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Various forms of graft, fraud, and bribery were committed by San Francisco mayor Eugene Schmitz and members of the Board of Supervisors. Following trials of many offenders, a report is published on the causes of the corruption and recommendations made on how to prevent municipal corruption in the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-01-05
President Roosevelt holding his “big stick” and San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz in his arms steps up on a platform, “Conquest of California.” In the background are other figurines of Roosevelt: “San Juan Hill,” “Russian Jap Peace,” and “Anti-race Suicide.”
T. S. Sullivant was one of the great American cartoonists of his time, active mostly between the 1890s and his death in 1926. His specialties were animal subjects and ethnic themes. Between roughly 1904 and 1909, he was employed by William Randolph Hearst, principally to draw daily political cartoons. The drawings often were cartoon masterpieces, but unlike his earlier and subsequent work for magazines and color supplements — both rare enough today — are virtually inaccessible to scholars due to the scarcity of newspaper files.
This commentary by Sullivant is one example. It is mildly critical of Roosevelt — for instance, the inevitable Rough Rider outfit is inappropriate except for one cited accomplishment — but notes a few of the substantial achievements of a life that indeed was busy.
The California delegation on the Japanese question include San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz and San Francisco Board of Education secretary in 1907 Elmore C. Leffingwell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-15
President Roosevelt and Eugene E. Schmitz stand hidden on the side of a mountain near a sign that reads, “To Japanese settlement.”
This cartoon by Jack H. Smith in the reliably pro-Roosevelt Washington Herald addresses the president’s persistent efforts to diffuse, if not mediate, the ugly tensions in San Francisco engendered by Japanese immigrants: their growing presence, their role in business and social life, and the prejudice they suffered. Japanese were persecuted; there were efforts to exclude further immigration. A regulation advanced by local newspapers and politicians that kept Japanese students from public schools
A collection of editorials by Alfred H. Holman in The Argonaut covers politics and industrial topics in the San Francisco Bay area. Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz is on trial and control of mayoral power lies in the balance. Strikes affecting streetcar and telephone service are losing steam, with employers claiming that the unions are acting in bad faith. The involvement of Rudolph Spreckels and Patrick Calhoun in the prosecution of Schmitz is examined. Holman has little faith in the industrial conciliation meeting to be held in San Francisco. Holman also makes recommendations regarding fire safety and railroad management.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-29
Moses, holding the Ten Commandments, is confronted by an angry mob of capitalists, businessmen, and politicians, some shaking their fists at him. Caption: Chorus of “Conservatives” – Dangerous, socialistic, un-American doctrines!
This powerful indictment of endemic corruption at the upper levels of American society was drawn by Udo J, Keppler, whose father Joseph (founder and chief cartoonist of Puck) had addressed the same issues with classic drawing like They Can’t Stand the Light, showing United States Senators shrinking from spotlights in the dark. But his son’s cartoon — of this evergreen subject — encompassed more than political corruption.
In fact only four of the major, identified figures are national politicians; the majority are business leaders, a magazine editor, and even a university president. Keppler unwittingly reinforced the view that lawlessness and compromised morality had spread throughout American life.
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say his travel plans to Harvard and Groton have leaked out, and mentions an article he read. Roosevelt also describes going for horseback rides through the snow, as well as a gift some sailors from the Louisiana gave to Mother. He adds that San Francisco mayor Eugene Schmitz and the school board have arrived to discuss letting Japanese children into their schools. Kermit appears to have taken notes on the back of the envelope.
1907-02-09
President Roosevelt is grateful to Benjamin Ide Wheeler for the information he provided about Judge William C. Van Fleet. He is sorry to hear of the political corruption in San Francsico and Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz’s involvement in it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-06
President Roosevelt encloses a copy of a telegram for Secretary of State Root. San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz “is a game man and has acted like a trump.” Roosevelt ordered the lawsuit to be dismissed as soon as the San Francisco Board of Education adopts the resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-12
President Roosevelt instructs Attorney General Bonaparte to have the suit against the San Francisco Board of Education dismissed once the board adopts the resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-12
President Roosevelt sent his March 9 letter to Governor Gillett before he learned that the California state legislature had passed a bill discriminating against Japanese in schools. Roosevelt expresses his displeasure with this bill because it undermines the agreement that he and Secretary of State Root had already established with California politicians, San Francisco mayor Eugene E. Schmitz, and the San Francisco Board of Education. The bill will make federal negotiations for excluding Japanese labor class immigrants more difficult.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-11
President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit Roosevelt on the comings and goings of the White House and his thoughts on a recent article that appeared in Outing. Roosevelt had hoped to keep his upcoming visit to Groton School and Harvard University private, but it has leaked. He is having difficulties resolving the segregation of Japanese students from San Fransisco schools and the resulting diplomatic tensions, but has decided immigration from Japan must be curtailed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-09
Rudolph Forster relays a message from President Roosevelt in the absence of his personal secretary William Loeb, telling professor Benjamin Ide Wheeler that Roosevelt looks forward to the visit from Mayor of San Francisco Eugene E. Schmitz.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-03
President Roosevelt gives Secretary of Commerce and Labor Metcalf a list of people to meet with in San Francisco, California, once he arrives.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-22
Journalist George Kennan shares his thoughts on the “Japanese question” in San Francisco and its political implications. He feels President Roosevelt’s position on the matter is correct but is not practical. The clamor from labor unions and the “constant fanning of the fire of race antipathy” by the press have created an environment for hostility. McClure’s Magazine did not publish Kennan’s articles on the topic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-10
Secretary of State Root informs President Roosevelt that he will visit this evening after all. Root has prepared a telegram to San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Root. If Roosevelt approves it, Root asks that Roosevelt have the White House operator send it. Root suggests that he and Roosevelt could write a telegram to send to the Governor of California James Norris Gillett about the threat of discrimination against Japanese students in California school. Root expresses his frustration, writing “Did you ever see such idiots?”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-10
After returning from San Francisco, Endicott Peabody shares his plans surrounding President Roosevelt and his family’s upcoming visit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-16
George Kennan is horrified at the situation with the School Board in San Francisco. He hopes that if President Roosevelt meets them he can see them for who they are as individuals with illicit character. It is creating a San Francisco where men of character are leaving.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-02
Francis J. Heney describes his work as a special federal prosecutor working to gather evidence to prosecute San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz and political boss Abraham Ruef. The message is in cypher, for which the key is unknown.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-14
Fairfax Henry Wheelan describes the abuses of political office and federal employment currently occurring in San Francisco, California. Wheelan discusses the obstacles to removing Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz from office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-13