Smith, Walter I. (Walter Inglewood), 1862-1922

President Roosevelt has recently spoken with John Callan O’Laughlin about possibly appointing him Assistant Secretary of State, and that O’Laughlin believed that when William H. Taft was inaugurated as president he “would ‘see what could be done about retaining him.'” Roosevelt informed O’Laughlin that he was mistaken, and that while he would be pleased to appoint him, it would be with the understanding that it would only be until March 4, 1909. Roosevelt has spoken with Philander C. Knox, and is confident that he will accept the position of Secretary of State in Taft’s cabinet. Roosevelt additionally discusses a possible appointment of Beekman Winthrop. In a postscript, Roosevelt mentions a rumor that Taft is considering appointing John W. Weeks instead of George von Lengerke Meyer to a cabinet position, which Roosevelt advises Taft against doing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-15

President Roosevelt writes to General James Franklin Bell regarding the fortification of Hawaii. Representative Walter Inglewood Smith has told Roosevelt that the government had purchased two parcels of land in Hawaii that are currently unused, and says that if this is true, it emphasizes his point that the War Department and Navy Department must carefully consider their requests if they want Congress to pay attention to them. Roosevelt instructs that there must be a clear plan for what must be done with regards to military fortifications in Hawaii.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-02

President Roosevelt informs Census Director S. N. D. North that despite North’s protests, the Census Bureau will investigate the labor of women and children. Roosevelt claims that this is revenge for the investigation of the packing houses in Chicago.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-02

George E. Miller sends Theodore Roosevelt a news release by the Detroit News, which he thought Roosevelt might like to read. The News reports the interaction of the House Committee on Appropriations with administrators of the Smithsonian Institution in a slightly humorous manner, focusing on the preoccupation of several representatives with whether any money would be going to fund Roosevelt’s safari expedition. While the hearings were going on, the Smithsonian institution issued its annual report stating that Roosevelt’s expedition was financed by private sources.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03

John E. Wilkie reports on the recent debates in the House Committee on Appropriations surrounding the Secret Service’s payment and involvement in land fraud cases. Wilkie outlines and refutes the claims made by some committee members, including Representatives John A. Tawney, Joseph S. Sherley, and William I. Smith. He concludes with the observation that the committee members “alone were responsible” for the state of Congress and that “no executive officer” is to blame.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-08

Army Chief of Staff Bell responds to inquiries from President Roosevelt concerning circumstances related to the fortification of Hawaii. Bell corrects Roosevelt’s understanding that the government had purchased some tracts of land in Hawaii that were now abandoned, and says that the land will be used to construct a battery of guns. Bell also informs Roosevelt that General Arthur Murray has gone to see the Committee in person to explain the construction that will be necessary to fortify Honolulu and Pearl Harbor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Minnesota Representative James A. Tawney and Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon use a crosscut saw and Iowa Representative Walter I. Smith uses a hatchet to cut “Roosevelt’s big stick” into pieces. “Congress” holds a gun to a “Secret Service” dog and says, “Halt” while a group of men look on: Edward Henry Harriman, a “gov’t grafter,” a “trust,” a “gov’t land grabber,” and a “timber thief.” The United States Capitol building is in the background.

comments and context

Comments and Context

An inevitable aspect of lame-duck politicians is that opponents generally can be freed of threats of retaliation. As President Roosevelt essentially made himself a four-year lame duck by declining in advance to succeed himself with the election-night announcement in 1904, he brought a challenge upon himself. Uniquely, much of the reform president’s opposition came from within his own party, the Republicans’ Old Guard.