Your TR Source
John Callan O’Laughlin does not think President William H. Taft will appoint Frank B. Kellogg to the Supreme Court, even though he has worked on governmental investigations and is backed by many senators. O’Laughlin knows Theodore Roosevelt cannot support Kellogg directly but asks him to write to Elihu Root on his behalf.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-05
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-06
Levy, Felix H. (Felix Holt), 1869-
James Rudolph Garfield is sorry he could not wait to see Theodore Roosevelt in New York, as he had to leave for a business trip. He was glad to hear about Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s improvement from Frank Harper. Garfield wants Roosevelt’s opinion on the action against the United States Steel Corporation, as he heard nothing that made him suspect Elbert H. Gary deceived them. The case illustrates the difference between destructive litigation and constructive legislation. He feels that the government’s current position is destructive to legitimate business and comments on the role of courts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-27
James Kennedy gives Theodore Roosevelt his comments on government regulations Congress should enact to monopolies through anti-trust laws.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-20
Albert H. Walker regrets that Theodore Roosevelt does not estimate the potential efficacy of the Sherman Act as higher. He suggests that prior to Roosevelt’s administration, this law was significantly neglected. The country is starting to benefit from Roosevelt’s implementation of the law, and public opinion favors its continued vigorous enforcement. It would take years to enact the administrative commissions proposed by those who desire to attain efficient control of corporations by moving away from the Sherman Act, especially those corporations engaged in interstate commerce. Walker further discusses this point.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-31
Frank B. Kellogg writes Theodore Roosevelt concerning the investigation by the United States federal government into the United States Steel Corporation, as the government requested Kellogg to appear as a witness. Kellogg proclaims he has always practiced law ethically and according to the country’s law and standards. He hopes to see Roosevelt when in his next in New York.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-16
A. J. Gilbert writes to Theodore Roosevelt to give Roosevelt his opinion concerning the opinions of Supreme Court Justices’ Edward Douglas White and John Marshall Harlan. Gilbert suggests once people understand the full meaning of the court’s decision, something will to cause control over big business.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-11
Ralph M. Easely responds to Theodore Roosevelt’s recent article, “The Standard Oil Decision – And After.” finding it relevant and true even if it had been written prior to the decision on the American Tobacco Company case. He remarks that, should the United States compete with foreign countries, “it cannot be hobbled by restrictions like those imposed by the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.” Easely encloses a leaflet issued by the National Civic Federation and has marked paragraphs relevant to his discussion of trust regulation, though he remarks that Seth Low has not yet named the sub-committee it refers to. Easely closes by congratulating Roosevelt on his recent “whack” on those who fight for peace at any price, comparing Roosevelt’s views of international peace and his own on “industrial peace.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-02
Charles E. Magoon congratulates Theodore Roosevelt on the recent unanimous Supreme Court decision to dissolve the Standard Oil Company and the American Tobacco Company, as both corporations were organized in violation of law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-30
Henry White recounts an encounter with Chief Justice Edward Douglass White to whom he conveyed a message from Theodore Roosevelt on the recent Standard Oil decision. He shares the chief justice’s thoughts on the case before confiding in Roosevelt the details of a conversation with President Taft on “the situation in Canada” and difficulty the president is having with the two senators from Rhode Island. He closes with an inquiry as to whether he can stay with the Roosevelts in Oyster Bay before departing on a trip to Europe in June.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-24
Richard Wilson Knott encloses an article he wrote yesterday regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in the Standard Oil Case. Knott fears that the Supreme Court will leave too little room for interpretation of their decisions, and trusts that Theodore Roosevelt feels the same way and will stand his ground on trust-busting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-17
Ferdinand C. Bretsnyder, president of the Bell Oil Company, congratulates Theodore Roosevelt on the government’s victory against the Standard Oil Trust. Roosevelt and Missouri Governor Herbert S. Hadley deserve the credit. Bretsnyder hopes that Roosevelt will return to the White House after the next election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-11-22
Senator Root updates Theodore Roosevelt on political and legislative matters that he has missed while he has been on safari in Africa. He believes that in time President William H. Taft will be seen as a good president in the eyes of the public, and lists some legislature currently before Congress. The Republicans have now been in power for a long time, and Root reports that some people are getting tired of the leaders. Root leaves to argue the Atlantic Fisheries case before the Hague, and Andrew Carnegie would like him to meet with Roosevelt and work on bringing about disarmament in Europe. Root believes this is a bad idea. He discusses news of Roosevelt’s family, including the engagement of his son Ted and reports that Kermit has shot a female warthog.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-02-11
The Office of the Attorney General reports that Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte advised President Roosevelt that there is no reason to prosecute the United States Steel Corporation under the Sherman Act for its proposed acquisition of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company. However, if this transaction were to be preceded or followed by similar acquisitions, the Department of Justice would need to reexamine the situation for antitrust violations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-09
Attorney General Bonaparte writes to President Roosevelt regarding some upcoming cases to be heard by the Supreme Court. Bonaparte advises Roosevelt to mention to an unnamed Justice the danger of disqualifying himself, and brings up the difficulty of postponing the case. Bonaparte does not believe that the justices who are of an age to retire will do so until several cases are heard, and therefore doubts the chance of having them heard by a more favorable court.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-18
Frank B. Kellogg writes to William Loeb to inform him that he wants President Roosevelt to know that, in the course of the Standard Oil investigation, they did not use the Secret Service, apart from finding witnesses once. Kellogg wished to make this point known because he heard that Roosevelt would be addressing Congress at some point in response to an inquiry regarding the secret service, and did not wish for the Standard Oil case to be mentioned. If this case is mentioned, Kellogg believes that some senators who dislike him will take it as an opportunity to criticize him publicly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-19
G. W. Woodruff sends William Loeb a brief outline of a statement regarding the progress of an investigation concerning Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell of Oklahoma so that President Roosevelt is aware of the situation. Woodruff mentions the steps taken on the investigation thus far, as well as a number of the people involved with it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-04
William H. Taft tells President Roosevelt that he appreciated the letter he wrote regarding William Jennings Bryan and Samuel Gompers. He believes that it may make an impression on previously-apathetic people. Taft discusses his chances in Ohio: despite concerns from Roosevelt and the press, he believes that he will win the state.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-01
William H. Taft explains to President Roosevelt that he will not appear on the same platform as Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, who he has long suspected of being involved with corporations. Taft will make it clear on his tour that he stands with Roosevelt against Foraker, and Foraker has agreed not to speak.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-19
Senator Lodge has received the very incriminating newspapers covering the situation between Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and John D. Archbold. Although it is distressing to see such an outcome for a politician, it also validating due to Foraker’s actions against President Roosevelt and William H. Taft. Lodge wonders what effect it will have on the public view of the Brownsville affair, on the presidential campaign, and on Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Being on Nantucket has been good for Lodge’s health after a stretch of exhaustion and a cold.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-21