Your TR Source
Frank B. Kellogg thanks Theodore Roosevelt for the invitation to Oyster Bay and hopes to call on Roosevelt soon to discuss the current political climate. His wife, Clara May Cook Kellogg, heard of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s accident and Kellogg hopes Edith Roosevelt has now fully recovered.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-12
The author of this article argues that the United States Supreme Court is working with the American Tobacco Company to dissolve the illegal company but, in allowing a new company to be created, are forming a monopoly that will drive out independent retailers from the tobacco industry. To avoid the scandal and lawsuits that will come if the Supreme Court continues on their path, the author suggests the Supreme Court request a full inventory of the assets of all the companies forming the new trust and verify all stocks and bonds under the companies, especially the American Cigar Company, are covered. The second suggestion made is to make coupons illegal because the issuance of coupons runs independent retailers out of business.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-21
Berriman, Edward C. (Edward Charles), 1860-1925
President Roosevelt has been reading the works of former President Thomas Jefferson and concludes that the Constitution is meant to adapt to the country through the decisions of the Supreme Court. As he spends more time with the wealthy, he is convinced of their “entire unfitness” for government. Despite their good intentions, Roosevelt believes that these elites are out of touch with the common people. Roosevelt has a low opinion of Jefferson’s presidency, but notes that he was popular in his time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-21
President Roosevelt has sent the letters regarding the nomination of Walter Chadwick Noyes from Arthur Twining Hadley, president of Yale University, to Commissioner of Corporations Herbert Knox Smith and Charles Hopkins Clark of the Hartford Courant. Roosevelt asks for clarification on Hadley’s statement about support for Noyes, as he has many prominent endorsements, including those of the Supreme Court Judges.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-02
President Roosevelt apologizes for disturbing Attorney General Bonaparte while on vacation but asks him to review the enclosed letter from former Minnesota governor and representative John Lind.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-29
President Roosevelt would not have advised Secretary of War Taft to take the position of refusing to compromise with Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker but, upon reflection, considers it “one of those fine and manly things” he expects from Taft. Roosevelt recommends changing one sentence in his letter, which reads, “It may be quite true that a Senator may act on his own conscience.” Roosevelt believes it would be better to use the specific example of the rate bill where Foraker “acted so as to outrage the consciences of all the best men.” If Taft is not to be the president, Roosevelt hopes he will be Chief Justice or a senator from Ohio.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-26
President Roosevelt appreciates James D. Andrews’s letter and gift of ornithologist Alexander Wilson’s works. He agrees with Andrews that the Supreme Court needs to create a clear boundary between the power of the states and the federal government.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-26
Justice Hughes will be unable to attend the meeting of the Civic Forum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-10
Frank B. Kellogg gives a description of his work with the Standard Oil case after being suggested for the position by Theodore Roosevelt. The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of the government against the Standard Oil Company, just as Kellogg suggested it would back in 1906.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-04
Ernst Hertzberg asks Theodore Roosevelt to send a handwritten letter for his autograph collection and offers to bind a book for him in return.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-13
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 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
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
Henry L. Sprague writes President Roosevelt that if Judge William J. Wallace retires, he would be interested in his position on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Sprague lays out his qualifications and his support for Roosevelt’s antitrust policies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-08
Attorney General Bonaparte reports to President Roosevelt that Robert T. Devlin, U. S. Attorney, will be headed east as soon as he can get on a train. Bonaparte will not come to Washington until Wednesday, assuming Roosevelt does not need him before then to discuss United States v. Wickersham (201 U.S. 390) and the pay increase for the warden of the federal prison reservation in Atlanta, Georgia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-22
Justice Moody tenders his resignation as Attorney General, in order to begin his new position as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-15
Secretary of War Taft writes to President Roosevelt letting Roosevelt know that he has been meaning to send him a legal brief on their behalf. Taft intends for the brief to be used if Associate Supreme Court Justice Holmes rules against them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-20
Frank Arthur Putnam writes a poem that depicts the American Revolution and the Civil War and states the time has come to rise against today’s despots, which are the supremely wealthy. Putnam calls for a peaceful revolution that will change the United States from representative government to full democracy and offers solutions for how to accomplish this task. Ernest McGaffey writes a letter to Putnam that states revolution will not occur in the near future because the people are not suffering enough. McGaffey includes a poem with his letter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06
James R. Sheffield congratulates President Roosevelt on the Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding the “beef trust matter” and suggests a commission of special experts might be more fit than the Interstate Commerce Committee to handle the issue of transportation rates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-31
The District of Columbia Board of Commissioners writes to President Roosevelt to discuss the enforcement of a “smoke-law” approved February 2, 1899, which intended to reduce the harmful emissions of power plants. Despite some legal setbacks, enforcement of the law has been generally successful, except in a handful of cases, including the Potomac Electric Power Company. Due to the “frequent and flagrant” violations of the plant, 66 prosecutions have been brought against it in court.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-05