Statehood (American politics)

Robert A. Kirk informs Ralph H. Cameron he will travel to Washington D. C. on a secret trip for the Governor of Arizona. Kirk will be delivering returns and asks Cameron and Archibald Willingham Butt to collect him upon his arrival. Kirk confirms there is support for Theodore Roosevelt clubs in Arizona, but more support for President William H. Taft is needed. Kirk includes a postscript to Cameron asking for his help securing him a position.

Comments and Context

Robert A. Kirk and Ralph H. Cameron were heavily involved in securing statehood for Arizona, which would occur on February 14, 1912.

Collection

Grand Canyon National Park

William H. H. Llewellyn informs Theodore Roosevelt of the public opinion of the presidential nomination in the New Mexico Territory. William H. Taft did not provide statehood for New Mexico and therefore Llewellyn does not believe he can win the vote. Llewellyn does not believe Roosevelt would accept the nomination, even if he were offered it from both parties and ran unopposed. Llewellyn also sends updates on his job opportunities and of those around him Roosevelt knows.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

President Roosevelt thanks Chairman Willard S. Hopewell and Secretary Ralph Emerson Twitchell of the Board of Control for the National Irrigation Congress for their invitation. Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior Frank Pierce will attend in Roosevelt’s place, as irrigation and the conservation of the nations resources are crucial topics. Roosevelt hopes to co-sign bills that designate New Mexico and Arizona as states.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-23

President Roosevelt supports the decisions Attorney General Bonaparte outlined in his last letter. Roosevelt believes he will have to admit Oklahoma to the Union, as the pros outweigh the cons. Roosevelt also wants to discuss the placement of William H. H. Llewellyn with Bonaparte.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-21

President Roosevelt informs Senator Curtis that he already had plans to appoint Samuel Downing, a Choctaw man, to the position of U.S. Marshal. Roosevelt asks if Curtis thinks that the United States will have to admit Oklahoma in light of the “overwhelming vote in favor of the constitution.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-19

President Roosevelt informs Arizona Territory Governor Joseph H. Kibbey that after a visit from Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield, he has learned the situation in Arizona and New Mexico and he will not act to seek joint statehood for the Territories.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-31

President Roosevelt follows up on several issues with Attorney General Bonaparte, including United States District Attorney Marsden C. Burch’s devotion to United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick, hiring Tracy C. Becker at the Department of Justice, the appointments of David J. Leahy and Ira A. Abbott, and the situation in Oklahoma.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-29

President Roosevelt likes Arizona Governor Kibbey’s letter regarding Judge Edward Kent. He confides in Kibbey that he is unsure what policy to pursue concerning statehood. While the issue of joint statehood with New Mexico is likely dead, Roosevelt still wants to meet with “leaders of the…fight,” and invites Kibbey. Roosevelt will not accept Kibbey’s resignation as he is doing right by the people, unlike former New Mexico Governor Herbert J. Hagerman.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-27

President Roosevelt tells Charles E. Hunter that he is pleased that Frank C. Frantz was nominated for governor of Oklahoma, and feels sure Oklahoma will be admitted as a state to the Union.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-02

President Roosevelt has received Secretary of the Interior Garfield’s letter. Roosevelt will not make any announcement about Arizona and has no intention of speaking about statehood. He asks that Garfield not speak on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-26

President Roosevelt sends reactions to three letters from Secretary of War Taft. Roosevelt approves of an address Taft is preparing concerning the Brownsville Affair. The president is also pleased by what Taft tells him of the proposed Constitution for Oklahoma in preparation for admittance to the union. Roosevelt believes Jackson Smith will have to be let go from his position as Head of the Department of Labor, Quarters, and Subsistence in the Panama Canal. Finally, the president approves of Taft’s letter to Clarence Ransom Edwards regarding opium and believes Lebbeus R. Wilfley has “made good.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-19

Attorney General Bonaparte informs President Roosevelt about a variety of telegrams he has received pertaining to current issues, such as the trial in Idaho concerning Senator William Edgar Borah, the work of Special Assistant U.S. District Attorney Grace Humiston (Mrs. Quackenbos), and a revised constitution for the Territory of Oklahoma.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-10

Attorney General Bonaparte informs President Roosevelt of his meeting with Charles B. Morrison regarding the Standard Oil case. Morrison reported that Standard Oil magnates had met with Frank B. Kellogg and himself confidentially to come up with a settlement that would “preserve them from a criminal prosecution.” Bonaparte told Morrison that the government could not deal more favorably with the Standard Oil Company as compared with the Drug Trust and that the whole matter would have to be presented to President Roosevelt for consideration. Bonaparte also mentions other matters, including correspondence from Governor Charles E. Magoon of Cuba and the present situation in Oklahoma Territory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-08

Attorney General Bonaparte responds to Lawrence O. Murray’s letter inquiring about the census of the Oklahoma Territory. Bonaparte informs Murray all that is needed is accurate information of the population, which will allow fairness and equity in districting members of the legislature. He requests the information as soon as possible after the September 17 election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-08

Senator Beveridge reports to President Roosevelt on a speech that Judge Edward Kent gave in Arizona, where he said several things that Beveridge thinks Roosevelt needs to know about.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-20

Senator Beveridge advised that no appointment be made for the Governor of Arizona until after the vote for the statehood bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-02

President Roosevelt watches from Washington, D.C., as a man labeled “Oklahoma” rides the “statehood” goat. An American eagle cries, “Hold fast!” On the ground are papers: “laws” and “Constitution.” Caption: Not quite, but almost.

comments and context

Comments and Context

This cartoon, published in Brooklyn, New York, correctly captured the turbulence attending the faraway territory and state of Oklahoma; President Roosevelt signed the proclamation of statehood roughly two weeks after William K. Starrett’s cartoon, on November 16, 1907.

President Roosevelt, standing on the threshold of “Statehood School, T. Roosevelt, Principal,” holds a paper and says, “Your credentials are all right, but you’ll have to throw away that cigar,” as he looks at a boy labeled “Oklahoma” holding an enormous cigar labeled, “objectionable laws.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Oklahoma Territory (sometimes called “Indian Territory”) was granted statehood in 1907, officially adding its star to the American flag on November 16. It had a vestigial reputation as a wild and wooly place, so legislators and Eastern powers were careful to voice hesitations and restrictions, as pictured by the Post‘s new and interim cartoonist Robert Isbell (Clifford Kennedy Berryman has just left for the crosstown rival Star).

President Roosevelt and South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman go fishing in a “senatorial pool.” At the bottom of the pool is “the railroad rate bill” turtle, a “Philippine tariff bill” alligator, a “statehood bill” frog, and a “Santo Domingo” fish. On the ledge are two crayfish by a “bait amendments” can.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-25

President Roosevelt points a gun at a “statehood bill” animal while a “Panama” alligator, a “R.R. rates” walrus, a “Philippine tariff” water buffalo, and a “Morocco” leopard look on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-21