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House Democrats passed two resolutions of inquiry asking if the Department of Justice has investigated the Anthracite Trust. Democrats were attempting to embarrass the Roosevelt administration, but the response from Attorney General Knox showed that the administration is effectively carrying out its duties and looking out for the people’s interests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-29
President Roosevelt greets a bandaged “Congress” sitting in a wheelchair and holding a sign that reads, “Resolved, that you never touched me! Congress.”
President Roosevelt sincerely believed in the necessity of expanding the role and resources of the Secret Service. A growing country had new problems, many crossing state lines, and there was no agency but the Secret Service, at least by logical extension. It was created strictly to protect the president and his family; and to chase counterfeiters. He was angered and increasingly frustrated that Congress would not consider his requests.
Two men light matches to ignite two cannons–“Senate inquiry” and “House inquiry”–with “resolution” padding. They say, “Ready” and “Aim” as they are pointed toward President Roosevelt. The president smiles as he looks on holding a “reply” bomb. He says, “Fire away.”
The inspiration for Joseph Harry Cunningham’s cartoon in the Washington Herald (reprinted in the Omaha Bee and clipped for the cartoon scrapbook kept by the Roosevelt White House) would be unclear to contemporary readers, but quite obvious to citizens at the end of 1908.
The “U.S. Senate” holds a “resolution” in his left hand and points at Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte in the other. The “Senate” asks, “Why didn’t you prosecute the steel trust?” President Roosevelt stands beside the seated Bonaparte and says, “Don’t answer that, Charlie.”
Democratic Senator Charles A. Culberson introduced a resolution at this time of this cartoon, inquiring of Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte whether President Roosevelt, during the Wall Street Panic of 1907 rightly permitted the absorption of Tennessee Iron and Coal by United States Steel. The President intervened and directed Bonaparte not to respond.
President Roosevelt holds a “special message” torch that lights up the area–“exposure of congressional strangling of Secret Service.” A man brings a covered platter labeled “resolution to expunge from record.”
The controversy over the expansion of the Secret Service had grown from a presidential request to address new forms of corruption and crime that were not currently addressed if they crossed between states. President Roosevelt assessed that the Secret Service, already in existence but restricted to presidential protection and chasing counterfeiters, was best suited to build upon. For a passel of reasons Congress repeatedly rebuffed the proposals.
“Congress” uses a “resolutions” hatchet to attempt to cut into “the president’s message” tree stump. Hiding in the stump is a bear in the shape of President Roosevelt.
Perry James Carter was a political cartoonist who was known and beloved in the upper Midwest in his, and evidently was content to stay put, in the manner of the great Billy Ireland ( Columbus Dispatch) who said that his ambition was not to break into the New York market but continue to be accepted in Chillicothe (Ohio). Albert Shaw, who wrote cartoon histories of Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, said Carter’s work was “of higher average merit than those of any other cartoonist at home or abroad.”
President Roosevelt reads a sign that several school boys show him: “Resolved that we are too big to be spanked. It injures our dignity and besides people might begin to think we needed it.” Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon holds the sign, and a number of Representatives and Senators are behind him. Caption: A revolt in the district school.
Researchers reading President Roosevelt’s last Annual Message, from early December 1908, and be startled by a short passage in the midst of many claims of policy achievements, and a host of prescriptions for the coming months and years. There was a brief please for Congressional approval to expand the functions, and the funding, of the Secret Service. The nation, the government, and concomitant challenges of investigation and law enforcement had all increased in the century’s first decade.
President Roosevelt sits at his desk with his “big stick” and “my policies” book. A man labeled “resolutions committee” attempts to sneak up on him as a woman labeled “Congress” watches. The man says, “You’ll injure her dignity, will you?” The woman says, “Be careful. He may be watching you.” On the ground is the “President’s message.”
As the slim mailing sticker (“Executive Mansion”) on the front-page clipping from the Detroit Free Press suggests, this clipping in the White House scrapbook must have pleased President Roosevelt. He is caricatured as a bit scruffy, not as a Chief Executive at his desk, but the figures representing Congress and a special committee thereof are shown less flatteringly.
The “Senate” holds President Roosevelt, who has the label of “Teddy the boy detective,” in one hand and a “resolutions” paddle in the other. The “House” follows behind them with a “Golden Rule” paddle.
J. H. Donahey’s cartoon of Congress taking a naughty President Roosevelt “to the woodshed” (for an old-fashioned thrashing) represents a controversy that seriously marred the last months of the Roosevelt Administration, despite being largely forgotten today.
Representative Gardner reports to William Loeb regarding Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s actions. Lodge is telling Secretary of War William H. Taft’s people that his attitude regarding the resolutions has President Roosevelt’s approval. Gardner did not understand Roosevelt that way and asks Loeb to wire him. A note states that this message was relayed to Loeb over the phone, and that Loeb referred it to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-08
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of the Navy Metcalf of a resolution that he has received from the United States Senate stating that all communications from heads of departments, chiefs of bureaus, or other executive officers will not be received in the Senate unless they come from the president. Roosevelt directs Metcalf to act accordingly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-17
This portion of the United States Congressional Record documents a conversation pertaining to a proposed joint resolution directing Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte to act on a matter related to grants of land in Oregon made to railroad companies. Some amendments to the resolution were made, including the removal of the preamble.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-21
This report notes actions taken by Senator Benjamin R. Tillman regarding western land grants. Tillman introduced a resolution calling on President Roosevelt to communicate with the Senate, but failed to specify particular areas of land he was concerned with. Senator Charles William Fulton later reported a substitute resolution, which specifies the areas in question. Relevant pages of the Congressional Record containing remarks by Tillman and Fulton are noted for reference purposes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-04
Following the direction of President Roosevelt, this letter states that every document and information pertaining to the absorption of the the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company by the United States Steel Corporation has been gathered, compiled, and submitted per the Senate resolution. The documents that are deemed confidential by Roosevelt in accordance with the law will not be made public, but those confidential documents have no bearing on the subject matter of the Senate resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-28
Theodore Roosevelt informs Postmaster General George von Lengerke Meyer that any communication of the Senate he receives should be transmitted to him.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1908-01-17
The committee of Representative Jenkins has adjourned for the session. The anti-immigration bill and the Hearst coal resolution will not be reported. Jenkins wants President Roosevelt to know that he voted with the Democratic members of the committee on the Williams resolution in order to control the resolution on the floor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-22
Governor Hunt encloses a resolution passed by the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly opposing economic concessions to Cuba. Hunt was able to alter the resolution to bring it in conformity with President Roosevelt’s views.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-27
President Roosevelt wants a House Resolution to authorize or endorse the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty, as reported from the Senate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-02-25
Assistant Secretary of State Loomis acknowledges communicating with Senator Cullom and Mr. Hitt concerning the resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-08
John M. Taylor encloses resolutions of the Executive Committee for the Cherokee Indians endorsing Theodore Roosevelt for President.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-27