70 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 1, 1903. My dear General: I am sorry to learn of your illness. Let me know whenever you find it convenient to come out here and take lunch. With warm regards, and wishes for your early recovery. I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, 1 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 71 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 1, 1903. Dear Brander: I have already notified the Moxie people and they have promised to remove the objectionable poster. I shall be delighted to see Hart's book. When you get back to New York, if you return this month, could you come out here to lunch? I should so like to see you and talk over some matters. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Brander Matthews, Shinglenook, Narragansett Pier, R.I. 72 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 1, 1903. Personal. My dear Congressman: Thank you very much. I shall take up the post office matter as soon as I return to Washington. I do not think there is any need of an extra session before the date we agreed on -- November 9th. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. J.A.T. Hull, Des Moines, Iowa.73 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 1, 1903. My dear Congressman: I have endeavored to get into touch with Senator Quay, but have been unable to do so. I shall no longer delay in answering you. I am very sorry to say that it is simply out of the question for me to come. I appreciate to the full the call you have on me, that your District has on me, and that the miners generally have on me, and it would give me peculiar pleasure if I could accept, but it is simply a physical impossibility. I cannot go into more than I have already gone into. With heartiest wishes and very deep regret at my inability to accept, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Henry W. Palmer Wilkesbarre, Pa.74 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 1, 1903. My dear Senator: All right: But just remember that if you do come to New York again I particularly want to see you. The end of this month I shall return to Washington. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. M. S. Quay, St. Lucie, Florida.75 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 1, 1903. My dear Billy, Your note received. I have written such a letter to Mr. Morris P. Ferris, Secretary of the Society of Colonial Wars. If it is not satisfactory I shall send another. With warm regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. J. Wm. Beckman, The Cliffs, Oyster Bay, N.Y.76 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 1, 1903. My dear Congressman: Anything you say has great weight with me, and the considerations you urge are very strong. On the other side, it seems to me a bad thing for the Navy to continue ???? [a] man like Bradford so long ashore. It is certainly an unfortunate precedent. I shall try to find out whether the good done in this case will counterbalance the evil I have referred to above. I am afraid it will not. Your letter, however, will command, not perfunctory, but very real consideration from me, for you know how I value your judgement, and how I appreciate the service you have rendered the Navy. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt. Hon. Alston G. Dayton, M.C., Philippi, West Virginia.77 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 1, 1903 Personal My dear Commissioner: If you were in my place and had to read the ordinary letter I get from my official family and then read your own you will understand my reluctance to part with you! I am very much obliged to you. You gave me just the information I wished. I was delighted with the way the Grand Army behaved anent yourself and anent Miles. For General Black I have a real regard and am glad he was elected, wholly without regard to any political significance of the election. Take your holiday just as long as you wish. I look forward to seeing you on your return. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. E.F. Ware, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.78 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 2, 1903. My dear Dr. Abbott: I send you my Labor Day speech at Syracuse. It is of course bound to be general in its statements, and some of the general principles upon which I lay emphasis I should be inclined to call rather obvious and dry if it were not that so long as the two most influential papers in New York, the JOURNAL and the SUN, deliberately spend their time in trying to do the worst possible service by appealing, the one to the criminal poor and other to the criminal rich, it seems worth while to try to fix men’s minds upon certain immutable principles which must lie at the root of all successful efforts at self-government. I think that all addresses by public men which amount to anything must be backed by deeds, and of course in the address I don’t care to allude with too much stress to my own deeds. I am laying down the general principles upon which I have acted in concrete cases, such as the Miller labor union contest inthe Government Printing Office on the one hand, and the Northern Securitas case on the other. The Post Officer Department investigation has been delayed a little. I shall let you know as soon as it comes to a head, as I am trying to get some additional facts; and then I shall go over it all with you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt I greatly liked your Atlantic article. Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott, The Outlook, 287 Fourth Avenue, New York. 80 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 2, 1903. My dear General: You are very good. Now I am sure you understand exactly how I feel. It is not so much the intrinsic value of the present as it is the value to the person who gives it. Vanderbilt might give me a yacht and it would mean less than the gift of a miniature from some one who made his or her livelihood from painting miniatures. In a letter to my daughter Mrs. Russell said that the miniature was worth a hundred dollars; and while on the one hand I did not wish to pay a hundred dollars for a miniature I did not want, on the other hand I was reluctant to accept from some one who was not well off a gift the monetary value of which was rated so high. In fact, we could not make out from Mrs. Russell’s letter whether she intended to give the miniature or that we should purchase it. If you think it wise you can send theenclosed letter to Mrs. Russell. With hearty thanks, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt General F.V. Greene 33 East 30th Street, New York. 82 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 2, 1903 My dear Mrs. Russell: I am very much obliged to you for the miniature you sent my daughter. I know you will not misunderstand my returning it. I have grown to feel very strongly that I greatly prefer neither to receive, not to have any of the members of my family receive, presents from private individuals where it can possibly be avoided. This does not mean that I fail to appreciate your kindness. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mrs. Eva W. Russell, 230 South Hoyne Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. 83 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 1, 1903. My dear Baron: It was very pleasant to hear from you, and yet it makes me feel almost ashamed to have you write as you do. Really it seems to me that it is not so much a case of my being entitled to praise for what I have done as that I [should] be blameworthy if I had failed to do it. Of course I should like to be reelected President, and I shall be disappointed, although not very greatly disappointed, if I am not; and so far as I legitimately can I pay heed to considerations of political expediency - in fact I should be unfit for my position, or for any position of political leadership,if I did not do so. But when [?] [?] questions [?] deep and far-reaching principles [?], then I believe that the real ex- pediency is to be found in straightforward and unflinching adherence to [?] principle, and this without regard to what may be the temporary effect. When the matter is one of elementary justice and decency, then [?] there can be no compromise. Murder is murder, and theft is theft, and there should be no half-way measures with criminality. There are good and bad men of all nationalities, creeds and colors; and if this world of ours is ever to become what we hope some day it may become, it must be by the general recognition that the man's heart and soul, the man's worth and actions, determine his standing. I should be sorry to lose the Presidency, but I should be a hundred fold more sorry to gain it by failing in every way in my power to try to put a stop to lynching and to brutality and wrong84 2 of any kind; or by failing on the one hand to make the very wealthiest and most powerful men in the country obey the law and handle their property (so far as it is in my power to make them) in the public interest; or on the other hand, to fail to make the laboring men in their turn obey the law, and realize that envy is as evil a thing as arrogance, and that crimes of violence and riot shall be as sternly punished as crimes of greed and cunning. I instance three kinds of questions which I have had to meet where I considered the interests involved as being far above any merely personal considerations. In the same way I have felt that all possible support internationally should be given to The Hague Court, and to all movements such as that which produced it. I am not in the least a peace-at-any-price man. I hold that the nation, like the individual, must be able to defend its interests and honor. But I hold also that it should scrupulously refrain from wronging others, and that in many cases - in most cases, in fact, though not in all - when questions come up between nations they can be settled by recourse to some outside disinterested tribunal. I do not believe in an unrighteous peace, and I do believe in righteous war; but an unrighteous war is something so hideously wicked that the world's condemnation thereof should be unsparing. If the chance comes when I can say a word or do a deed for the op- pressed people in Turkey, I shall do so. But I have a great horror of words that can not be backed, or will not be backed, by deeds. Moreover, I do not wish to speak unless good and not harm will come from it. I am sure I need not tell you, my dear Baron, that I shall try never to act85 3 save in accordance with what I conscientiously believe to be right; but I am equally bound to consider what is practical - what can really be achieved; and to shape my action in accordance with both sets of considerations. In closing, let me again assure you how much your letter has meant to me. This letter is of course for you personally. Can you not come again to this side of the water? I should like to have you stay at the White House. With high regard, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Baron d'Estournelle de Constans, Clermont-Creans, Sarthe, France.86 Personal. Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 1, 1903. My dear Captain Mahan: I have had a good deal of a vacation this summer mixed with my work. Partly I have taken it in rowing, riding, walking, and chopping, sometimes alone, more often with Mrs. Roosevelt or members of my family. Partly I have taken it in reading, and among the books I have re-read have been yours. I have also been re-reading the funny little life of DeRuyter published a year after his death. Did you ever see his two letters detailing his two battles with Duquesne, in the last of which he got his mortal hurt? Both letters make it evident that he was certainly not bettered by Duquesne. He did not lose a ship before or after each battle. [He?] [?] [?] [?] [?]