Your TR Source
Several articles from the Commercial Advertiser are highlighted. They discuss the “terrible” precedent that President Roosevelt set by inviting the African American educator Booker T. Washington to dinner, and criticize Congress for its conduct during the most recent legislative session.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-04
Lieutenant Governor Guild of Massachusetts delivers a speech at an event commemorating President Ulysses S. Grant in Des Moines, Iowa. Guild reminds Iowans of their special connection to Grant, as Iowa regiments were key in his first great victory of the American Civil War, the Battle of Fort Donelson. Guild points out how Grant’s administration saw the beginnings of a lot of contemporary issues, like the fight between the gold and silver standard, the corruption of machine politics, and the ills of the spoils system. Guild does, however, defend Grant against his harshest critics, stating that Grant did punish many of the instigators of scandals like Credit Mobilier and the Whiskey ring, and that Grant’s idea to annex the Dominican Republic seems less extreme in light of recent South American upheavals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04-27
President Roosevelt writes Richard Watson Gilder a lengthy refutation of an article in the Evening Post in which William Garrott Brown misconstrues his actions in the Republican Party. Namely, Brown accuses Roosevelt of neglecting Republicans in the South and of doing a poor job of making nominations to local offices and positions. Roosevelt asserts that where the Republican party is not strong in the South, he has had to appoint Democrats who were quality men, rather than incapable men who are Republicans. Where he believes the party has a chance to compete with Democrats, he does all he can to support it. Roosevelt also writes that he did not use his influence on officers to get William H. Taft the nomination, but rather Taft was nominated because Roosevelt’s policies were popular, and Taft is the man who will continue those policies. Roosevelt believes that Brown is either ignorant or willfully ignorant of a number of facts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-16
President Roosevelt sends General Smith a copy of a letter he received from Chief of Ordnance William Crozier applauding the appointment of Smith to brigadier general before his retirement. In the letter Crozier details Smith’s triumphs, including the widespread adoption of the built-up forged steel cannon gun and revitalizing coastal defenses in the United States. Roosevelt appreciates Smith’s service to the country, as this efforts advanced the development of seacoast defenses in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-04
President Roosevelt agrees with Secretary of State Hay that the Parker Constitution Club is the “most absurd feature” of the Democratic Party’s presidential campaign. Roosevelt encloses a cartoon that he thinks will amuse Hay. He also worries that the New York governorship race might swing the state’s electoral votes to the Democrats.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-15
William Rockhill Nelson believes that the forces opposed to Theodore Roosevelt will continually be trying to aggravate him in order to put him at a disadvantage, and tells Roosevelt that he does not need to defend himself, as the people will come to his defense. He illustrates this with an incident he remembers from New York politics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-09-07
Nelson, William Rockhill, 1841-1915
General James Sullivan Clarkson, surveyor of the Port of New York, reports to William Loeb on the progress of the Republican political campaign in the Western states. In his meetings with prominent figures in Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa, and Indiana, he found Republicans to be very enthusiastic about President Roosevelt and the efforts of Republican Chairman George B. Cortelyou. He has heard many reports of Democratic voters who will vote for the Republican national ticket and he believes that through the influence of a few prominent Republicans the success of the campaign will be ensured. Clarkson ranks Roosevelt’s letter of acceptance among the finest political writings of all time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-15
Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1871 to December 1878. Notable events include the Roosevelt family’s trip to Europe and Egypt, Roosevelt’s entrance to Harvard, the death of Theodore “Thee” Roosevelt, Roosevelt’s trip to Maine, and Roosevelt meeting Alice Hathaway Lee.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
Moore, Robert J. (Robert John), 1956-; Theodore Roosevelt Association
