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Assistant Secretary of State Loomis writes to William Loeb to discuss the boycott in China and its effect on the Standard Oil Company.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-01
President Roosevelt sends the telegram and letter from Senator Jonathan Bourne to William H. Taft. He warns Taft that Bourne’s relations with Standard Oil and his usefulness in Oregon are questionable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-01
President Roosevelt responds to William Jennings Bryan’s public letter by comparing Bryan’s platform with those of the current administration and of William H. Taft’s campaign. Roosevelt lists the cases that have been brought against the trusts, the railroads, and the shippers under his administration. He explains his actions in relation to the panic of 1907, outlines the reasons the trust magnates will support Bryan, and defends his actions related to campaign funding. Roosevelt critiques Bryan’s defense of Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathan Haskell by reiterating the extent of his corruption, and determines that it reflects directly on Bryan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-27
President Roosevelt responds to Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon’s recent letter stating that the contribution from Standard Oil Company in 1904 was authorized by the executive committee. Roosevelt was told by Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou that no money was contributed by Standard Oil, and only after the campaign was he informed that in fact individuals associated with the company had contributed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-25
President Roosevelt responds to William Jennings Bryan’s telegram regarding Democratic National Committee Treasurer and Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell’s actions in Ohio, by discussing Haskell’s actions in Oklahoma, where he allowed the Prairie Oil and Gas Company to build against an attempted injunction by Oklahoma Attorney General Charles West. Roosevelt asks Bryan to contrast his actions towards Haskell with William H. Taft’s actions toward Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, and lists the reasons Haskell is unfit for any office. Such reasons include his actions on the child labor bill, land fraud cases, and educational taxes, all of which have been covered in the press. Roosevelt offers an analysis and criticism of Bryan’s “radical” propositions and plans for breaking up corruption, and concludes that it is Taft whose actions prove his ability to deliver for the American people.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-23
President Roosevelt sends William H. Taft a copy of the letter he sent to Treasurer of the Campaign Committee George Rumsey Sheldon regarding campaign contributions, after a complaint from Frank B. Kellogg. Roosevelt asks Taft to take more aggressive action against William Jennings Bryan, perhaps giving a speech like the one recently given by New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Many have suggested that T. Coleman DuPont should not be in charge of the Speakers Committee, and if it were up to Roosevelt he would be removed. Roosevelt has given the press a copy of a letter from Taft to Arthur I. Vorys in which Taft’s independence is full display, to counteract the press coverage of the supposed reconciliation with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker. Roosevelt advises Taft, in his speech, to speak about the connection between William Randolph Hearst and the Democratic National Committee. In a postscript, Roosevelt advises Taft to remove Sheldon if he did in fact solicit the donations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
President Roosevelt writes to Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon regarding campaign funds solicited from John D. Archbold and Edward Henry Harriman. As the head of the Republican Administration, Roosevelt expresses his disagreement with collecting money from anyone currently being prosecuted. He sends two letters that he wrote four years ago to Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou, who was then chairman of the Republican National Committee, when money was contributed by Standard Oil. The first outlines the reasons that no contributions should be accepted which could be viewed as creating obligation to corporations. The second reiterates that the money should be returned especially in light of the public statements from Standard Oil about the company’s “political attitude.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21
President Roosevelt advises William H. Taft to publicly distance himself from Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, and to make it known publicly that Foraker has taken his negative position towards Roosevelt and Taft because of his own involvement with corporations, and not due to his feelings toward African Americans. For the good of the Republican party, Roosevelt feels that Taft must be strong in his resistance to Foraker, so as to show his opposition to politicians being bought by corporate interest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
President Roosevelt agrees with William H. Taft about staying out of the situation with Kentucky, and he does not feel they should worry themselves much over the situation between Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and Standard Oil. If anything, Roosevelt feels it may benefit them by bringing Foraker’s intentions to light.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
President Roosevelt explains to Lyman Abbott that the correspondence with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and John D. Archbold proves that Foraker is obscuring his true political goals. Foraker says he is against Roosevelt on issues related to African Americans, but this is actually a cover for his opposition to Roosevelt and William H. Taft’s anti-corruption stance regarding companies like Standard Oil.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
President Roosevelt writes to Edward Allsworth Ross to say once again how much he appreciates Ross’s Sin and Society. He finds it relevant to some of the current political situations, such as the frenzy over racetrack betting in New York and support of the reactionary Representative Charles E. Littlefield in Maine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-14
President Roosevelt commends Attorney General Bonaparte for his work on the Standard Oil case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-27
President Roosevelt greatly admires Governor Comer, and will read his speech with care. Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte is meeting with Comer’s representative, and Roosevelt will reach a conclusion on the matter. They are hampered, however, by Judge Peter Stenger Grosscup’s decision in the Standard Oil case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-17
President Roosevelt is amused at some of the political attacks against him. He agrees to Senator Lodge’s suggestions for personnel changes in the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission, but is unsure how to handle the “whisky business” regarding the Pure Food and Drug Act. Roosevelt is facing a number of requests that he run for reelection, but is not concerned with what most people think.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-21
President Roosevelt sends Lawrence F. Abbott several letters and telegrams about the Standard Oil Company case that are for his information only. He also answers Abbott’s questions about the Great White Fleet, emphasizing that the fleet must always stay together as a unit whether in Atlantic or Pacific waters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-13
President Roosevelt thanks Attorney General Bonaparte for his interesting letter and for what Bonaparte has done with the Indian Territory. Roosevelt agrees with Bonaparte on the most important part of his letter about the Standard Oil Company.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-10
President Roosevelt thinks that the Landis-Sims-Wilkerson matter will gradually resolve itself after they confer with the judge. He does not understand Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch’s telegram and asks Attorney General Bonaparte whether Burch is proceeding against all of the defendants or only Senator William Edgar Borah.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-07
President Roosevelt asks Attorney General Bonaparte what he thinks about the Oklahoma gerrymander and suggests action if it is justified. He also discusses Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis’s concerns about railroad employees’ testimony in the Standard Oil case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-06
President Roosevelt approves of Attorney General Bonaparte’s letter to United States Attorney Edwin Walter Sims, and feels they are prepared for any attacks. A Missouri correspondent has just sent an attack upon Roosevelt regarding Standard Oil. If the judge fights them, Roosevelt will publish a statement. Along with the publication of Bonaparte’s previous communications, this will prove that the record did not warrant the statements.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-03
President Roosevelt thanks Senator Lodge for his comments on the Japanese memorandum. He agrees with banker Louis Curtis’s economic assessment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-27