. He asserts he saw with his own eyes a French ship founder. This of course may be an error. He also says that in his last battle his ships pursued the French fleet until eight in the evening, the French fleet then getting away. The facts seem to be that both engagements, like the battles against English and French allies in the North Sea, were drawn fights. When I read of Matthews and Lestock and Byng, or of Boulanger, or of General Wilkinson a century ago, I realize the eternal tendency to injustice in humanity. Take the popular idea about Schley and Miles.87 -2- Miles, of course, is morally a much worse man than Schley and more dangerous; although the popular judgement of him is less excusable than in Schley's case. Well, when I feel badly over the view taken of these men by the American people [of them] at the beginning of the twentieth century, there is a certain grim satisfaction at feeling that we are no worse than those who went before us, and that Wilkinson, the traitor, went unpunished, and indeed rewarded, in our own country a century ago, and that Lestock triumphed over Matthews to the deep discredit of his judges in [?] the preceding century. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Captain A. T. Mahan, 180 West 86th Street, New York, N. Y.88 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 2, 1903 My dear General: Before receiving your letter I had received that position, having made the offer and received the acceptance. I did not know that you would care to go. Most certainly I should have felt your name was entitled to very careful consideration. I like you, and I believe in your capacity for public service. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt General James A. Drain, Olympia, Washington. 89 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 2, 1903. My dear Mr. Secretary: I should be entirely willing to promote Jay to the First Secretaryship. I don’t think, in view of what Loomis says, that Smith ought to go at once to Cairo, but I think it would be all right to send Spencer Eddy or John Riddle, as you suggest. I don’t think Jay should be passed by when his turn properly comes, as it would in such a case. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State. 90 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 2, 1903. My dear Miss Curtie: About Mr. Burton a thorough investigation has just been held and the charges of the Sequoia League fall absolutely flat – in fact, comically so. It would be out of the question to remove him now. I look forward to seeing Mr. Mead. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Miss Natalie Curtis, Wave Crest, Far Rockaway, N.Y. 94 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 3, 1903. Dear Cabot: I was delighted to get your letter referring to what I said about lynching. I was sure you would heartily approve of my course both on that occasion and also in reference to the trouble in the Government Printing Office. As you may not have seen about the latter I will say briefly what it was. The Book-Binders Union it appears contains all of the employees in that branch of the Government Printing Office. They disciplined one of their members, expelling him from the Union, and then notified Palmer that in consequence he must be turned out of the Printing Office. Palmer lay down and consented. The facts were brought to my notice and I sent the two following letters: "Oyster Bay, N.Y., July 13, 1903. "My dear Secretary Cortelyou: "In accordance with the letter of the Civil Service Commission of July 6th, the Public Printer will reinstate Mr. W. A. Miller in his position. Meanwhile I will withhold my final decision of the whole case until I have received the report of the investigation on Miller's second communication, which you notify me has been begun today, July 13th. "On the face of the papers presented Miller would appear to have been removed in violation of law. There is no objection to the employe[e]s of the Government Printing Office constituting themselves into a union if they so desire; but no rules or resolutions of that union can be permitted to over-ride the laws of the United States, which it is my sworn duty to enforce. "Please communicate a copy of this letter to the Public Printer for his information and that of his subordinates. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of [Commerce and Labor]95 -2- Personal. Oyster Bay, N.Y., July 14, 1903. My dear Mr. Cortelyou: In connection with my letter of yesterday I call attention to this judgment and award by the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission in its report to me of March 18th, last: "It is adjudged and awarded that no person shall be refused employment or in any way discriminated against on account of membership or non-membership in any labor organization, and that there shall be no discrimination against or interference with any employe who is not a member of any labor organization by members of such organization." I heartily approved of this award and judgment by the Commission appointed by me, which itself included a member of a labor union. This Commission was dealing with labor organizations working for private employers. It is of course mere elementary decency to require that all the Government departments shall be handled in accordance with the principle thus clearly and fearlessly enunciated. Please furnish a copy of this letter both to Mr. Palmer and to the Civil Service Commission for their guidance. