United States Steel Corporation

Concentration in industry

Charles Richard Van Hise speaks of the nuances present in monopolies and unrestricted competition in the American economy. Van Hise gives the railroads system as an example of successful use of commissions with no price competition. His thesis proposes there can be great economic advantage to maintain a concentration of industry and therefore those corporations should not be broken up by enforcing the Sherman Act. Instead, commissions should be created to determine prices and Van Hise provides a list of powers these commissions should have and how to achieve success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-09

Creator(s)

Van Hise, Charles Richard, 1857-1918

Letter from John Campbell Greenway to Theodore Roosevelt

John Campbell Greenway notifies President Roosevelt that he would be proud to be part of the Rough Rider escort detail for the inauguration. Greenway responded to the invitation by Colonel Alexander O. Brodie stating Brodie can count on him for that glorious event.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-27

Creator(s)

Greenway, John Campbell, 1872-1926

Memorandum from the Office of the Iron Trade Review

The Office of the Iron Trade Review describes several problems plaguing the iron market.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-06-18

Creator(s)

Office of the Iron Trade Review

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank C. Saughlin

Frank C. Saughlin’s letter helped Theodore Roosevelt settle his mind on the trust question. He shares that President William H. Taft approved what was done regarding the United States Steel Corporation when he was Secretary of War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Rudolph Garfield

Theodore Roosevelt agrees with James Rudolph Garfield concerning the United States Steel Corporation. He finds President William H. Taft’s behavior in the matter unbecoming since he reviewed the issue several times as part of Roosevelt’s cabinet and had no concerns. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is slowly recovering. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hiram Johnson

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Governor Johnson for the letter. He agrees with Johnson that the people are entitled to an open primary to express their views for the presidential nomination. Roosevelt discusses his thoughts about President William H. Taft in absolute confidence. Despite his misgivings, Roosevelt will support Taft if nominated since he sees no ground for permanent hope in the Democratic Party. He comments on the other presidential candidates and considers himself a weak candidate. Roosevelt examines how the New York judges’ decisions strengthen the Socialist Party. He reviews why he disagrees with Johnson’s estimate of the public’s opinion of himself and why he does not want to be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philander C. Knox

Theodore Roosevelt requests a copy of the statement Philander C. Knox made after a decision was made in the case of the Government versus the United States Steel Company. Roosevelt has been unable to acquire the speech through newspapers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-07-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Knox Smith

In a cancelled letter, President Roosevelt asks Herbert Knox Smith for all papers dealing with the United States Steel Corporation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Knox Smith

President Roosevelt directs Herbert Knox Smith, Commissioner of Corporations, to forward to him all papers relating to the United States Steel Corporation and Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company so that Roosevelt can determine what should be made public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Knox Smith

President Roosevelt advises Herbert Knox Smith, Commissioner of Corporations, that if he is asked to produce any papers in the “Steel Corporation inquiry” to state that he is required to report to the President first. After this, the President will give direction as to what should be made public “as the law requires.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Lee Higginson

President Roosevelt cannot accept the Tavern Club’s invitation, and asks Henry Lee Higginson to tell the people who invited him that he appreciates the courtesy. Roosevelt agrees with what Higginson says about the United States Steel Corporation and the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, and is immensely interested in what Higginson told him about Agassiz’s action the previous year. Roosevelt thinks that if he writes a letter like Higginson suggested, he will be attacked for trying to give too much advice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt informs Attorney General Bonaparte of a meeting he had with Judge Elbert H. Gary and Henry Clay Frick regarding the potential failure of an important Wall Street firm, Moore and Schley. The firm is heavily invested in the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company. Gary and Frick propose that the United States Steel Company purchase that stock from the firm to prevent its failure. This purchase could expose United States Steel to an antitrust attack from the government, but Gary and Frick explain why it would not constitute a monopoly, and feel strongly that preventing the firm’s failure would be in everyone’s best interest. Roosevelt told them that while he could not advise them to take the proposed action, he felt it was not his duty to tell them not to.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Edmund Platt to Theodore Roosevelt

Edmund Platt believes that President William H. Taft’s administration is mistaken in its anti-trust policy, and a note of protest is needed against the trust disintegration and the form in which the Steel Trust suit was brought. Many businessmen in Poughkeepsie, New York, believe in regulating trusts but not in disintegration. Platt feels that the government did not act fairly by the small investor and should have made their plans public. He argues that the United States Steel Corporation was organized after the Sherman Act, and there is no evidence of illegal business. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-01

Creator(s)

Platt, Edmund, 1865-1939

Letter from H. F. Blastin to Theodore Roosevelt

H. F. Blastin again asks Theodore Roosevelt to attend the public banquet in connection with the Convention of the Legal Aid Societies of the United States. He suggests Roosevelt speak on the recent government action regarding the United States Steel Corporation, which the people of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, would greatly appreciate. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-01

Creator(s)

Blastin, H. F.

Letter from James Rudolph Garfield to Theodore Roosevelt

James Rudolph Garfield is sorry he could not wait to see Theodore Roosevelt in New York, as he had to leave for a business trip. He was glad to hear about Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s improvement from Frank Harper. Garfield wants Roosevelt’s opinion on the action against the United States Steel Corporation, as he heard nothing that made him suspect Elbert H. Gary deceived them. The case illustrates the difference between destructive litigation and constructive legislation. He feels that the government’s current position is destructive to legitimate business and comments on the role of courts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

Creator(s)

Garfield, James Rudolph, 1865-1950

Letter from Daniel Rhodes Hanna to Theodore Roosevelt

Daniel Rhodes Hanna is concerned about the current political situation, especially as a businessman. Like many others, he believes that Theodore Roosevelt is the only Republican who can be elected president. Hanna wants Roosevelt to name twenty-four Republicans to meet and discuss the situation. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-26

Creator(s)

Hanna, Daniel Rhodes, 1866-1921

Letter from Gilbert B. Daniels to Theodore Roosevelt

Gilbert B. Daniels sends Theodore Roosevelt a clipping, giving his opinion of William Randolph Hearst’s attack against Roosevelt’s involvement in the United States Steel Corporation’s acquisition of the Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-14

Creator(s)

Daniels, Gilbert B. (Gilbert Barber), 1854-1926

Letter from Robert S. Bradley to Theodore Roosevelt

Robert S. Bradley quotes a statement Theodore Roosevelt supposedly made before the House Committee of Inquiry regarding Germany’s governmental regulation of the potash industry. He believes that Roosevelt was either misquoted or is greatly misinformed about the matter. Having made the basic contracts that initially caused the “potash controversy,” Bradley discusses the situation in depth and includes additional materials.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-12

Creator(s)

Bradley, Robert S. (Robert Stow), 1855-1945

Letter from Norman C. Raff to Theodore Roosevelt

Norman C. Raff believes that Theodore Roosevelt acted correctly in regard to the purchase of Tennessee Coal and Iron Company by the United States Steel Corporation given the information he had in 1907. He compares Roosevelt’s actions to those of Grover Cleveland in trying to mitigate the 1893 Panic by selling government bonds to a syndicate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-05

Creator(s)

Raff, Norman C. (Norman Charles), 1857-1925

Letter from Frank B. Kellogg to Theodore Roosevelt

Frank B. Kellogg writes Theodore Roosevelt concerning the investigation by the United States federal government into the United States Steel Corporation, as the government requested Kellogg to appear as a witness. Kellogg proclaims he has always practiced law ethically and according to the country’s law and standards. He hopes to see Roosevelt when in his next in New York. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-16

Creator(s)

Kellogg, Frank B. (Frank Billings), 1856-1937