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To ensure the country’s future prosperity, John Nill discusses his ideas for a necessary national citizenry education program with Theodore Roosevelt. He proposes that the right to vote and hold office be contingent upon graduation, not birth, ensuring that only the properly educated manage the government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-27
Judge Lurton admires the address of Mr. Fleming, which discusses preserving the gap between whites and African Americans by lifting whites up, not holding African Americans down. Fleming also spoke in reference to grandfather clauses. Public opinion has not brought up criticism against the grandfather clauses. Lurton is sending a typewritten copy of a rare document, an address to the people of Tennessee by the delegates to the Tennessee Constitutional Convention of 1834 explaining why the proposed constitution did not provide for emancipation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-23
Charles J. Bonaparte asks President Roosevelt to meet with Maryland State’s Attorney Albert Owens to discuss proposed legislation that would allow for legal disfranchisement of some African Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-14
William J. Youngs calls William Loeb’s attention to a portion of the Republican Party’s platform. He is concerned about the wording of the passage which asserts that states who have unconstitutionally abridged franchise rights should have their congressional representation and electoral college votes reduced.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-01
In response to recent criticism of a speech he gave, William H. Fleming submits two letters from former Governor of Georgia Allen D. Candler and former Supreme Court Justice Henry Billings Brown, in which the two distinguished figures support his views.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-17
Theodore Roosevelt tells a resident of Oyster Bay that he will not speak at an upcoming event on suffrage. If he were to do so, he would have to speak for many other organizations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-07-05
President Roosevelt tries to lasso a donkey with an anthropomorphized face wearing a papal mitre. Caption: “It won’t hold, Mr. Rough-Rider! He’ll be absolved from it!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-21
Secretary of War Taft addresses the Republican Convention of North Carolina on a number of topics, highlighting the differences between the Republican and Democratic parties and arguing that the Republican party has better helped the southern states than the Democratic party has. Taft believes the South’s loyalty to the Democratic party comes largely from its historical affiliation, and encourages Republicans in the south to show that they are not merely a party of office-seekers, but that they are working to improve the state of the South as a whole.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-10
The committee reports on an address, commending in particular the acknowledgment of the necessity of maintaining equality for all Americans and the right of men to “contract his labor and to keep his contract without interference.” Any modification to the franchise should be based on intelligence and fitness, rather than race or color.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-22
Secretary of War William H. Taft addresses the Philippine Assembly at their inaugural gathering. Taft gives an overview of the American administration of the Philippines as well as his assessment of the challenges facing the Assembly in the fulfillment of their political duties.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-16
William H. Fleming writes to defend himself against an editorial in the Augusta Herald and to criticize the paper’s endorsement of the “fraudulent administration of the proposed disfranchisement law, as explained and advocated by Mr. Hoke Smith.” Fleming notes that, contrary to the claims of the paper, he has received a great deal of support for the speech he made in Athens, Georgia. He further explains that the belief “that such a doctrine of total negro disfranchisement can be harmonized with the Federal Constitution” is not a position any reputable lawyer would take, and hopes that the paper will realize its error in supporting this policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-18
Text of the speech “Pass Prosperity Around” by Albert J. Beveridge, Temporary Chairman of the Progressive National Convention, which lays out progressive principles and goals.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1912
Theodore Roosevelt encourages the people of Baltimore to subscribe to the Fourth Liberty Loan in order to aid the war effort. Roosevelt also advocates for young men to sign up to fight and for everyone to help the war effort in every way they can in order to support American democracy. His speech ends with the idea that universal suffrage can only be justified by universal service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-09-28
Senator McLaurin explains his position on African American suffrage and repealing the 15th Amendment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-19
General Funston thanks Vice President Roosevelt for the congratulatory letter upon Funston’s commission as a brigadier general. He regrets that his military service will prevent him from “whooping it up” for a Roosevelt presidential campaign in 1904. Funston reports that the situation in the Philippines is difficult and he wishes the army could use an “iron hand.” He has a low opinion of Filipinos and does not believe they are currently suitable for self government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-02