The “Book Notes” column features reviews of two historical novels. The Adventures of the Stalwart Companions pairs a young Theodore Roosevelt with Sherlock Holmes to solve a murder in Gilded Age New York City. Marvin R. Morrison outlines the plot of the novel in some detail and says that it “is good reading.” The Bad Lands is a western based on Roosevelt and the Marquis de Mores though neither is a character in the novel. Elizabeth E. Roosevelt provides a very brief review, says the book is not very good, and asks readers to instead read Hermann Hagedorn’s Roosevelt in the Bad Lands.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1979
Robert Montgomery addresses the Editor of the Daily Ledger on the topic of taxation of corporations, responding specifically to a recent statement by John Bigelow proposing the establishment of “a law which will make the government a junior partner and small profit-sharer in corporations which operate under a charter granting remunerative privileges.” Montgomery judges this idea as a reasonable one, and highlights as the basis of the recently enacted corporation tax. This law is under review by the Supreme Court, and Montgomery does his best to explain and defend the legal basis of the law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-05
A compiled publication that features Governor of New York Charles Evans Hughes’s full speech highlights, select sentences of importance, and supporting quotations from other politicians. In his speech, Hughes outlines the Republican Party’s successes in promoting the nation’s welfare. William H. Taft is a highly qualified candidate who will prevent injustices and ensure continued progress. Democrat candidate William Jennings Bryan’s unsuccessful 1896 campaign illustrates not only his failures but those of his party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-05
Eight stagecoaches stand in a procession, each jammed with passengers. Riding in the first coach, labeled “Republican Harmony Coach,” are Chester Alan Arthur, Roscoe Conkling, James Gillespie Blaine, John Alexander Logan, Ulysses S. Grant, J. D. Cameron, George William Curtis, John Sherman, John F. Miller(?) and an unidentified man. Riding in the second coach, labeled “Dem. Love Feast Coach” and “One Republican thrown in to please Mr. Dana,” are Charles A. Dana, Benjamin F. Butler, Edward Cooper, Rutherford B. Hayes, Franklin Edson, Samuel J. Tilden, John Kelly, and Hubert O. Thompson. Riding in the third coach, labeled “Heavy Hack,” are Cardinal John McCloskey, Robert Green Ingersoll, “Jacobs, Potter, Storrs,” Howard Crosby, Henry Ward Beecher, and Theodore Tilton. Riding in the fourth coach, labeled “Monopoly,” are William H. Vanderbilt, Russell Sage, Cyrus W. Field, Jay Gould, and a box labeled Henry Clay. Riding in the fifth coach, labeled “Thespis,” are Lester Wallack, Rose Coghlan, Marie Geistinger, “T.P., J.E. Pearson, Levy,” Dion Boucicault, Edward Harrigan, and Tony Hart. The sixth coach is labeled “Homeopathy”; the seventh coach is labeled “Allopathy”; and the eighth coach is labeled “The Bruiser.” The horses pulling this last coach wear boxing gloves. Caption: [If this takes, we will have another one next year.]
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-06-13
Charles A. Dana blows a large bubble that shows the face of Samuel J. Tilden. Dana is using “Sun Soap,” “Iroquois Club Suds,” and a pipe labeled with a “$.” In the background, the sun is visible on the horizon. Caption: C.A.D. “It’s no matter how big this Tilden bubble gets – I can burst it at any time!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-05-02
Graetz, F. (Friedrich), approximately 1840-approximately 1913
At a dog show, a variety of breeds are competing. In the upper left corner, labeled the “Judges’ Stand,” are several newspaper editors, including James Gordon Bennett, Whitelaw Reid, Murat Halstead, Charles A. Dana, Henry Watterson, and George W. Curtis. They are judging two dogs, Winfield Scott Hancock and Samuel J. Tilden. Other dogs depicted are “Sesquipedalian Sleuth Hound Evarts, Mulligan Mongrel, Rossa Runt – take care dangerous, Lap Dogs Monopoly Breed”, also Chester A. Arthur, William Mahone, Thomas Collier Platt, Roscoe Conkling, James D. Cameron, John Logan, “Pointer Bayard, Tammany Tarrier, House Dog Edson, Dachshund, Toby Dog, Poodle, Water-dog,” David Davis, U.S. Grant, “Tewksbury Ratter, Hoar-Hound, Hybrid Hayes” and at center, “Puck’s entry Cleveland [and] S. Low.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-05-09
Grover Cleveland, as William Tell, holds the hand of Franklin Edson, as his son, striding past a hat labeled “Tammany” perched atop a stick labeled “Ignorant Voters” around which Samuel S. Cox, Thomas F. Grady, Hubert O. Thompson, Francis B. Spinola, and others bow down. On the left, an enraged John Kelly sits on a donkey, commanding soldiers carrying a banner labeled “Board of Aldermen.” In the background, on the right, standing beneath a sign that states “Regular Democracy,” are a group of men that includes Samuel J. Tilden, William R. Grace, Abram S. Hewitt, and Edward Cooper.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-05-16
