Your TR Source
Senator Lodge further explains the situation of the individuals in the Government Printing Office and offers to assist if requested.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-10
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Keep writes to William Loeb acknowledging receipt of Loeb’s letter, in which President Roosevelt advises Keep’s committee to carry out an investigation concerning the printing machines that were bought for the Government Printing Office. Keep says that the committee plans to address the matter right away.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-26
President Roosevelt holds a gun labeled “Simplified” and cartridges on his belt labeled “The New Way”: “Tho,” “Tapt,” “Thru,” “Topt,” “Blest,” and “Fixt.” Opposite is a man labeled “Congress” with a belt labeled “The Old Way” and cartridges labeled “Though,” “Tapped,” “Through,” “Topped,” and “Blessed.” The two are firing words at the feet of the “Public Printer” – “Dropt,” “Ript,” “Mixt,” “Mixed,” and “Ripped” – who jumps into the air to avoid getting shot. A diminutive Andrew Carnegie stands in the foreground.
Cartoonist “Scar” (Alonzo W. Scarborough) of the newly energized New York Globe drew memorable cartoons about Theodore Roosevelt in his second term. As with many cartoonists, the Republican Scar milked the Simplified Spelling matter for all it was worth. In fact it was not worth much, except as a curious distraction in a very contentious political year.
The Civil Service Commission disapproves of William A. Miller’s dismissal from his position as assistant foreman at the bindery of the Government Printing Office. Miller was dismissed due to his removal from the local International Brotherhood of Bookbinders.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-13
F. C. Nunemacher approves President Roosevelt’s decision to reinstate William A. Miller to his position at the Government Printing Office. Miller lost his job after being expelled from the labor union. Nunemacher supports an employee’s right to join a union but does not believe that employees should be discriminated against due to union membership or their decision not to join a union.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-22
William Loeb expresses that President Roosevelt would like Secretary of Commerce and Labor Cortelyou to meet with Public Printer Francis Wayland Palmer. The President believes that there is a strong case against Palmer, and Palmer needs to understand that a public official is not to “pay heed to the dictation of any outside organization.” The President would also like Palmer to make a full report on the matter and meet with Attorney General Philander C. Knox to make a full explanation of the charges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-02
In accordance with the decision of the Civil Service Commission, William A. Miller will be reinstated at the Government Printing Office. President Roosevelt will withhold his final decision until the investigation of Miller’s second communication is complete. His initial impression is that Miller’s removal violated the law.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-13
President Roosevelt sends Public Printer Donnelly a copy of a letter Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou received from the Board of Awards of Contracts along with a proposed schedule of miscellaneous supplies that the Board has prepared. The Executive Departments will arrange to purchase supplies in accordance with the directions from the Board, and Roosevelt directs Donnelly that supplies for the Government Printing Office should be purchased in the same manner.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-18
President Roosevelt calls Public Printer Donnelly’s attention to a previous letter of Roosevelt’s, in which he directed that government publications should only be bound in ordinary cloth. This direction has been ignored in connection with the reports of several Cabinet officers. Roosevelt directs Donnelly to investigate the matter, and send him a report about the responsible parties.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-15
President Roosevelt has received Public Printer Leech’s letter of resignation, and accepts it with thanks for his good service. Roosevelt tells Leech that if he will present this letter to Secretary of War Luke E. Wright, Wright can arrange an extension of Leech’s leave of absence before Leech returns to the Philippines to resume his work there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-26
President Roosevelt has received public printer John S. Leech’s telegram, and directs him to restore William J. Manning and keep the emergency room as it was. Roosevelt asks Leech to explain his reference to a letter from William L. Mattocks. He does not intend to interfere with the details of Leech’s work, but he expects any direction he gives to be followed. It appears to Roosevelt that Leech has undone work of the National Civic Federation in creating a model emergency room in the Government Printing Office, and Roosevelt does not want the work of former Public Printer Charles A. Stillings undone in this regard.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-11
President Roosevelt reproves Public Printer Leech for the discrepancy between his words and his actions regarding the emergency hospital in the Government Printing Office. Leech has claimed that he never thought of abandoning the work, yet he has demoted William J. Manning, the doctor who established it, causing his resignation. He also reduced the salary of the remaining doctor. Roosevelt again directs that Leech continue “both the force and the work” of the hospital.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-16
President Roosevelt sends Senator Hopkins a letter from Public Printer John S. Leech, which he says explains itself. Roosevelt feels that it would not be possible to interfere in the matter, as it would oblige him to act on innumerable other cases as well. Roosevelt thinks that the Government Printing Office should be under a cabinet secretary, who would then take care of the matter, but that Congress is preventing this change from happening.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-27
President Roosevelt was pleased to receive the letter from United States Representative Landis, and approves of the resolution of the Joint Committee on Printing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-20
President Roosevelt calls Public Printer Leech’s attention to a letter from United States Congressman Charles B. Landis and to a resolution of the Joint Committee on Printing. Roosevelt says that the resolution has his approval, and that he is not willing to risk a repetition of the troubles that have occurred during the last several years. He therefore directs Leech to conduct himself as stipulated in the resolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-20
President Roosevelt agrees with Senator Platt about the Government Printing Office, and says he will take up the matter at once.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-13
President Roosevelt informs Senator Allison that William Sidney Rossiter of the Census Bureau did a full investigation and report on conditions at the Government Printing Office that led to his working “day and night” and spending over $100 of his personal funds. He asks Allison if he could be compensated an extra $1000, and if this could be added to an appropriation bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-20
President Roosevelt sends Representative Landis, Chairman of the House Committee on Printing, a copy of a letter that he sent to William Sidney Rossiter, as well as a report to Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson. Roosevelt believes that these items show that appointing either Rossiter or Henry T. Brian, both of whom Landis recommended, would be unwise. Roosevelt thinks he needs to appoint someone who does not have any connection with the Government Printing Office or any of the investigations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-31
President Roosevelt has not heard from Representative Landis regarding his previous letter, so he assumes that Landis does not know anything that would reflect poorly on Charles A. Stilling’s integrity. Roosevelt will request his resignation as Public Printer, but will make explicitly clear that this is not a reflection on Stillings’s integrity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-14
President Roosevelt requests the resignation of Charles A. Stillings as head of the Government Printing Office, following an examination of reports from George C. Havenner and William Sidney Rossiter and comments from John S. Leech. Roosevelt is satisfied with Stillings’s zeal and integrity, but not with how his work has been done.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-14