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Robbins Gilman reminds Theodore Roosevelt of his previous visits to ask if he would write an editorial on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the University Settlement Society, the first social settlement in the United States. He sends reference materials and suggests Roosevelt visit the settlement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-25
President Roosevelt writes to Chairman Frank H. Hitchcock of the Republican National Committee regarding T. Coleman Du Pont, head of the National Republican Committee Bureau of Campaign Speakers. Roosevelt believes Du Pont’s resignation would have had a better effect if it had happened when initially suggested. He instructs Hitchcock to guard against the opposition’s use of the situation in their campaign and explains the differences in the seemingly similar cases of Du Pont and Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell. There has been distressing feedback from New York State, especially concerning the renomination of Governor Charles Evans Hughes and the dissatisfaction of the labor crowd, and Roosevelt outlines persons who should be brought in to assist with securing New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-26
President Roosevelt believes that as the national capital, Washington, D.C., should be a model city in providing solutions for the social problems present in large cities. He thinks Charles Frederick Weller’s study will aid in identifying issues and suggesting solutions. The Homes Commission has been appointed to begin the same work in Washington, D.C. as it conducted in New York. Roosevelt appreciates Weller’s effective use of specific stories in his book instead of the usual, dull statistics. He feels Weller’s book provides a sympathetic understanding of these social problems.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-08
President Roosevelt will follow the course suggested by William Emlen Roosevelt and will advise Congress that if they do not act, he will. Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock has promised a pony for the children. James Bronson Reynolds of the University Settlement can be contacted regarding a political subscription.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-09
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Helen Suydam Cutting Wilmerding regarding her legal action, and explains that while he personally does not know who has jurisdiction in her case, he has enclosed letters of introduction for two lawyers that she can consult.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-29
President Roosevelt tells Henry Moskowitz that he wishes he could attend the dinner to James Bronson Reynolds, but that he cannot. He holds Reynolds in great regard, and met him when he was police commissioner shortly after meeting Jacob A. Riis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-21
President Roosevelt invites Zaidee Ellis Gaff to participate on the President’s Homes Commission with fifteen other members.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-18
President Roosevelt encloses a report on tenement housing conditions in Washington, D.C., by James Bronson Reynolds. He asks Florence Lathrop Page if she can serve as a member of the new President’s Homes Commission and lists the other proposed members.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-13
President Roosevelt sends George Miller Sternberg a copy of James Bronson Reynolds’ report. In accordance with the recommendations made, he designates a commission of fifteen people, whom he lists. He asks Sternberg to serve on the commission.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-04
President Roosevelt has decided to form a commission of fifteen members to pursue the recommendations James Bronson Reynolds gave in his report on housing the poor in Washington D. C. He lists the proposed commission members and asks Reynolds to serve as a member.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-04
President Roosevelt tells Alexander Lambert that he is glad to hear about Mr. Dooley and the Century. He says that if he appoints anyone from New York, it will likely be James Bronson Reynolds. Roosevelt is still undecided, however, and says that he thinks highly of Goodwin Brown.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-25
President Roosevelt asks Lieutenant Governor Woodruff if he would give judge William J. Carr the letter about his nomination and discusses activities regarding upcoming elections in New York and New York City.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-09
President Roosevelt details various strategies for the Republican candidates in the upcoming elections in New York to Lieutenant Governor of New York and New York Republican State Committee Chairman Woodruff. Roosevelt believes William Randolph Hearst will carry votes in Upstate New York, therefore the focus should not be only on the cities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-04
President Roosevelt promises to read Frances Kellor’s book and pamphlet with interest, and appreciates her willingness to work with government officials. In a handwritten addition, Roosevelt mentions reaching the chapter on Household Work in her book, and wishes it could be distributed to “just about four fifths of those who hire houshold servants!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-04
President Roosevelt tells Richard Watson Gilder, of The Century Magazine, that he does not believe there would be any value to Secretary of War William H. Taft writing an article about the tariff at present, as he is not particularly familiar with it. While Taft is very familiar with the Panama Canal and the Philippines, Roosevelt does not feel that Taft would do himself justice by writing an article on the tariff.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-26
President Roosevelt sends Speaker of the House Cannon a self-explanatory telegram regarding the printing of the year of manufacture on cans of preserved meat, and says that he has “never known greater unity of opinion among outsider than this to the effect that the date of the year should be put on the cans.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-26
President Roosevelt slightly prefers the wording of Senator Beveridge’s amendment to the one presented by the House, but does not think the difference is vital. Roosevelt recently spoke with Representative Henry Cullen Adams of Wisconsin regarding the majority report, and he accepted most of the amendments proposed on the bill. Roosevelt reiterates that he is not concerned with the way these amendments are phrased, but is concerned rather with the results obtained. He especially wants to avoid getting bogged down in arguments about minutia, as was the case of a statehood bill several years ago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-16
President Roosevelt acknowledges the statement he made which he was in error about there being no provision to make the meat packing plants accessible to inspectors at any hour, but comments that while a similar provision was put in, it was not as good as the original one. He explains his objections to further provisions of the bill, especially the one involving courts, which he believes shows “a deliberate purpose to interfere with effective administration,” as it would require a judge to back up any declarations of the Secretary of Agriculture. Roosevelt has spoken with Representative Henry Cullen Adams recently, who has agreed that the changes that Roosevelt and other members of the Executive Department recommended should be made. Roosevelt emphasizes to Representative Wadsworth that his aim is to allow “a thorough and rigid, and not a sham, inspection,” which the current amendment does not allow for.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-15
President Roosevelt has gone over Representative Wadsworth’s bill closely, and believes that it is a poor substitute for the presently existing bill. Roosevelt believes Wadsworth’s amendment, as written, “is framed so as to minimize the chance of rooting out the evil in the packing business.” While this may be attractive to the meat packing business in the short term, Roosevelt believes it would be extremely harmful in the long run, and would hamper the Secretary of Agriculture’s work. While Roosevelt admits that he may sign the bill if it is passed, as it is a slight improvement on existing conditions, he would only do so with an accompanying memorandum stating the defects of the bill. Passing the bill in the form Wadsworth suggests would harm both external and external trade.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-14
President Roosevelt sends Congressman Wadsworth the reports of an inspection made by a committee appointed by the Department of Agriculture into conditions at meat packinghouses. Prior to the completion of these inspections, Roosevelt ordered a similar investigation be made by Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill and James Bronson Reynolds. Their report is not yet concluded and contains some details not touched upon by the Department of Agriculture’s reports, but there is no significant disagreement in the two studies. Roosevelt believes that the simple fact of investigations into conditions at the packinghouses has already produced beneficial changes, and provides the text of a letter attesting to this. In order to continue this improvement of conditions, Roosevelt calls for “immediate, thoroughgoing and radical enlargement of the powers of the Government in inspecting all meats which enter into interstate and foreign commerce.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-08