Root, Elihu, 1845-1937

Letter from Russell B. Harrison to Theodore Roosevelt

Russell B. Harrison is strongly against the appointment of Colonel Walker to the post of Pension Commissioner, saying that he is viewed as a perpetual seeker of office. He believes that Walker would bring discredit to the Roosevelt administration like Corporal Tanner did to the Benjamin Harrison administration. Harrison believes that the business interests believe that too many pensions are being passed for old soldiers. He also has a low opinion of the War Department and believes new personnel are required. He believes the War Department needs a “Roosevelt Man” unattached to the McKinley administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-04-11

Creator(s)

Harrison, Russell B. (Russell Benjamin), 1854-1936

Letter from Henry Clark Corbin to George Morton Randall

At the direction of Secretary of War Root, General Randall is to quietly send additional forces to southern Alaska to prevent possible disturbances along the disputed Canadian border. A “trusted officer” should also be sent to report upon conditions and look out for Canadian aggression.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-29

Creator(s)

Corbin, Henry Clark, 1842-1909

Letter from Desha Breckinridge to George B. Cortelyou

Desha Breckinridge invites President Roosevelt and Secretary of War Root to communicate their opinions concerning an editorial relating to the Army. The editorial was written by Breckinridge’s father, William Campbell Preston Breckinridge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-04-03

Creator(s)

Breckinridge, Desha, 1867-1935

Letter from Oswald Garrison Villard to Theodore Roosevelt

Oswald Garrison Villard comments on General Nelson Appleton Miles, whose critical remarks concerning military conduct in the Philippines have sparked controversy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-04-03

Creator(s)

Villard, Oswald Garrison, 1872-1949

By telephone from Secretary Root

Secretary of War Elihu Root would like a meeting with President Roosevelt, Secretary of State John Hay, and Attorney General Philander C. Knox before they begin communicating with Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-24

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Benjamin B. Odell to Theodore Roosevelt

Governor Odell, Lieutenant Kelly’s father-in-law, explains that he requested Kelly remain posted at West Point out of fear that his daughter and infant grandchild might be ordered overseas. He will withdraw the application if it creates an “undesirable precedent.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-27

Creator(s)

Odell, Benjamin B. (Benjamin Barker), 1854-1926

Letter from Frederick M. Alger to Theodore Roosevelt

Frederick M. Alger understands that President Roosevelt cannot attend the meeting but requests that a member of the Roosevelt administration come and speak.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-15

Creator(s)

Alger, Frederick M. (Frederick Moulton), 1876-1933

Letter from Merritt O. Chance to George B. Cortelyou

At the direction of Secretary of War Elihu Root, Merritt O. Chance returns General Adna Romanza Chaffee’s telegram.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-18

Creator(s)

Chance, Merritt O. (Merritt Ogle), 1869-1943

Telegram from Richard Harding Davis to Theodore Roosevelt

Richard Harding Davis has received President Roosevelt’s letter and requests a letter from Roosevelt or from Secretary of War Elihu Root to Governor of Puerto Rico William Henry Hunt. In a handwritten note, Root has agreed to furnish the requested letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-18

Creator(s)

Davis, Richard Harding, 1864-1916

Letter from Merritt O. Chance to George B. Cortelyou

At the direction of Secretary of War Elihu Root, Merritt O. Chance returns Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long’s letter regarding “land defenses at Guam, Pearl Harbor, San Juan, and other points.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03-06

Creator(s)

Chance, Merritt O. (Merritt Ogle), 1869-1943

Letter from John Davis Long to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Navy Long explains the Bureau of Equipment’s appropriations estimates for land defense of new American possessions. He adds that additional harbors require fortification and have been protected by the Navy until defense can be turned over to the War Department. He recommends creation of a board of army and naval officers to consider the defense of all naval bases in maritime ports.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-11

Creator(s)

Long, John Davis, 1838-1915

Letter from D. M. Carman to Theodore Roosevelt

D. M. Carman seeks an exoneration, or at least a synopsis of the relevant records, related to a wrong that has tarnished his reputation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-02

Creator(s)

Carman, D. M.

After the ball

Political cartoon regarding the reprimand of General Miles. Caption: Dr. A. & N. Journal – “I find your assailant did not use a gun, but a revolver.” The General – “The deuce he did! He used a cannon.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902

Creator(s)

Unknown

The windfalls of the Schley controversy

The Schley-Sampson controversy has been settled by the court of inquiry and the matter should now be dropped.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12

Creator(s)

Unknown

The windfalls of the Schley controversy, President Roosevelt’s attitude

President Roosevelt and Secretary of War Elihu Root were correct in reprimanding General Nelson Appleton Miles for speaking out publicly regarding the Schley controversy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from George B. Cortelyou to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long has heard that Secretary of War Elihu Root received another letter from General Nelson Appleton Miles. In light of this, Long wonders if he should send the letter (of dismissal) to Edgar Stanton Maclay or hold it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-21

Creator(s)

Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940

Memorandum regarding the application of the International Banking Corporation

Secretary of War Elihu Root has received the application of the International Banking Corporation to serve as fiscal agent of the federal government in the Far East.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-27

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Curtis Guild to Theodore Roosevelt

Curtis Guild relates the events of the Tavern Club’s annual Christmas festival and sends the words of a singing “gag” related to the Miles and Schley incidents. All “decent Democrats” and most of the newspapers in Boston have praised President Roosevelt and Secretary of War Root regarding the incidents. Guild wishes that Winthrop Murray Crane could have accepted the position as Secretary of the Treasury.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-24

Creator(s)

Guild, Curtis, 1860-1915

Letter from Bellamy Storer to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Storer supports the negotiations in Rome and hopes that once the treaty is complete he can leave Madrid. Storer has read President Roosevelt’s message and the Schley decision. He apologizes for his letters of “criticism and complaint.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-18

Creator(s)

Storer, B. (Bellamy), 1847-1922

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft originally planned to make Secretary of State Root and his family comfortable on one of the Panama Railroad Company’s steamers, but he now believes a warship will be more suitable. Root cannot have the USS Charleston because it has gone off into the Pacific, but Taft advises President Roosevelt to have Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte or Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry make arrangements for one of the new cruisers to bring Root home.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-27

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930