[*File CF*] BOOKER T. WASHINGTON. TUSKEGEE NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE. INCORPORATED. TUSKEGEE, ALABAMA. Personal and Confidential. January 23, 1903. My dear Mr. President:- I shall see you or communicate directly with you about some important matters very soon, but in the meantime I want to write to request as earnestly as I can that you permit nothing to be done that will disturb the present authority of Edgar S. Wilson in Mississippi without the consent and cooperation of Mr. Wilson. I have kept in close touch with him and he has the situation in hand in Mississippi and will see that the interests of the administration are thoroughly taken care of if he is not interfered with in a way to place him an an awkward position. In case it is thought best to have anyone share Mr. Wilson's authority, I think you will agree with me that such persons should only be appointed after consultation with Mr. Wilson and by his consent. Mr. Wilson is brave, prudent and thoroughly loyal. He has suffered considerable abuse at the hands of unscrupulous people in Mississippi on account of his loyalty to you, and now that he is reaching the period where success is about tocrown his efforts, nothing should be permitted to interfere. James Hill represents the very lowest and most corrupt type of politicians, and if the least encouragement is given to him and his follow- ers it will mean the undoing of everything that has been accomplished in the way of bringing about decency in Southern politics. Yours truly, Booker T. Washington[[shorthand]] ALBERT J. BEVERIDGE, CHAIRMAN. COMMITTEE ON TERRITORIES, UNITED STATES SENATE. WASHINGTON. [*Ackd 1/23/04*] Dear Mr. President: Enclosed clipping ought to please you. Our people easily controlled in spite of efforts contrary. A. J. B. [*[Beveridge]*] Montgomery hot Roosevelt man — Stranahan too for that matter. [*ackd & enclosed 1/27/04*] [[shorthand]] United States Senate, WASHINGTON, D.C. January 23, 1904. Dear Mr. President:- I would thank you to glance through and return the enclosed. It shows what the opposition are doing in Indian Territory and what our people are doing in your behalf. Sincerely, A. J. B. [*[Beveridge]*] [*Return*] The President, White House. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY, Washington, Jan. 23, 1904. My dear Mr. Loeb, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 22nd. and, in compliance with the request therein made by you, to transmit the letters from Governor Bradley for delivery by you to the President. Very truly yours John Mason Brown 2 enclosures.INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. 3RD DISTRICT OF TEXAS. COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. AUSTIN, TEX. January 23, 1904. [*rec'd? 1-27-04] Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President, Washington, D.C. Mr. President:- I take the liberty of giving you the political situation in Texas, as I understand it. If presumptious, or in bad taste, my anxiety for your success, and with it success of the party and welfare of the country is my excuse. I have good reason for thinking our State Convention will be called at an early day, and have no hesitancy in predicting the delegates named will be instructed to cast their votes and work for your nomination. The State Chairman, Col. Lyons is your friend, and will exert himself to that end. Most of the prominent men in the party are for you, and but few give expression to their opposition. "Some few are waiting for something to turn up", and have been led to believe something would happen. The Rank and File are for you and with you almost to a man; but as a rule, they do not attend Conventions, and are voted without their knowledge. I am taking no risk in declaring that Texans will instruct for you in strongest terms. Now then, what will Congressional Districts do? I have taken some pains to look over the field, and conclude that there will be little opposition in any of the Districts, save the Eighth.- 2- Fort Worth is the leading city in that District, and the Chairman of the Congressional Committee is T.cH. Catts of Grandbury, who was not re-appointed Postmaster at that place, and as I learn is sore. I have information that he threatens trouble, and is a pronounced candidate for delegate, combining with C. C. Drake, now of Forth Worth, who seeks election also. Drake, it is understood is using Catts, who is willing to be used. Their combination may prove strong, and should they succeed it means two delegates from Texas against us, and Drake would make all the trouble he could. We want an unbroken delegation from Texas, and want delegates who are not only instructed for you, but who are for you, no matter whose name be sprung in the Convention. You have a friend in Kansas City, E. Monte Reily who lived in Fort Worth for near fifteen years, and during that time controled party action there. I know him intimately-have confidence in his integrity, ability and discretion to handle the District, and he is financially able to look after it, and I think it would give him pleasure to visit his old home and aid in securing delegates who would reflect the sentiment of the people. I hope this will be received as intended by me-we are all interested in the result. Yours respectfully, Webster FlanaganNo.___________ OFFICE OF COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Third District of Texas, Austin, Tex.,_____________________,19__ __________________________ Collector. SUBJECT: No. of Inclosures, ___________________________________- Officers of Internal Revenue must fill out the indorsement and brief on the back of each letter to the Department.HENRY S. CHUBB, Chairman, Gainseville, Fla. COMMITTEE: H. W. Chandler. W. H. Lucas. Joshua Mizell. H. W. Bishop. E. E. Skipper. M. M. Moore. R. D. Jordan. A. Zipperer. J. F. Horr. T. S. Harris. C. C. Haight. C. J. Schoonmaker. S. H. Hadley. Member of the Republican National Committee, [JOHN G. LONG,, St. Augustine, Fla.] J. N. Coombs-Apalachicola-Fla. HEADQUARTERS FLORIDA REPUBLICAN STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE 1900-1-2-3-4 JOSEPH E. LEE, Secretary, Jacksonville, Fla. COM