Your TR Source
Melvin C. Smith asks Theodore Roosevelt if he favors the Canadian reciprocity bill in preparation for a debate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-11
Herman Henry Kohlsaat asks Theodore Roosevelt to look at a letter from Senator Cushman Kellogg Davis, which he had promised to send. Kohlsaat also encloses an interview with Senator Albert Baird Cummins and expresses his doubt that Cummins will remain loyal to the Republican cause.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-05
S. S. McNinch is concerned about the Republican Party’s political outlook under President William H. Taft’s leadership. Taft is unpopular in North Carolina due to his selection of Democrats for important positions, reciprocity, and not supporting Theodore Roosevelt’s policies. He believes that “the whole country will go Democratic” unless proper leadership is given and wishes Roosevelt were a candidate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-18
A report purportedly from the Watertown-Libertyville Debating Club’s July meeting states that the members decided that President William H. Taft should be elected “Plenipotentiary, Ambassador Extraordinary, and Governor-General Collosalinary” of Canada based on his commitment to a reciprocity treaty. The report is likely satirical.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-21
George C. Batcheller is not sure how Theodore Roosevelt feels about reciprocity, but states that he is in favor of it and encloses a newspaper clipping which outlines his views on the topic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-30
Oscar K. Davis thinks that Theodore Roosevelt may have a chance to win the Republican nomination for President in 1912. There is a concerted effort to prevent the renomination of President William H. Taft, and Senator Robert M. La Follette and his allies are squandering their chances at success through their efforts to filibuster the reciprocity measure.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-12
Wharton Barker sees Theodore Roosevelt as a leading voice in the Canadian trade reciprocity debate, and inquires into Roosevelt’s thoughts on a pamphlet discussing a commercial union between the United States and Canada. He suspects that he has “given the question more consideration, [he is] sure, than any other citizen in our country has given it.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-29
Henry White recounts an encounter with Chief Justice Edward Douglass White to whom he conveyed a message from Theodore Roosevelt on the recent Standard Oil decision. He shares the chief justice’s thoughts on the case before confiding in Roosevelt the details of a conversation with President Taft on “the situation in Canada” and difficulty the president is having with the two senators from Rhode Island. He closes with an inquiry as to whether he can stay with the Roosevelts in Oyster Bay before departing on a trip to Europe in June.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-24
Ina C. Philbric, a farmer, is concerned about the topic of reciprocity with Canada. Philbric worries what this reciprocity, and inevitable involvement of many other countries, would do to the taxation and profit of farmers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-22
On behalf of Emerson Hough, Herbert Vanderhoof sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of Canada Monthly that includes Hough’s article, “Real Reciprocity.”
Charles P. Hess is disappointed by Theodore Roosevelt’s support of the Reciprocity Bill. He warns that it will harm his political ambition and, as a forerunner of free trade, will “bring untold hardships” on manufacturers, producers, and working men.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-25
Treadwell Twitchell sent his article on reciprocity to The Outlook. He permits Theodore Roosevelt to delete a large portion of it as needed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-25
John Callan O’Laughlin reports he returned home and left business negotiations in Victor L. Mason’s control. This attempt to secure foreign finance taught him the “tremendous power of the Morgans.” He is excited about the results of Theodore Roosevelt’s trip and discusses what states each presidential candidate expects delegates from. O’Laughlin notes that President William H. Taft does not know how to handle the worsening situation in Mexico. Congress will approve the reciprocity bill in the coming week.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-18
Charles M. Reese enjoyed Theodore Roosevelt’s speech to the Minnesota Legislature. He reports that Roosevelt is popular in the Northwest but warns him not to ruin this by favoring the Canadian Reciprocity Act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-17
J. B. Templeton asks Theodore Roosevelt for his opinion on reciprocity with Canada in preparation for an academic debate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-18
Calvin M. Hayes is very concerned by the prospect of reciprocity with Canada as he feels it will greatly damage the ability of American farmers to profitably grow wheat. He asks Theodore Roosevelt, as a prominent citizen, to speak out against reciprocity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-20
Paul V. Collins is pleased by the suggestion to meet Theodore Roosevelt on his train, and proposes journeying west so that he might have more time to interview Roosevelt. He asks if it would be possible to arrange for an exclusive interview on the question of reciprocity, as he feels it is a farmers’ question. Too often, however, The Northwestern Agriculturist is beaten to press by newspapers because it takes longer to produce an issue of the magazine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-15
Paul V. Collins, having learned that Theodore Roosevelt is presently traveling to Chicago, sends him a copy of a message he recently sent to his New York address. Collins discusses the position of Minnesota and Minnesotan farmers regarding the tariff and reciprocity with Canada. Collins believes the current proposed reciprocity deal would be very harmful to farmers, as it would result in free trade of agricultural products–opening farmers up to competition with Canadian farmers–while still protecting everything farmers have to purchase. It seems to Collins that much of the support for the current measure comes from railroads, who would stand to make a great deal of money, and from manufacturers, who incorrectly assume it would benefit them. Collins hopes to speak with Roosevelt about the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-06
Senator Lodge would like to help Hannis Taylor but President Taft has already selected the commissioners. The tariff commission bill Lodge has been working on will not pass and he is doubtful that Senator Lorimer will retain his Senate seat. He continues to support reciprocity with Canada but the negotiations were poorly conducted and the potential treaty gives a great deal to Canada with nothing in return.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-21
The Memphis News Scimitar asks Theodore Roosevelt to wire his opinion on the Canadian reciprocity agreement so that they can publish it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-11