Watchmen

President Roosevelt states that he wants all watchmen, lock tenders, and lock employees to be considered as covered by the eight-hour-a-day law. He wants Secretary of War William H. Taft to make exceptions only on a case-by-case basis, and the president desires that the number of all exceptions is reported to him. Roosevelt wants this policy to go into effect immediately.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Uncle Sam, as a sleeping Swiss guard of the “Public Funds,” is being overtaken by trees and cobwebs. Two dogs are also asleep at his feet. A building on the right labeled “Public Funds” is being overgrown by a tree labeled “Corruption” with spreading limbs labeled “National, State, [and] City.” A snake labeled “Lobbyism” hangs from the branches, and rats flee with coins from its coffers. Two spiders labeled “Graft” and “Bossism” ply the webs, a tree on the left is labeled “Ring Rule,” and an alligator labeled “Greed” prowls the foreground among tree roots labeled “Dead Conscience.” In the background, a vulture labeled “Monopoly” keeps an eye on a candlelight vigil by a person labeled “Dead Letter Laws” for a female figure labeled “Honesty.” The candle glows with “Hope.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1905-08-16

George E. Megee gives Theodore Roosevelt an extensive history of himself, including his financial troubles revolving around a steam boat vessel which was destroyed in an incident involving night watchmen. Megee feels he has been unjustly treated, and is frustrated with how his local authorities and his country broadly-speaking have handled the situation. He asks Roosevelt for advice and/or assistance in this matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-31

Creator(s)

Megee, George E., 1858-1933

John Campbell Greenway has contacted Ben Daniels and is willing to give him a job as chief watchman at the mine. He will cover Daniels’s immediate financial needs and attempt to have Daniels withdraw his request for a loan from Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1914-12-28

Creator(s)

Greenway, John Campbell, 1872-1926

Ben Daniels has accepted the job offered to him by John Campbell Greenway. He was happy to assist Theodore Roosevelt with the matter.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1914-12-30

Creator(s)

Greenway, John Campbell, 1872-1926

Acting Postmaster General Wynne outlines the justification for Donatus O’Brien’s dismissal. He presents a history of incidents relating to absences without leave and sleeping on duty since O’Brien began work as a watchman 10 years earlier.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-03

Creator(s)

Wynne, Robert John, 1851-1922