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William Austin Wadsworth apologizes for not replying to President Roosevelt sooner, but he could not as he was helping care for his son, who had been sick. Wadsworth is going to New York tomorrow and would like to visit Roosevelt when convenient. He read in the paper that Roosevelt supports renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-01
John A. Sleicher warns President Roosevelt that he does not feel that the Republican Party is in good shape in New York State, but that he thinks the presidential ticket would be safe if Governor Charles Evans Hughes were on it as vice president. Hughes has previously expressed that he is not interested in the vice presidency, but Sleicher suggests that if Secretary of War William H. Taft is nominated for the presidency, Roosevelt should personally contact Hughes and ask him to reconsider. Sleicher is somewhat worried about the elections in the fall, and thinks that it will be perilous for the Republican Party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-12
Timothy L. Woodruff discusses the political situation in New York. A clipping from the Brooklyn Eagle suggests that someone knew Woodruff had sent Loeb a copy of a speech he contemplated making to the Kings County Republican Committee. He wonders if the letter from Secretary of War William H. Taft to Herbert Parsons, regarding the presidential nomination, will make a difference outside the state of New York. Woodruff supposes that a large number of New York delegates will support Governor Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-25
Charles William Anderson expresses his disapproval of William L. Wilson as a potential postmaster of New York. One of his objections is that Wilson placed African Americans William H. Butler and Major R. Poole in positions in the New York legislature, despite how they “had used the vilest epithets in referring to President Roosevelt, because of the Brownsville incident.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-08
James Wolcott Wadsworth sends his opinion to President Roosevelt regarding the political situation in Western New York State. Wadsworth reports that in order to avoid bitterness there in the wake of the incident with Archie Dovell Sanders, Assemblyman Jesse S. Phillips should be appointed in Sanders’ place rather than Harvey J. Burkhart.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-29
Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon tells President Roosevelt of his itinerary in New York before he heads to Detroit for his next meeting. Cannon also shares his observations on the gubernatorial campaign of William Randolph Hearst and the Republican Party’s chances in New York in the upcoming election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-21
Oscar S. Straus updates President Roosevelt on the status of the campaigns in New York. Straus is assisting Timothy L. Woodruff, the Chair of the Republican State Committee in New York. He says that while he and Nathan Bijur have their “hands on the pulses on the Eastside,” he is sure that William Randolph Hearst will mislead the people over there. Straus says it is different this year, as Tammany Hall is behind Hearst rather than George B. McClellan. Straus commends Bijur for his work, and says that the leading newspapers of the Eastside are supporting Charles Evans Hughes for Governor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-12
Herbert Parsons expresses disbelief at the Judiciary Nominator’s proposal to nominate nine members of the opposing party and only four Republicans to the ticket. Parsons considers it unwise for their political organization and states that his leadership of the County Committee would be under threat if such a path were followed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-13
Herbert Parsons, president of New York County’s Republican Committee tells President Theodore Roosevelt of a letter by Frank Cobb of The World. Parsons feels, though, that the words of California’s labor men will be even more effective than the words of Republicans like George A. Knight.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-16
Representative Parsons believes that the Judiciary Nominator’s ticket could cost Republicans thousands of votes, specifically because there are no Orthodox Jews on the ticket and certain parts of New York City are not represented. Parsons also notes the absence of respected Judge Rosalsky and the fact that there are more Democrats than Republicans. A circular letter sent out by the Nominators gave the false impression that men active in politics are forever disqualified from being judges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-03
J. Sloat Fassett writes to William Loeb about New York state politics. Fassett thinks that Governor Frank Wayland Higgins and Lieutenant Governor Benjamin B. Odell are about to lose their positions and finds Charles Evans Hughes a good choice for Governor. Fassett thinks Edgar Truman Brackett is not much without his partner and is a “vindictive, bitter man.” Hughes polls well and is gaining attention from the media, including William Randolph Hearst. Fassett wishes that Roosevelt could offer advice impartially, as he finds state Republican Party leader Timothy L. Woodruff ineffectual.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-14
Congressman Parsons returns Cornell President Jacob Gould Schurman’s letter, and he hopes William Loeb will show it to President Roosevelt. Parsons believes that William Randolph Hearst will get the Democrat nomination for New York Governor, as there are not many supporters for William Jerome Travers. Several politicians have alerted Parsons that their constituencies would support Charles Evans Hughes as the Republican nominee, but Parsons is wary of a man with so little political experience and is afraid that his election could provide an opportunity for Benjamin B. Odell to gain a stronger hold on state politics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-06
Warden Gunner of the Port of New York asks to see Representative Parsons sometime Sunday afternoon to discuss county politics in New York. Gunner asks Parsons for an endorsement in advance of the primary election and details what Parsons could say.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-07
Civil Service Commissioner Cooley informs President Roosevelt of William R. Willcox’s progress in depoliticizing the New York City Post Office and running it “on a business basis.” However, Willcox faces the challenge of wresting the office from the traditions of its prior administration and the inconsistencies between the rules for post office employees and those of the Treasury Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-04
William W. Cocks has written to Truman Handy Newberry about appointing William Perry to the Naval Collier service. Cocks saw William Barnes yesterday and discussed the situation in New York City. Cocks hopes William Loeb will help Representative Herbert Parsons over Lemuel Ely Quigg. Cocks also believes it necessary to support Governor Frank Wayland Higgins, since indifference on the part of President Roosevelt will be construed by Republican State Chairman Benjamin B. Odell’s people as opposition to Higgins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-24
Charles Sprague Smith has written to Attorney General William H. Moody recommending that Charles Evans Hughes be the Republican nominee for Governor of New York. Smith offers his assessment of the possible Democratic nominees, Congressman William Randolph Hearst, and New York County District Attorney William Travers Jerome.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-24
Representative Parsons sends President Roosevelt a copy of a speech he gave to the 31st Assembly District. Parsons hopes that it is “up to date Rooseveltian” and meets his approval.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-27
John A. Sleicher is grateful for President Roosevelt’s message to his daughter, and he discusses the possibility of Frank Wayland Higgins being nominated for Governor. Sleicher notes that Chinese laborers are being used for the construction of the Panama Canal, and he suggests the possibility that Filipinos might be used instead.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-28
In a speech to the Mount Morris Republican Club, Representative Parsons advocates for his reelection as Chairman of the County Committee. Parsons stresses that he has the support of Governor Higgins and President Roosevelt and that those who oppose him, like Lemuel Ely Quigg, do so because he refuses to be the “tool of selfish interests.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-23
John A. Sleicher believes that President Roosevelt’s letter to Mr. Watson is “life-saving” for the party in the approaching congressional campaign, and he commends Roosevelt for making a convincing case for Republican policies. Sleicher also discusses possible nominations for New York governor, and he thanks Roosevelt for the note he sent his daughter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-21