Your TR Source
Frank Basil Tracy informs Theodore Roosevelt the New England Gas & Coke Company matter “is almost ancient history” and the Transcript would not have advertised anything that was “shady,” even if it was brought about by a reputable citizen such as Henry Melville Whitney.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-12
President Roosevelt is strapped to a “condemnation” diving board across the “criticism” river. Roosevelt holds his big stick and says, “This is slanderous, villainous, scurrilous, vicious—-!!” Joseph Pulitzer and Edward Henry Harriman cheer as Harriman holds the “Ananias Club” flag. William MacKay Laffan is lying face up on the ground chuckling, “Ha-ha!” while Henry Melville Whitney says, “Let ‘er go!”
Edward Joseph McBride was among several political cartoonists at the close of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency who seemed to find daily opposition a habit difficult to break. Cartoons like this one were not about specific issues, but virtually served as compendiums of complaints that had provided Democratic cartoonists with subjects for years.
President Roosevelt stands outside the “White House” and fires a “stand pat (?)” cannon toward “Fort Whitney” that has a “free hides” flag. The following words emanate from the cannon ball: “Liar!” “Misrepresentation!” and “Can’t meet you, Sir!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-22
Charles S. Mellen has asked President Roosevelt to expedite an investigation into his railroad company’s planned merger. The article notes this request comes the day after the defeat of Henry Melville Whitney, who had been in favor of the merger, in the Massachusetts gubernatorial election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-07
Henry Melville Whitney, the Democratic candidate for Massachusetts Lieutenant-Governor, repeated his claim that President Roosevelt had said that he was in favor of reciprocity, or Continental Free Trade. Whitney says that Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and other Republicans witnessed the conversation where Roosevelt told him this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-25
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of State Hay it might be worthwhile to bring up the treaty again and suggests he speak with Senators Henry Cabot Lodge, Eugene Hale, and William P. Frye. Roosevelt is displeased by Sir Edward Clarke’s remarks at a dinner honoring American diplomat Joseph Hodges Choate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-29
President Roosevelt discusses his thoughts about the results of the previous day’s elections with Senator Lodge, particularly his delight at the defeat of Democratic nominee for Governor of Massachusetts Henry Melville Whitney. Roosevelt is also pleased with wins in Kentucky but saddened by losses in New Jersey and Cleveland. In New York, Roosevelt is angered that Representative Herbert Parsons, who he thinks is a good man, has made an alliance with William Randolph Hearst and Standard Oil.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-06
President Roosevelt cannot visit Plymouth as Arthur Lord has asked. He agrees with Senator Lodge about special inspectors to enforce naturalization laws not being chosen from the civil service applicants. Roosevelt understands if Lodge is attacked in the papers for his stance on the merger bill and praises him for his efforts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-04
President Roosevelt encloses letters that he would like returned, and in particular draws Lyman Abbott’s attention to Judge Frank G. Finlayson’s letter regarding the reasons Franklin K. Lane’s appointment to the Interstate Commerce Commission is opposed. Roosevelt would like to speak with Abbott about The Outlook’s treatment of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. Though he tries not to let his personal friendship with Lodge cloud his judgment, and although Lodge opposes him on the railroad rate issue, Roosevelt believes that Lodge is a good political leader in Massachusetts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-19
President Roosevelt tells Albert Shaw that his message has already been distributed to the press and contains the recommendation to admit Arizona and New Mexico as one state. He also asks who in Massachusetts is “grumpy” about his communications with Henry Melville Whitney about reciprocity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-25
President Roosevelt encloses a letter that Henry Melville Whitney wrote him, as well as his answer. He tells Senator Lodge that he does not think it was wise for Guild A. Copeland to publish his letter, as Roosevelt believes it will be “well nigh impossible” to get a tariff revision this winter. He is glad that Ambassador George von Lengerke Meyer is about to go back to Russia, but feels that he should have started back a month ago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-18
President Roosevelt refuses to make any public statement on Henry Melville Whitney and his associates.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-18
President Roosevelt affirms his strong support for the Massachusetts Republican ticket, and advises Senator Lodge on how to respond to a statement from Henry Melville Whitney that misrepresents Roosevelt’s feelings on trade reciprocity with Canada. Roosevelt believes that it will do no good for him personally to make a statement, but approves of Lodge’s plan of publicly affirming Roosevelt’s support of the Republican ticket and stating that the Senators from Massachusetts have always agreed with him on reciprocity and that Roosevelt’s views on the matter have never changed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-01
Frank Basil Tracy informs Theodore Roosevelt that he has found limited information on Perley B. Doe and no substance to his claim that The New England Gas and Coke Company was fake. Tracy states that the Boston Evening Transcript does not use advertising columns to attack people like other papers do.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-12
In response to his article in The Outlook, Perley B. Doe calls Theodore Roosevelt’s attention to Henry Melville Whitney’s financial swindle through fake advertisements in The Transcript for the New England Gas and Coke Company.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-19
Frank Basil Tracy wants the facts regarding Theodore Roosevelt’s alleged interest in the “Taft boom” and encloses a dispatch, editorial, and clipping on the matter. He regrets Roosevelt cannot listen to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s speech that night, especially as he cannot see how Lodge will be defeated. Tracy regards Henry M. Whitney as “about as rotten a man as there is in the State of Massachusetts.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-03
Senator Lodge discusses a number of topics regarding the late Secretary of State John Hay. Lodge bemoans the editing of a publication of Hay’s letters, claiming that Hay was “one of the best if not the best letter writer of his time,” but the publication does not do him justice. He reminisces on the many men of letters he has known in his life, and believes that Hay was the most “brilliant, humorous, sympathetic, [and] witty” among them. Lodge holds more criticism for Hay in his role as a secretary of state, discussing how Hay bungled multiple treaties, took credit for accomplishments that were not his own, and formed poor relations with the Senate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-14
Senator Lodge reflects on the results of the election and is generally pleased, particularly with the sound defeat of Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Henry Melville Whitney. Lodge was less pleased by the events in New York which included a fusion of the Republican Party with William Randolph Hearst’s Independence League in New York City and embarrassing behavior by Governor Charles Evans Hughes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-09
Senator Lodge and President Roosevelt share similar opinions on the proposed Oklahoma constitution, with Lodge being particularly concerned about one provision which would “destroy representative government,” should it be allowed to pass. Lodge suggests that putting the constitution before Congress would be enough to change the provision. Lodge is thrilled by Governor Curtis Guild’s massive win in the recent Massachusetts gubernatorial election, but is concerned about how many votes the Independence Party candidate received.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-07
Senator Lodge shares with President Roosevelt the points he went over with Assistant Attorney General Alford Warriner Cooley and District Attorney Asa P. French regarding the investigation of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Company and Charlie Morse’s supposed steamship monopoly deal. Lodge discusses his concerns about the severe decline in stocks, the possibility of a financial panic, and the potential impact on future election results.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-12