Railroads and state

President Roosevelt has met with New Mexico Territory Governor George Curry and shares his findings with Assistant Attorney General McHarg. Roosevelt says Curry can be trusted absolutely, and that he will aid McHarg in any possible way in his investigation of political and judicial corruption in New Mexico. Roosevelt warns McHarg that Curry’s predecessor, Herbert J. Hagerman, and his associates will do everything possible to turn him against Curry. In a postscript, Roosevelt sends a report from Bernard Shandon Rodey regarding Hagerman’s father, James John Hagerman, and his alleged corrupt practices. Roosevelt asks McHarg to visit him after his preliminary investigation of the situation but before he “probes…to the bottom.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-31

Samuel H. Chauvenet writes to Theodore Roosevelt about the railroad industry. Chauvenet discusses the impact of tariffs and taxes on freight costs. According to Chauvenet, the public will soon demand that the government control the railroads. If this happens, Chauvenet suggests that the railroads enlist men similar to the Army and Navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-26

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

Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry submits a report to President Roosevelt about the coal situation. The Navy Department wants to approve what Admiral Wm. S. Cowles has written about this subject. Newberry concludes by listing three propositions the Navy Department could adopt if the transcontinental railroads offer a lower rate than the New England Coal and Coke Company has already proposed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-06

Andrew Carnegie tells President Roosevelt not to miss the editorial in today’s New York Times. Carnegie notes that the markets have recovered, and now he hopes for “hum drum” rest. Carnegie also remarks on the need for railroad regulation and the good work of the Interstate Commerce Commission, and that the “railway men” will favor it eventually. Carnegie hopes that Roosevelt will dictate a letter to be read at the upcoming National Arbitration and Peace Congress, and insists, twice, that Roosevelt should “take a holiday.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-07

Theodore P. Shonts is concerned about the financial uncertainty that is shaking the country. Railroads are defaulting on loans, the value of investments is shrinking, and many investors are selling off their stocks, flooding the market and driving prices even lower. Shonts suggests that President Roosevelt could calm fears by making a statement of the government’s future intentions regarding the railroads. Shonts also proposes that George B. Cortelyou, recently named Secretary of the Treasury, visit New York and offer to meet with financiers, either individually or as a group, to try to identify solutions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-23

Railroad executive William C. Brown encloses to William Loeb letters relating to the public’s attitude towards railroad companies, and the need for railroad companies, after a period of public condemnation, to have peace and encouragement. Brown cares deeply about President Roosevelt’s good opinion of him, and wanted to be sure that Roosevelt had the full context of the communications between Brown and the press on this topic. As such, he encloses the complete letter he wrote on the subject, an editorial from the Wall Street Journal, and an exchange between himself and the editor of the Wall Street Journal, Sereno Stransbury Pratt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-03

Chairman Theodore P. Shonts showed W. C. Brown’s letter to President Roosevelt, “who read it with interest.” Roosevelt agreed with Brown and understands that the need for increased pay for employees and shorter work hours requires appropriate rates, and the government wants to ensure no discrimination in rates. Roosevelt also wants to ensure that railroad securities are used for specific improvements like more terminals or additional rolling stock to ensure the security of investors’ money.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-01

Railroad executive William C. Brown thanks the gentlemen at Dow Jones & Co. for their editorial, “Railroads Need Encouragement,” in this morning’s edition of the Wall Street Journal expressing encouragement and commendation to the railroad companies, which Brown says have endured a great deal of “indiscriminate censure and criticism,” or even “abuse,” over the past two years. Brown states that the railroad companies are not without, in some cases, “very great fault,” but hopes that credit can be given to those companies that have been run well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-01

Railroad executive William C. Brown tells Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission Theodore P. Shonts that he is happy Shonts will be coming to New York. He reminisces about a train trip taken with then vice-presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt, and discusses the paths their careers have taken. Brown expresses his support for federal and state railroad regulations, but is concerned that poor public confidence surrounding abuses and corruption by railroad executives in the past, is impacting the financing of railroad improvements. Brown hopes President Roosevelt will “call attention to the fact that the railroads are an important and inseparable part of the wealth of this Nation.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-28

Railroad executive W. C. Brown explains to Joseph Nimmo, a statistician working on the Interstate Commerce Commission, the extent to which poor public confidence in railroads will impact the overall finance of railroad companies. Brown has confidence in the Interstate Commerce Commission in its regulation decisions. He believes the “abuses and hurtful practices” of some railroad companies have been stopped, but continues to be concerned about the “universal and indiscriminate” condemnation of the railroad companies. Brown hopes President Roosevelt will appeal for fair and reasonable treatment of the railroads to restore confidence in them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-22