A large group of politicians and others stand in a cemetery on Memorial Day. Each seems to be grieving at gravestones that bear special messages. Pope Leo XIII stands in front of a stone that states “Here lies my Irish Influence.” Ulysses S. Grant places a wreath labeled “Tho’ Gone Not Forgotten” at a monument that states “Here Lies the Third Term 1880.” Stephen Dorsey and Thomas Brady, arm in arm, stand in front of a stone that states “[Star] Route Here Lies Our Hope of Acquittal.” James G. Blaine places a wreath on a stone that states “[He]re Lies My South American Policy.” Samuel J. Tilden and Charles A. Dana stand in front of a stone that states “Tilden Boom 1876 Rest in Peace.” Clustered around Grant are Roscoe Conkling holding a tattered military standard labeled “Stalwart Battle Flag 1880,” J. D. Cameron on crutches labeled “1882,” John A. Logan as a drummer with number “306” on his drum strap, and Thomas Collier Platt as a little girl. Also grouped before a stone that states “Here Lies Democratic Consistency on the Tariff” are Benjamin F. Butler, Winfield Scott Hancock, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Stephen B. Elkins. Others depicted are Simon Cameron, John Kelly, Jay Gould, George W. Childs, George M. Robeson, David Davis, Robert Ingersoll, Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, and a man identified as “Campbell.” Caption: They deck with flowers, this Day of Decoration, full many a blighted hope and reputation.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-05-30
In the interior of a blacksmith’s shop, Samuel Randall, Abram Hewitt, and Benjamin Butler are putting oversized shoes labeled “Protection, Free Trade, [and] Incidental Tariff” on a mule labeled “Democracy.” Henry Watterson works on a shoe labeled “Western Policy” and Thomas Bayard reaches for a shoe labeled “Elastic Policy.” In the right foreground, Charles A. Dana is cooling rods labeled “MacDonald Boom, Hancock, Grace, Hendricks, [and] Tilden.” At the furnace are Grover Cleveland, Lucius Q. C. Lamar, and “Robbinson” with irons labeled “Business Principles, Southern Policy, Tariff for Rev. [and] Dodge Policy” in the fire. In the background on the right are John Kelly, Joseph Pulitzer, and Oswald Ottendorfer operating the “Dem. Press Bellows” for the “N.Y. World, N.Y. Star, [and] Staatszeitung.” Puck sits on top of a wall in the upper left, next to a notice that states “Tariff Tinkering Done Here.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-06-20
The ghost of Thomas Jefferson speaks to a gathering of the ghosts of John Tyler, Lewis Cass, James K. Polk, Stephen A. Douglas, Franklin Pierce, Andrew Jackson, William L. Marcy, Samuel J. Tilden, James Buchanan, Martin Van Buren, and John C. Calhoun. Jackson’s right hand rests on a paper that states “Call for Indignation Meeting to Protest Against.” Caption: Shade of Jefferson–And so, gentlemen, in view of the unpatriotic behavior of those professed Democrats in Congress, at a most trying moment in their country’s history, I am regretfully forced to declare that our once glorious party has degenerated, and that the only good Democrats are dead ones.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1899-03-01
Ulysses S. Grant is leading his “Grant Boom” band comprised of Samuel J. Tilden, Lucius Q. C. Lamar, Roscoe Conkling, William W. Phelps, David Davis, James D. Cameron, John Sherman, James G. Blaine, John Kelly, Winfield Scott Hancock, William Mahone, and John Logan. Most carry drums that are broken or in disrepair. Across the street, in front of the “Political Armory,” Puck is operating a makeshift stand, issuing “New Drums for Old Drums.” Benjamin F. Butler kicks away his old drum labeled “Butlers Old Policies” and is getting a new drum labeled “Civil Service Reform.” Brooklyn Mayor Seth Low and Grover Cleveland are trying out new drums labeled “Independence” and “Civil Service Reform.” Other new drums are labeled “Tariff Reform, Political Honesty, Anti-Monopoly, Honesty, [and] For the People.” Caption: The U.S. Army is to have new drums. In their day the old drums did good service. Now they must retire and give place to better drums. Phila. Record.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-02-14
A horse labeled “Butler’s Policy” ridden by Benjamin F. Butler is kicking up its rear legs, startling a horse labeled “Cleveland’s Policy” ridden by Grover Cleveland at the “Presidential Race-Course” where “Horses [are] Trained for Presidential Races.” The “Gubernatorial Training Stables” are at far left. Gathered beneath a large tree on the right, observing, are John Logan, Roscoe Conkling, James Gillespie Blaine, John Sherman, David Davis, Winfield Scott Hancock, Ulysses S. Grant, Schuyler Colfax, and Samuel J. Tilden. Caption: Dismounted Jockeys – The horses look well enough now; but they began training too early; and will break down long before the race!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-01-31