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Edgar E. Clark informs William Loeb that while in Chicago, he spoke in support of Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon to “some of our boys in Cannon’s district” and reminded them that legislators must refrain from becoming the tools of special interests. Clark hopes to continue these conversations in his further travels in the West.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-29
Edgar E. Clark writes to President Roosevelt regarding his request for a favor about the situation in House Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon’s district. Clark is happy to help and will write to those whom he thinks can exert influence. Clark also expresses some concern about Charles E. Littlefield’s majority and his position on the questions of prohibition and labor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-11
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw will try to support the Republican campaign in Colorado and Texas as President Roosevelt requests, but Representative J. S. Sherman, chair of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, has made appointments which may interfere with Shaw’s being able to go. Regarding the appointment of a new diamond appraiser at the Port of New York, Shaw recommends that Roosevelt use an Executive Order to make an appointment, as the Civil Service examination will not produce a suitable candidate. Shaw had a successful campaign trip to North Carolina.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-13
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw sends a copy of the letter he sent to J. S. Sherman regarding Shaw’s upcoming speech in Texas. Shaw mentions Joseph Gurney Cannon’s speech, President Roosevelt’s letter, and William Jennings Bryan’s acceptance. Shaw would have included Secretary of War Taft’s speech if he had seen it sooner.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-06
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock assumes responsibility for publishing the Higgins correspondence as a pamphlet and will conform to President Roosevelt’s wishes in the future. Hitchcock is not surprised that Roosevelt has heard complaints about the investigations in the Indian Territory; “‘Weary Willie’ grafters” are prone to making charges “against those uncovering their scoundrelism.” However, he thinks that the final reports will prove these investigations were warranted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-01
William D. Washburn thanks President Roosevelt for his letter, but cannot agree with some of Roosevelt’s statements that there is no analogy between the current political situation and the divisions related to slavery that caused the destruction of the Whig party (in spite of the obvious moral differences). Washburn adamantly disagrees with the statement that the tariff should not be discussed as a party issue, and fears that by not addressing it the Republican party will be soundly defeated. He further disagrees with the premise that the tariff and trusts are entirely separate issues, and gives an example to try to disprove this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-27
Representative Watson has received a telephone message from Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon and Representative J. S. Sherman, and eagerly awaits the letter from President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-17
William D. Washburn offers President Roosevelt his views on the matter of tariff reform. He has heard that, as the result of a meeting between Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon, James Sherman, and Roosevelt, the issue of revision of the tariff is not going to be a campaign issue. Washburn argues against this, saying that in the states of the Mississippi River Valley, and in Minnesota in particular, the tariff is still an important issue that deserves to be addressed. He points out that when the Whig party dismissed the issue of slavery, a new party rose up to address it and killed off the old one. If the Republican party ignores the issue of the tariff, history could repeat itself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-09
Wilbur Fisk Wakeman informs President Roosevelt that many newspapers would like to publish a copy of his letter subscribing to the American Protective Tariff League. Wakeman asks Roosevelt if he would mind sending a clean copy of the letter addressed to J. S. Sherman, who is heading the enterprise, as Wakeman explained in a previous letter. Wakeman thinks that printing a copy of Roosevelt’s letter would have a very good effect.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-02
Edgar D. Crumpacker writes to President Roosevelt about rumors in the press that Roosevelt, House Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon, and other Republicans plan to take a “stand pat” policy which would mean any policy changes related to tariffs would be off the table. Rank and file Republicans seek revisions to tariff schedules and customs duties and may not vote with the party if no action is taken. Crumpacker feels this decision will likely turn the House democratic.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-28
Representative Watson, of Indiana, notifies President Roosevelt that the Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon approves Roosevelt’s plan to help the Republican Party. Watson would like to meet with Representative J. S. Sherman and Roosevelt together, but he is unable to do so due to speaking engagements at congressional conventions in Ohio and West Virginia. Watson hopes for a letter from Roosevelt in which Roosevelt will “vigorously” express his views on the current political controversy, clarifying that there are no vital differences between the president and the congress, as the Democrats persistently claim.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-31
Wilbur Fisk Wakeman thanks President Roosevelt for his subscription to the American Protective Tariff League. Wakeman hopes Roosevelt will pardon him for slightly changing the letter by substituting Chairman J. S. Sherman’s name, as the enterprise they are working on is in Sherman’s name. Wakeman also explains a plan to help recruit more people to the cause.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-01
Representative Hepburn leaves a telephone message providing reassurance that the Hepburn Rate Bill will pass without incident. Hepburn states that some of the Senate conferees fear that the House will agree to some of the Senate’s amendments. Hepburn also states that James Schoolcraft Sherman and Senator Stephen Elkins of West Virginia are away.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-20
Senator Lodge notifies President Roosevelt of the likelihood that certain key bills about pipe lines, trust regulation, and coal mines are likely to be defeated. There are organized efforts to defeat the bills. Lodge hopes that Roosevelt can step in and intervene to assist on the passing of the bills in any capacity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-29
Representative Sherman is organizing other representatives to remove two battleships from an unspecified “Naval Bill.” Representative Dayton feels Sherman should be encouraged to refrain from doing so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-16
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Darling encloses a letter to President Roosevelt that he hopes Roosevelt will pass on to Representative J. S. Sherman, with comments, in order to soothe Sherman’s wounded feelings.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-09
Simon Cordery examines the relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and the nation’s railroads. Cordery highlights some of the significant episodes in Roosevelt’s life made possible by train travel like his trip to the Dakota Badlands in 1883, his exhausting campaign tour as a vice-presidential candidate in 1900, and his “Great Western Tour” as president in 1903. Cordery notes Roosevelt’s affection for the railroad workers and his disdain for their employers. Roosevelt saw the employees, with their difficult and dangerous jobs, as embodying the strenuous life while he wanted to curb the economic and political powers of their bosses. Cordery highlights the Northern Securities Case which dismantled a combination of railroads on the northern Great Plains and the debate over whether the railroads should provide free travel to the president.
The article features nine photographs, including three of Roosevelt and trains, and two political cartoons.
John Robert Greene tells the story of Frederick Morgan Davenport of New York state, whose political affiliations would move from the Republican party to the Progressive party, back to the Republicans, and would end with him as a supporter of the New Deal working for Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Greene covers Davenport’s early career as a minister and teacher with an interest in the history of American revivals. He details his entry into New York politics and discusses his interest in adoption of the direct primary which led him to seek the support of Theodore Roosevelt. Greene examines the warfare in the Republican party between 1912 and 1916, and he notes Davenport’s work for Syracuse University in the 1920s. Davenport’s support of President Herbert Hoover and his work on behalf of tariff reform are covered as is Davenport’s gradual embrace of the New Deal while heading two agencies dealing with government personnel matters. Greene notes that Davenport was awarded the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal in 1951.
Two of Davenport’s campaign posters, a photograph of the 1912 Progressive Party convention in Chicago, and a political cartoon from the 1912 campaign illustrate the article.
Photograph shows 19 portraits of prominent orators (politicians and businessmen) superimposed over an audience comprised of men. Caption reads, “our prominent political orators in action. The efforts of these men will anchor the floating vote, make converts and win the election.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1908-08-29
Following a number of legislative items, including voting on an amendment to a bill and a motion to investigate participation in international expositions, Senator Robert M. La Follette delivers a speech beginning with proposed tariff reciprocity with Canada, but quickly turning to his view that President William H. Taft has abandoned his campaign promises to continue the progressive policies of his predecessor Theodore Roosevelt. La Follette excoriates Taft on his stances on taxes and conservation, among other issues.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-15