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt. Hon. George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor." Accordingly Miller was immediately reinstated. There was a good deal of wild talk for the time being and then things settled down. They threatened to strike and Clarkson wrote to me in great agitation that they might do so. I wrote him back that if they did not a man jack of the strikers should get back into the government service while I was President. The result was that they fizzled out. The country as a whole is well pleased. At the same time from the political standpoint there is no use in disguising the fact that the country as a whole will probably forget all about it; while the labor union people who are angry will not forget; just as the country as a whole may forget all about the legislation and executive action which really has resulted during the last two years in making the big corporation96 -2- *Personal. Oyster Bay, N.Y. , July 14, 1903. *My dear Mr. Cortelyou: In connection with my letter of yesterday I call attention to this judgment and award by the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission in its report to me of March 18th, last: 'It is adjudged and awarded that no person shall be refused employment or in any way discriminated against on account of membership or non-membership in any labor organization, and that there shall be no discrimination against or interference with any employe who is not a member of any labor organization by members of such organization.' * I heartily approved of this award and judgment by the Commission appointed by me, which itself included a member of a labor union. This Commission was dealing with labor organizations working for private employers. It is of course mere elementary decency to require that all the Government departments shall be handled in accordance with the principle thus clearly and fearlessly enunciated. *Please furnish a copy of this letter both to Mr. Palmer and to the Civil Service Commission for their guidance. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt. "Hon. George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor." Accordingly Miller was immediately reinstated. There was a good deal of wild talk for the time being and then things settled down. They threatened to strike and Clarkson wrote to me in great agitation that they might do so. I wrote him back that if they did not a man jack of the strikers should get back into the government service while I was President. The result was that they fizzled out. The country as a whole is well pleased. At the same time from the political standpoint there is no use in disguising the fact that the country as a whole will probably forget all about it; while the labor union people who are angry will not forget; just as the country as a whole may forget all about the legislation and executive action which really has resulted during the last two years in making the big corpora-97 -3- tion people hold themselves amenable to the law and the public sense of decency, while these same big corporation people will not forget, and in every way, including the use of their organ,The Sun, will keep on doing all the damage in their power. The Wall Street situation is greatly improved. The chance of a panic seems to be pretty well over. Of course the check to the boom and the Wall Street disturbance generally will have some effect on the whole business word and times will not be so good for the next year or so as they have been during the past year or so. The fault belongs wholly of course to the speculators, the promoters who have over-capitalized the great trusts, and the reckless,greedy and over-sanguine men generally; but equally of course those people and a considerable number of their followers will not wish to shoulder the blame and will put it on me if they can. However, just at present the howl against me comes from an entirely different source. The public generally and the soldiers in particular have gone frantic because we did not single Miles out for special commendation when he retired from the service - a thing we have done in the case of none of the other generals with civil war records who have retired. We are a queer, emotional, hysterical people on occasions, and the Miles matter as in the Sehley matter we have showed of our worst. Miles has for the last two years of my presidency, and of course for some years before that, shown himself the most dangerous foe and slanderer of the army which he was supposed to command. Nothing will hire me98 -4- to praise him. There has been really a great gust of popular anger against me; I am not writing too strongly when I say popular anger. The feeling against me, especially in the Grand Army, is so bitter that certain of my friends in Illinois and Indiana have told me that they believe that if the election were held at present I should lose both those states! However, I cannot help thinking that such folly will burn itself out before a year is over. Give my love to Nanny. We have had a lovely summer here at Oyster Bay; although of course with a good deal of work and worry. I have found a new and delightful way of entertaining Archie and Quentin and have at last turned my library of hunting books to advantage; for almost every night I read them choice and delightful extracts dealing with man-eating lions,tigers and crocodiles and fearful conflicts with elephants, rhinoceros and buffalo. Ethel is a perfect little house- wife and mother. Entirely of her own accord she has taken to teaching Archie music and Quentin reading, writing and arithmetic ,and does remarkably well. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H. C. Lodge, Care United States Embassy, London, England.99 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 3, 1903. My dear Will: I had hoped to keep secret your prospective appointment, but Root has to make business arrangements and it got out before he was able to prevent it. I shall make Ide Vice-Governor under Wright. For the new commissioner I had intended to appoint Rockhill but he does not wish to accept, and so I shall appoint Beekman Winthrop. He goes out to the Philippines this fall or in the early winter. He had told me he was going back to accept a judgeship at a time when I told him that I thought I could not make him a commissioner because I intended to appoint Rockhill. He has impressed me as favorable as he did you. I think you had better make him judge for the few months before you leave, simply by way of giving him more experience. But this is for you to determine. You doubtless remember the report that Miles sent in when he returned from the Philippines last winter. It is not too much to say that this report was infamous in its baseness and disloyalty, coming from the head of the army and being devoted100 (reversed) to slandering that army. Well, when he