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President Roosevelt thanks Allan Robinson for the information about a potential candidate for Commissioner General of Immigration, likely William Williams. However, he doubts whether he can appoint Williams to the position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-09
Carroll D. Wright thanks President Roosevelt for his kindness upon his resignation as Commissioner of Labor. Wright suggests that Roosevelt consult Frank P. Sargent, Commissioner of Immigration, regarding the possible naming of Mr. Clark as his successor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-12
Commissioner General of Immigration Sargent informs Secretary of the Treasury Shaw that he has brought charges against Chinese Inspector Ralph Izard and is seeking his dismissal from service for the Bureau of Immigration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-12
President Roosevelt and Frank P. Sargent on stage in front of an audience.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902-11-13
President Roosevelt asks Acting Secretary of State Bacon to refer to an enclosure, and says that he is of the opinion that Frank P. Sargent, Commissioner of Immigration, should be sent to Japan. There are still many Japanese laborers arriving in the United States who should not be. Roosevelt says that there seems to have been some difficulty with the Department of Commerce and Labor, and asks to know what the difficulty is so that he can fix it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-06
President Roosevelt calls Secretary of State Root’s attention to a report by Commissioner General of Immigration Frank P. Sargent regarding Japanese immigrants. He asks whether this is a matter that they should speak with the Japanese authorities about.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-14
President Roosevelt tells Hawaii Territory Governor Carter to proceed as he has been with immigration. Roosevelt says that Commissioner General of Immigration Frank P. Sargent is pleased with Carter’s work, and he does not need to change anything unless contributions were coming from corporations instead of individuals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-02
President Roosevelt is disappointed that James Bronson Reynolds is declining the invitation to become a secretary for the Nobel committee. Roosevelt also responds to concerns Reynolds expressed about abuses by government officials regarding Chinese immigrants. He asks Reynolds to provide details which the administration might investigate and on which they might act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-22
President Roosevelt concludes, based on the statement from Representative Alexander, that the German government is to blame for the mistaken deportation of the girl, and there is no evidence of wrong-doing by Commissioner General of Immigration Frank P. Sargent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-15
President Roosevelt sent Speaker of the House Cannon’s letter to Frank P. Sargent and Edgar E. Clark. He suggests Cannon write to Senator Boies Penrose about the John Mitchell matter. Going forward, Roosevelt directs Cannon to be careful about directly attacking labor leader Samuel Gompers and instead emphasize the administration’s recent accomplishments on behalf of labor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-17
President Roosevelt asks Speaker of the House Cannon to review the enclosed letter from Commissioner of General Immigration Frank P. Sargent. He believes Sargent cannot aid in Cannon’s election district.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-08
President Roosevelt asks Commissioner of Labor Neill to discuss the letter and pamphlets from Richard Lloyd George with Commissioner of Immigration Frank P. Sargent and Frances Kellor. Roosevelt feels that Jones is trying to deal with the same problems that Neill will have to consider in his report on immigration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-12
President Roosevelt thanks Richard Lloyd Jones for the letter and “wise and appropriate” articles he sent. Roosevelt began an inquiry into the subject of immigration recently, and tells Jones that “the diversion of the immigrants into proper territories after they reach New York” is largely being considered by Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill, although Commissioner General of Immigration Frank P. Sargent will consider the matter as well. Roosevelt has sent the articles to both of them for consideration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-12
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf what he thinks of Richard K. Campbell as a possible replacement for Edwin Walter Sims as solicitor of the Department of Commerce and Labor, when the time comes to make such an appointment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-29
President Roosevelt directs Commissioner of Labor Neill to cooperate with Commissioner-General of Immigration Frank P. Sargent in order to conduct a thorough investigation of immigration. While investigations abroad will necessarily be done by the Bureau of Immigration through its agents, Roosevelt wishes for the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Labor to cooperate closely in the domestic investigation. He directs them to “carefully avoid all unnecessary publicity,” and to “consider it a confidential investigation for my use.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf that he has instructed Commissioner-General of Immigration Frank P. Sargent and Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill to conduct an investigation into the subject of immigration in Europe and the United States. Roosevelt hopes for the subject to be covered thoroughly, and for this investigation to be done without undue publicity. He directs Metcalf to give Sargent and Neill any assistance they request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Roosevelt suggests to Speaker of the House Cannon that if there should be a governmental investigation into immigration, that it would be better to have it done with the assistance of Commissioner General of Immigration Frank P. Sargent, and possibly with the further help of Commissioner of Labor Charles Patrick Neill. Roosevelt believes it would be difficult for a Congressional Committee to deal with such a large subject and get good results working by themselves. He suggests that the bureaus of immigration and labor conduct the investigation to gather facts, and then present those facts to the Congressional Committee to discuss.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-27
President Roosevelt counsels Robert Watchorn on how to perform his duties as the newly appointed commissioner of immigration. He also asks Watchorn to give his assistant Joe Murray a fair trial.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-19
President Roosevelt writes confidentially to Gifford Pinchot concerning the resignation of William Williams as Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island. Although Roosevelt believes that Williams has done invaluable work, he has difficulty working and socializing with men of lower social standing and has been unable to get along with his assistant Joe Murray. Roosevelt offered to transfer Murray, but Williams would only accept Mr. Robinson as his replacement; a situation which Commissioner General Frank P. Sargent deemed to be unacceptable. Roosevelt has offered the position of Commissioner to Robert Watchorn and provides a copy of the letter sent to Watchorn apprising him of the whole affair.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-19
As Senator Platt recommended Robert Watchorn for promotion to Commissioner General of Immigration Frank P. Sargent, President Roosevelt will submit Watchorn’s name for consideration as commissioner of immigration at New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-16