Now that he has retired as Secretary of the Navy, Paul Morton makes a statement concerning the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Company and Colorado Fuel and Iron Company rebate case. Morton outlines the agreement between the parties and his own involvement in securing injunctions against the companies. Morton stresses his long history as a railroad man and his commitment to transparency and fairness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-05

King Léopold II of Belgium warns President Roosevelt that the Chinese are seeking to remove a railroad concession from an American company, which consequently threatens some Belgian shareholders. Léopold sees this as a broader movement of the Chinese to exclude other nations from doing business in their country. He feels, however, that if Roosevelt ordered the American consuls to watch over the work on the railroad that the Chinese would back down and not directly oppose the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-01

William Jennings Bryan returns President Roosevelt’s attention to a topic on which they had previously had a cursory discussion: civil service appointments. Bryan contrasts the bipartisan principle of civil service appointments with the non-partisan one because he feels that civil service employees are currently afraid to have political opinions, especially those contrary to the present administration. He suggests that the government should instead encourage political activity among civil servants as it does with all citizens. Bryan urges that this issue will become even more important as cities move toward municipal ownership and that it will be “absolutely necessary” in the event that railroads become publicly owned.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-04

John Grimes Walker responds to Secretary Taft’s request for his opinion on the necessity of maintaining and constructing steamships. Walker has nothing to say directly about that issue, but responds to the suggested abandonment of the Panama Steamship Line. He feels such a move would be disastrous for construction of the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-03

Nicholas Murray Butler writes that the New York City newspapers have published favorable reviews of President Roosevelt’s message. Railroad executives are reacting to statements of pending regulations. It is expected that Roosevelt will discuss the tariff at a later date since he did not include the topic in his speech. Butler includes a lengthy excerpt of a letter from John S. Kennedy. Kennedy writes that Roosevelt backers are being pressured to support F. Marion Crawford for a diplomatic position in Turkey. Kennedy does not think a Catholic appointee would protect the American Protestant missionaries in Turkey. Butler surmises the pressure is being brought to bear by Mrs. Hobson. Butler concludes by reminding Roosevelt he promised to schedule a meal to celebrate the election with old friends, like Joseph Bucklin Bishop and Butler, in New York City.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-07

President Roosevelt gestures at “Dr. Roosevelt’s peerless, political panaceas” with “satisfaction guaranteed or your vote refunded.” There are jars for “labor unions,” “the trusts,” “the farmers,” “tariff revisionists,” “railroads,” “the newspapers,” and “employers.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

C. R. Macauley’s cartoon of President Roosevelt as a snake-oil salesman peddling rostrums — pandering to various constituencies — was standard fare for any cartoonist in any campaign, regarding any politician of any party. Roosevelt frankly admitted to cultivating support from many corners and even engaging in political give-and-take — with “due regard for opportunism” yet never sacrificing righteousness (as he said in a 1914 court case in which he was sued for libel by a machine politician).

President Roosevelt addresses William Randolph Hearst as William Jennings Bryan looks at their marbles game, which includes marbles labeled “tariff revision,” “regulation of R.R.,” “popular election of Sen.,” “popular election of judges,” “ship subsidy,” and “public ownership.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

It is wholly inadequate to identify William Randolph Hearst by first invoking the motion picture Citizen Kane, yet for many people since his death in 1951, that character provides the touchstone, and it is a gross caricature. Hearst’s father George was a prospector who made a fortune from silver claims and other mineral and land opportunities in the West. He rose to attain a vast fortune and secured a seat in the United States Senate. When his son, “Willie,” was expelled from Harvard, George gifted him with the San Francisco Examiner, hoping that a newspaper career would keep him busy, and maybe out of mischief.

President Roosevelt–dressed in Americana boxing gear–punches a man labeled “Railroads” squarely in the face.

comments and context

Comments and Context

What makes this cartoon by J. H. Donahey significant to posterity is the date of its publication, immediately preceding the Wall Street Panic.

President Roosevelt travels in a riverboat that is headed toward tree branches in the river: “beef trust,” “tobacco trust,” “railroad trust,” “Harriman interests,” and “Standard Oil.” A teddy bear keeps him company in the barge.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Cartoonist Clifford Kennedy Berryman used the title of Mark Twain’s famous book of recollections, Life On the Mississippi, for his depiction of President Roosevelt’s progress toward Louisiana, mid-way through an extended speaking tour in the Autumn of 1907.