left, Root did not make an exception in his favor by singling him out for praise. The letter written for him was exactly like that written for other generals who have retired under him. Because of this there has been the wildest kind of hysterical howl from all our emotional fools, and the Grand Army have been especially bitter. I doubt if another incident of my administration has called forth such criticism. We are certainly a queer people! With warm regards to Mrs. Taft, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Wm. H. Taft, Governor, Philippine Islands, Manila, P.I.101 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 3, 1903. My dear Secretary Hitchcock: Several of the Senators have been uneasy lost something might appear in your report about statehood for Oklahoma. I have told them that of course your report will not in any way touch upon the question of statehood for any of our territories. This is correct, is it not? I had such a nice visit from Nagle to-day. What a fine fellow he is! Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior.Oster Bay, N.Y., September 3, 1903. My dear General: Sometime next winter Taft comes back to take the place of Root as Secretary of War. You will then succeed him as Governor. I shall probably send your name in with Taft's to the Senate this fall. It is a very great pleasure to me to be able to show how thor- oughly I appreciate your service. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt General Luke Wright, Manila, P. I. 103 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 3, 1903. My dear Mr. Richards: There is a man named Bennett under you who seems to be an absolutely straight and efficient fellow. If his work justifies it, and of course not otherwise, I should like to have him given a promotion when the opportunity comes. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. W. A. Richards, Commissioner of the General Land Office, Washington, D. C. 104 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 3, 1903. My Dear Mr. Jones: Mr. Frank Mead, whose address is care Smith and Martin, 25 Broad Street, New York City, had impressed me very favorably, and I am really touched by the old Apache Chief Yuma Frank who was with him. Can't Mead be given some field work in Arizona and New Mexico? I think he could do good work for those strange, semi-civilized tribes not a few of whose manners and customs are well worth preserving. In fact I believe that it would be distinct addition to our national life to develop and make our own something of the art, industry and music of those tribes, and I think Mead could help us in more way than one. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. W. A. Jones, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C.105 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 3, 1903. My dear Doctor: Mrs. Roosevelt has just handed me your note. We are very much pleased and I write to congratulate you with all my heart. Is there any chance of Miss Boss being in Washington next winter? If so I want you to let me know so that I may get you both to lunch with us. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. James Robb Church, Fort Trumbull, New London, Conn.106 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 3, 1903. Dear Cotty: Will the enclosed note do for the autograph letter? If not give me an outline and I will try and fill it up. It is a very real pleasure for me to accept. Mrs. Roosevelt and I will both come. About the time, could I set it a little later? The 20th of June will be about the time of the nominating convention. I should suppose I had better go in May if it is equally convenient. With best love to Fanny, Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Endicott Peabody, Groton, Mass.107 Sept.1st, 1903 Dear Cosby, Indeed I accept with pleasure, and am genuinely glad to have the chance to be with you or Pritzer [?] in the [?...] years of the life of Groton School. I have two boys with you; I hope to have two there; I feel that Groton stands for its hopes and beliefs and aspirations, and above all for the sturdy, resolute purposes, which represent all that is selfless and truest as our American life; and [?....] I feel that all who are [?] giving the best there is in them to the training of our boys in body and mind, and above all in soul and character, make the whole purpose their devotion. So I shall deem it a privilege to come. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt To the Rev. Endicott Peabody108 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 3, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Secretary: You have often and often given me wise advice, but never wiser than to refrain from committing myself about currency legislation, and I am exceedingly glad that I followed it. We may get one or two small remedial measures through, but nothing more than that. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.109 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 3, 1903 My dear Mr. Wilcox: I thank you cordially for your letter. Thinking over the matter, I suppose there is no use in my trying to take up something that happened ten years ago when Mr. Bayard was in the State Department, as well as I remember. I enjoyed so much seeing you the other day. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Ansley Wilcox, Esq., 684 Ellicott Square, Buffalo, N.Y. 110 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 3, 1903. My dear Mr. Attorney General: Do you think it is worth while paying any attention to this letter? Hon. P.C. Knox, Attorney General, Beverly Farms, Mass. Enclosure 111 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 3, 1903 My dear Mr. Philbin: I will read that paper with the greatest interest. You know, do you not, that I have asked Bonaparte and Knox to take up the matter! Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon Eugene A. Philbin, 52 William Street, New York, N.Y. 112 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 3, 1903. My dear Mr. Thwing: I remember the poem well and so does Mrs. Roosevelt, and now I am very glad to have your book. I shall read it with the greatest interest. Is there any chance of your getting on to Washington next Winter? I should like to have you lunch with me. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Eugene Thwing, Car Book Lover Press, 113 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 3, 1903. Dear Elihu: I enclose a letter from Eugene Ware about the Grand Army Encampment, which may interest you. Please send it back when you are through. What an astounding thing the folly of the public sometimes is! I learn from every source that nothing done in my administration has ever caused such deep anger among the people generally and especially among the Grand Army men as the fact that we declined to stultify ourselves, to lie, and to disgrace the army by singling out Niles for special praise. It may become necessary to give in short and very plain terms why we thought him unworthy of any such approbation. Of course it may turn out that there is no need to say anything. In any event do keep in mind the advisability of leaving on file in the War Department the written record of which I have spoken to you before - the record which is to show what Miles did - in accessible form so that our justification will be ready at any time. Oliver seems to have taken hold all right; and everybody at Washington in your department is behaving himself, save that Corbin has had a mad desire to make me associate more than I was willing to with Sir Thomas Lipton and the Earl and Countess of Shaftsbury. I am afraid that Corbin, like Tommy Moore, dearly loves a lord. I114 -2- have been resolute in having him love him alone, and not share him with the President! Kermit has been put in the seventh heaven of delight by the camping equipage which you sent him. It was awfully good of you to think of him. Give my regards to Mrs. Root. I hope she is enjoying herself. Tell her that Mrs. Roosevelt took such a fancy to both of your boys on the Mayflower on the day of the yacht race. I have been earnestly hoping that at least the English member of the [?] commission will behave with some sense of justice and decency. [?] Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Elihu Root, Care United States Embassy, London, England.115 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 4, 1903. My dear Mr. Stillman: I have your letter of September 3rd. That article is exceedingly interesting. I have glanced at it and I shall now read it thoroughly. Thanking you for your kindness in sending it to me. I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. James Stillman, 52 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 116 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 4, 1903. My dear Senator: Any day you appoint from the 18th to the 25th will suit. Come out and lunch. Just let me know what time. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. M.S. Quay, St. Lucie, Fla. 117 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 4, 1903. My dear Dr. Shaw: At present a squadron of the English feet is stationed at Lemnos, a French warship at Vole [Volo], and an Italian warship at Lemnos. Leishman has wired us that it was evidently a fortunate thing that our ships started for Turkish waters immediately upon the news of the outbreak. However, it may well be, as you and Straus suggest, that the squadron should go to Alexandria, or somewhere outside of Turkey, if there is no immediate danger. I shall at once consult Hay and Moody about it. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. Albert Shaw, Editor, Review of Reviews, 13 Astor Place, New York. 118 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 4, 1904 Personal. My dear Mr. Rosewater: I greatly value your recent editorials, notably that showing up the scoundrelly iniquity of the New York Sun. A measure of the Sun’s hypocrisy was furnished by the fact at the very time it was accusing me of truckling to the trades unions it forbore saying anything about the way I hit at a trade union when it went wrong in the Milerese [Mileroso]; save to print numerous articles stating how the labor unions were denouncing me for my action. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. E. Rosewater, Omaha, Nebraska. 119 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 4, 1903. Personal. My dear Colonel: I am very much pleased with the editorial. I cannot say how earnestly I hope for your election. What a splendid thing it would be from every standpoint! Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Col. Morris B Belknap, 1420 Fourth Avenue, Louisville, Ky. 120 14 Personal. Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 4, 1903. My dear Mr. Payne: The enclosed seems to me important. I do not see how we can possibly take the ground of turning out a fourth class postmistress in the middle of a term (for by custom four years is regraded as a term) simply because she is personally obnoxious to the Senator. If it was the Senator's home town I should not appoint or reappoint her. Of course, in this particular Delaware case it is unfortunate in any event to have such an issue come up. I do not suppose this case came personally to your attention. It is a small matter in one way, but I believe it will cause us serious trouble if it cannot be righted at once. In turning out Warfield I should like to know the status of Christiancy and the others. From what I know I think Christiancy ten times as much to blame as Warfield, and I do not want to turn our Warfield if Christiancy is kept in. There must be no possibility of an allegation that we turned out a gold democrat who is much less guilty, and left in a republican. My great interest is that the investigation shall be thorough and complete. Subject to this I want the matter closed as soon as possible. I see there are now charges about smuggling. This can be taken up by Mr. Wynne or anyone else, but let Bristow finish the work he is on at once. Get the reports from Bonaparte and Conrad; turn out all who121 -2- should be turned