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President Roosevelt will meet with Marshall L. Mott when Congress has adjourned, though he does not think there is anything more to be said. He has written to Charles Nagel, and directed Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock to take up charges against Dawes Commission member Tams Bixby.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-12
When President Roosevelt received Senator Dietrich’s letter, he had not known of the matter. He has sent the report to the Department of Justice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-08
President Roosevelt approves of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis’s decision, and congratulates Edwin Walter Sims on his work as District Attorney.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-06
President Roosevelt appoints Assistant Attorney General Alford W. Cooley as the representative of the Department of Justice on the Central Committee of the American Red Cross.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-03
President Roosevelt accepts James Clark McReynolds’s resignation from the post of Assistant Attorney General. He thanks McReynolds for his work in the position.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-01
President Roosevelt forwards several letters from Attorney General William H. Moody to Secretary Hitchcock. The president asks Hitchcock to put the charges in question down in writing if he agrees that “the several subordinates of the Department of Justice” have “failed in their duty.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-08
President Roosevelt writes Senator Clark strongly recommending Alford Warriner Cooley for the position of Assistant Attorney General, and he encourages Clark to share this letter with the rest of the Judiciary Committee. Roosevelt writes that Cooley was suggested by Attorney General William H. Moody, and he is also favored by Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte. Roosevelt outlines Cooley’s education and career, which includes time as judge for various courts in New York and Washington DC; positions at the Department of Justice; and a member of New York City’s Corporation Counsel. Roosevelt concludes that he doesn’t believe it “would be possible to obtain a better man for the place.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-07
Charles G. Washburn writes to John W. Weeks about their mutual concerns related to the Department of Justice’s enforcement of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Washburn summarizes the history of the Sherman Act. He discusses the effect of the 1897 Trans-Missouri case and efforts by politicians, including Theodore Roosevelt, to amend the Sherman Act. Washburn also describes a number of cases which have gone to court under the Sherman Act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-28
Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on various matters before the Department of Justice, specifically pertaining to the cases of William Edgar Borah and N. M. Ruick. Bonaparte also goes into great detail about the case of the People of Puerto Rico vs. the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church in Puerto Rico. He encourages Roosevelt not to get involved but instead to let the courts work it out. In a postscript, Bonaparte discusses the political considerations of federal appointees who run for elective office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-15
Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on several political matters. He believes the evidence that could be brought against Senator William Edgar Borah is not enough to convict him, but it is likely that Borah knew about the conspiracy. Bonaparte also wants to talk with Roosevelt about what is going on in the New Mexico Territory and the charges made against William H. H. Llewellyn. Finally, Bonaparte mentions a letter he received from W. Hall Harris about whether he should resign the postmastership in order to accept the nomination for a judgeship in Baltimore, Maryland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-08
Judge Dietrich reports to Attorney General Bonaparte on discussions he has had with the parties and special government counsel regarding the outside judge to be appointed in the Idaho land fraud cases. All parties agreed to Judge Edward Whitson, but Dietrich is not sure all would agree to Judge William Henry Hunt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-06
Attorney Otto Gresham sends President Roosevelt a letter from Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Gresham shares his views, as well as the views of various local lawyers and judges, on Landis’s actions and the proceedings of the Standard Oil case. Gresham also summarizes the conversations he had with Landis regarding the potential reversal of the case and the imposition of the fine. After discussing the history of law in Britain, Gresham concludes that the people support Roosevelt in his actions to control the corporations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-04
Attorney General Bonaparte tells President Roosevelt that District Attorney Edwin Walter Sims has asked for a postponement in Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis’s case, perhaps due to Landis’s behavior. The press covering Secretary of State Elihu Root and Thomas Fortune Ryan has been sensationalized, and Bonaparte feels it is unfortunate that Root is taking the blame on the whiskey situation. Bonaparte will get an update from Department of Justice Agent Peyton Gordon about Agent Ormsby McHarg. As he will be traveling, Bonaparte sends his forwarding address. He encloses telegrams from Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch regarding Judge Frank Sigel Dietrich.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-04
Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on the situation between United States Attorney Edwin Walter Sims and Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Bonaparte feels Sims’s behavior could be harmful. Any relevant evidence should have been made available initially, and although Bonaparte does not think an inquiry will change the case now he will do as the Landis asks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-02
Attorney General Bonaparte can not make the changes United States Attorney Edwin Walter Sims asked for, as the Department of Justice has done all it can to meet the wishes of the court. Bonaparte was not told of the facts from Sims’ telegram, and the department will only consider the new information if the court resubmits the question.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-02
United States Attorney Sims suggests edits to Attorney General Bonaparte’s letter. If Bonaparte does not agree to them, Sims asks for an adjournment of the grand jury in order to resubmit evidence so as to prove that the Department of Justice has taken an incorrect stance. Sims feels the court was unfairly influenced by the witnesses from the railroad company’s traffic department, and that the situation is urgent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-02
Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on Judge Frank Sigel Dietrich’s statements regarding Marshal Ruel Rounds, and on the situation in Idaho. Bonaparte thinks the lumber men could appeal to the Interstate Commerce Commission about the railroad rates, but he will have to look into the matter further. Many of the employees involved in the land fraud cases think highly of District Attorney N. M. Ruick and feel Senator William Edgar Borah is guilty, but the secret service men dislike Ruick. In Oklahoma, Bonaparte is still waiting for the election and the results of the census, and will give Roosevelt his feedback on the constitution after he has more information. William Randolph Hearst and the financiers have taken up rumors of Bonaparte’s resignation in the press again, perhaps because of Republican National Committee member Frank B. Kellogg’s visit to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-01
Governor Curry of New Mexico, following up on President Roosevelt’s letter, has expressed to the manager of the Santa Fe Water & Light Company that attempts at blackmail against the company will be prosecuted. Richard H. Hanna’s information about district court clerk William E. Martin is true, but the Department of Justice did not object to his appointment. Mariano Senna’s appointment as deputy clerk was a mistake, however, and he has been removed. Curry will personally fight any wrongdoing in the Territory of New Mexico, and the strife will not last.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-31