Standard Oil Company

Letter from James Sullivan Clarkson to William Loeb

James Sullivan Clarkson explains the political situation in Iowa to William Loeb. Clarkson is concerned that a group of powerful men and various corporations is conspiring to control delegations in Iowa and the surrounding states to the detriment of President Roosevelt and Vice President Taft. In particular General Dodge, a close friend of Governor Cumins, is thought to be behind the operation. Clarkson believes that most people will support Roosevelt’s cause, including capitalists who have criticized him in the past. A handwritten note posits that perhaps Dodge is actually on Roosevelt’s side and is influencing matters in his favor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-24

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte encloses an article he believes President Roosevelt will appreciate. The writer, who was counsel for Standard Oil Company, has been “getting off, at intervals, oracular utterances” about Roosevelt being in sympathy with William Jennings Bryan, William Randolph Hearst, anarchists, and others who undermine the interests of the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-30

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge feels that President Roosevelt’s denunciations of demagogues and agitators are often subsumed by his denunciations of trusts, and urges Roosevelt to pay attention to both in the upcoming elections. The question is how to defeat them without making the public feel they are just as dangerous as the demagogues. As an example, Lodge mentions General Stephen Minot Weld, who is the kind of man they depend on for support and who they do not want to frighten into thinking, rightly or wrongly, that they are as extreme as the Hearsts and Morans are.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-13

Letter from Leslie M. Shaw to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Treasury Shaw responds to a request from President Roosevelt to review a letter from Representative Ebenezer J. Hill. Shaw is skeptical of Representative Hill’s conclusions about denatured alcohol’s potential as fuel. Shaw discusses the proposed McCleary bill, which would adjust American tariffs on German goods, and the potential impact of tariff adjustments on the upcoming midterm election. He believes that Roosevelt could maintain the confidence of the American people by advocating a tariff that ensures American-made goods receive the same treatment as similar goods from any other country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-09

Letter from Ethan Allen Hitchcock to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock confirms that he received President Roosevelt’s letter and will work to follow Roosevelt’s directions. He will ask Commissioner of Corporations James Rudolph Garfield to begin working on a report on the Standard Oil case. Having only met Colonel Butler through this investigation, Hitchcock is very impressed by him and excited that Butler will meet Roosevelt at Oyster Bay. Hitchcock is attaching his response to T. B. Latta in a related matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-24

Letter from Ethan Allen Hitchcock to Thomas Albert Latta

In a confidential letter, Interior Secretary Ethan Allen Hitchcock agrees with newspaper editor Thomas Albert Latta about the distressing condition of oil interests in the Indian Territory. Hitchcock thinks the best remedy would come from independent operators “unitedly building” pipe lines and refineries to make them independent of Standard Oil and its subsidiaries. He promises the full protection of the Department of the Interior to this class of operator. Hitchcock closes by thanking Latta for his support and asking if he may seek further assistance from him in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-23

Letter from William Shine to William Loeb

William Shine tells William Loeb about his visit to the oil fields in Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. The oil crews, especially the Standard employees, are against Theodore Roosevelt. In addition, Shine reports that in Cincinnati, all of the Republicans he met were for Roosevelt, and opposed to Taft. Additionally, Congressman Longworth will be renominated, although the Democrats are likely to gain Congressmen throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Shine also notes that he is glad Waldorf has been appointed Collector of the Toledo district, as Waldorf was against former Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna, as was the Post Master at Defiance. Shine predicts that the current Republican regime in Ohio “will go all to pieces in the next two years and a new crowd will be in control.” He sends both Loeb and Roosevelt a package, and will send some tonic if Roosevelt makes the trip to Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-09

Letter from Frank W. Higgins to Theodore Roosevelt

Governor Higgins writes to President Roosevelt acknowledging receipt of letters from Roosevelt and Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock. Higgins repeats what Hitchcock wrote in his letter and expresses disappointment that Hitchcock referred to businessman Theodore N. Barnsdall as the political friend of Higgins. Higgins goes on to mention that local residents do not favor Hitchcock’s policies regarding oil development in the southwest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-27

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge writes to President Roosevelt sharing his opinions about a letter by Harvard President Eliot. Senator Tillman requested that Lodge contact Roosevelt for a discussion regarding Senator Cullom. Lodge goes on to mention thoughts on the Standard Oil Company and their monopoly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-22

Letter from James Rudolph Garfield to Theodore Roosevelt

After the discovery by the Department of Commerce and Labor of the secret and discriminatory rates given by the railroads to Standard Oil, a number of changes have been made to the rates. All rates have been changed except the rates given to Standard Oil except for points from Burlington, VT., to points within the states. There are at least seven cases of those rates that James Rudolph Garfield believes should be presented to the Department of Justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-07

Letter from William H. Moody to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Moody writes to President Roosevelt with suggested changes to Roosevelt’s letter to Garfield. He makes four suggestions for changing the language of the letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-25

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-29

Letter from William Peters Hepburn to Theodore Roosevelt

William Peters Hepburn is in receipt of President Roosevelt’s note of the 29th which referenced Standard Oil and the coal ownership propositions that were put in the rate bill by the Senate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-30

Letter from Cecil Andrew Lyon to Theodore Roosevelt

Cecil Andrew Lyon tells President Roosevelt the people of the United States will not be happy if he follows through with the Standard Oil plan and the rebates in Kentucky. Lyon praises Roosevelt’s actions in a number of other incidents and events (such as settling the anthracite coal strike, the Panama canal, the Rough Riders, and the Square Deal). Lyon states something must be done to “curb the growing power of money” if the United States wants to avoid incidents like the French Revolution. He believes that Roosevelt is the man to apply such checks on that growing power.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-04

Letter from James Rudolph Garfield to Theodore Roosevelt

Commissioner of Corporations Garfield summarizes for President Roosevelt portions of the oil report. The report uncovered the practice of railroad lines in the Northeast and Midwest offering Standard Oil Company secret discounted rates in the interstate transportation of oil. Both railroad and Standard Oil representatives deny any wrongdoing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-16

Telephone message from Francis B. Loomis

Assistant Secretary of State Loomis discusses a call from the Standard Oil Company regarding the impact of the Chinese boycott on the sale of oil. The Standard Oil Company would like Secretary of War Taft to attend a meeting in Canton.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-02

Letter from Julius Gareché Lay to Francis B. Loomis

The Chinese boycott situation has not changed. The government supports the boycotters, but many merchants do not. Julius Lay encourages the Viceroy to admonish the boycott.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-09

Letter from Thomas Sammons to William Woodville Rockhill

Thomas Sammons sends another notice posted by the Chinese encouraging citizens not to help unload or store oil from an American ship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-29

Letter from Thomas Sammons to William Woodville Rockhill

Thomas Sammons describes a pro-American and pro-Japanese editorial, anti-American circulars, and the peaceful unloading of an American shipment of oil by Japanese workers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-02

Letter from Thomas Sammons to Francis B. Loomis

Thomas Sammons sends a copy of his dispatch about the Chinese boycott and the Standard Oil Company.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-28