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George Otto Trevelyan explains his feelings about Arthur James Balfour, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, to President Roosevelt regarding recent financial policies in Great Britain. Trevelyan declares Balfour as “a man of words, and of no knowledge of the crisis.” He laments the depletion of the fund meant to pay off the national debt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-28
William D. Washburn thanks President Roosevelt for his letter, but cannot agree with some of Roosevelt’s statements that there is no analogy between the current political situation and the divisions related to slavery that caused the destruction of the Whig party (in spite of the obvious moral differences). Washburn adamantly disagrees with the statement that the tariff should not be discussed as a party issue, and fears that by not addressing it the Republican party will be soundly defeated. He further disagrees with the premise that the tariff and trusts are entirely separate issues, and gives an example to try to disprove this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-27
Congressman Overstreet thanks President Roosevelt for the letter he sent to Representative Watson. In the letter, which was recently made public, Roosevelt explains his position on tariffs in a way that Overstreet thought was especially effective. Tariffs had been a particularly contentious issue in Indiana, and Overstreet believes that Roosevelt’s letter will help to unify the party as they head into the midterm elections.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-22
Vice President Fairbanks congratulates President Roosevelt on his letter to Representative James Eli Watson. The argument in favor of a Republican House is conclusive.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-21
Representative Sherman writes to President Roosevelt that the Republican Congressional Committee has not emphasized the expression “stand-pat,” and they have decided not to attempt any tariff revision at this time. The phrase was used by newspapers. Sherman also thinks that the letter that Roosevelt will send to Republican Whip James E. Watson is splendid.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-16
Speaker of the House Cannon offers his suggestions on a letter that President Roosevelt plans to send to Representative James E. Watson. He recommends eliminating a small section on the tariff, and slightly altering another portion to make the letter more internally consistent. Cannon shares his thoughts about his own upcoming political campaign where he will praise the Dingley Tariff. He comments that Representative Charles E. Littlefield of Maine will have a difficult election, and believes Roosevelt’s letter may be of valuable assistance there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-13
Senator Lodge has read President Roosevelt’s letter to Indiana Representative James E. Watson, and approves of it. He has made several minor edits to the letter, and added a section discussing the Immigration Bill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-12
Representative Sherman sends President Roosevelt a letter from House Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon. Sherman agrees with Cannon that Roosevelt should write to Republican whip James E. Watson in the manner discussed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-07
Joseph Gurney Cannon recounts for J. S. Sherman his recent trip through Indiana with local Representative James E. Watson. Watson has recently returned from Missouri where he feels hopeful for the election of Frank B. Fulkerson and Cassius McLean Shartel, and recounts a political fight between Senator William Joel Stone and Governor Joseph Wingate Folk for the same seat. Watson went over the situation in Indiana as well, where demand for free hides like in Massachusetts are fueled by the independent press. Watson would like to take up President Roosevelt on his offer to write a letter on the matter. Cannon hopes the president will address the letter to Watson directly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-30
The author of the article analyzes Republican losses and the Democratic victory in Indiana following the 1908 election, where James E. Watson was defeated in his Senate race. This defeat is attributed to a number of things such as the local temperance movement and Governor J. Frank Hanly’s determination to call an ill-advised special session of the legislature. However, more broadly the author points to a lack of unity within the party, poor organization on the part of the Republican party, and a resistance to machine rule.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-07