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President Roosevelt sends University of California President Wheeler a copy of the senators’ letter. To resolve the matter of confirming Clarence S. Merrill, Roosevelt requests more information about him and Charles E. Thomas. He also directs Wheeler to “get me as strong a protest as possible.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
University of California President Wheeler tells President Roosevelt that most Californians are eager to show their support for Secretary of War William H. Taft’s presidential bid. The Alameda County, California, political machine generally opposes Taft, but William F. Herrin has instructed these men to support Taft. Wheeler praises Roosevelt’s skillful handling of the Berkeley, California post office matter, which Wheeler believes has secured California’s delegation for Taft. He updates Roosevelt on other happenings in California state politics and advises him to do nothing for now.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-20
University of California President Benjamin Ide Wheeler sends William Loeb information regarding Secretary of War William H. Taft’s recent trip to Washington state. Wheeler discusses a letter from Judge Henry A. Melvin to Arthur I. Vorys in which Melvin says the existing political machine in Alameda County, California, will support Taft in the upcoming primaries. Wheeler believes Melvin wrote this letter because he is indebted to William E. Dargie and George W. Reed for his judgeship. Wheeler feels that these men are truly in opposition to Taft and Roosevelt, but are supporting Taft because his victory seems inevitable and they want to be on the winning side.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-19
Arthur I. Vorys includes information from Judge Henry A. Melvin in Alameda County, California about the appointment of Charles E. Thomas as postmaster of Berkeley as well as the impact the appointment could have on the candidacy of Secretary of War William H. Taft. Melvin believes that President Roosevelt should not appoint someone else as postmaster because it would be a “serious blow” to major political leaders there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11