against the railroads.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-10

Herman Henry Kohlsaat explains that he has asked Forrest Crissey of the Saturday Evening Post if he would write an article about a letter President Roosevelt sent regarding the regulation of railroads in 1899. The Post would like to reprint the letter in question as a facsimile, and since Mabel Blake Kohlsaat is unsure where the original letter is, Kohlsaat requests another signed version of the letter for reproduction.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-22