out; indicating those who should be indicted; and later make a clean statement about it at the earliest moment! Meanwhile, about this Delaware post office case, I would far rather incur the hostility of a Congressman or a Senator than do something we ought not to do. The post office department is now under fire and there is much baseless distrust of it in the popular mind. Really you and I are not responsible for the misconduct. It happened before either of us came into office; but as long as this feeling exists we can a hundred-fold better afford to incur the hostility of any politician than to give the slightest ground for belief that we are managing the Department primarily as a political machine. If the real or fancied need of any politician comes in conflict with what you regard as the good of the service or as equity to any individual, disregard the politician utterly and if he complains send him to me. I shall take up any such case myself. As regards the attack you say the New York Journal intends to make upon you, I should merely announce when it is made that you had been for twelve years a director in the First National Bank of Milwaukee; that you see no reason to resign as that bank is not now and never has been a depository for postal funds of any kind - the postal funds of Milwaukee now being and having always been deposited in the National Exchange Bank, in which you have no interest. State that you were formerly a director in the National Surety Company of New York; that when you became Postmaster General you did not know that this company was underwriting the122 -3- bonds of postmasters or of clerks in the post offices; that accidentally it came to your attention that it was upon some of the bonds running to your Department and that you thereupon resigned at once from the Company in April last. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H. C. Payne, Postmaster General, Washington, D.C. Enclosure.[*123*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 4, 1903. Personal. My dear Senator Hopkins: Referring to the matter of the Lake Level Commission – I have given you already the reasons why I thought for this particular position it was not wise to appoint Mr. Cooley. Can you give me some other first-class engineer who has not been connected with the drainage canal and who will take an entirely unprejudiced view of the situation? I have been having great difficulty with the War Department on this matter. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Unless you have just [the?] [man?] I [will] would rather like some one from some other state. Hon. A. J. Hopkins Aurora, Illinois.124 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 4, 1903. Dear John: There was nothing whatever in that crazy man incident. He was a poor demented creature with a revolver, who was wholly undecided whether to see me as a friend or to protest against my having done him some unknown wrong. He came in a buggy, so there was no danger of his getting past the secret service men, who simply arrested him and took him to the village. By noon the next day our entire family had forgotten even that he had come, and would not have recalled it had it not been for the papers. I sent you Oscar Straus’s letter, and now enclose one from Dr. Shaw. What do you think of the suggestions? What does Moody think? I suppose Leishman should be consulted. Do not stay in Washington a day longer on account of this matter, however. I am greatly interested in what you say about China. Ever yours, T.R Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State. (Enclosure)125 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 4, 1903. My dear Mr. Leupp: Together with your letter came this letter from Secretary Hitchcock. I am very much afraid that if Hitchcock would regard the selection of Miller as a reflection on him, it would hardly do to appoint him. Can’t you come out here to see me just as soon as possible? I am very much pleased with the article you sent me. As you know, we have asked Bonaparte to take ??? Is there any one ??? from Miller that you would advise. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Francis E. Leupp, 44 Wyatt Building, Washington, D.C. (Enclosure) [*126*] Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 4, 1903. My dear Mrs. Robinson: You are very kind. I wish I could come, but it is out the question. Edith will not be with me, and I go back just as soon as I can get away from Syracuse. With renewed thanks, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mrs. Fanny Monroe Robinson. Mohawk, N.Y. Henderson Home- Jordanville, P.O N.Y.[*127*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 5, 1903. My dear Mr. Moore: Could you come down next Wednesday [???] and spend a night with me? I would like to talk over some matters of foreign policy with you. It would be a pleasure to see you for many different reasons. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Prof. John Bassett Moore, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.128 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 5, 1903. Dear Jim: From the 18th to the 26th of this month Edith and I will be here at Oyster Bay. Could you and Fanny come down and spend a night at any time between those dates? It has occurred to us that perhaps Fanny may be coming to New York about that time, as we had a letter from her stating she was coming home about the first date that I have given. If she can’t come down then can you alone come down either at the time I have said or at any time between the 8th and 15th? Always yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. J. R. Parsons, Jr., Albany, N.Y.129 [*Personal*] Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 5, 1903. My dear Dr. Abbott: I have read your editorial with the greatest interest. As regards the Indian agencies, I agree with you absolutely. I am very reluctant to divert the army from its legitimate duties, but I believe that we could get enough agents among retired army officers, and among those officers on the active list who, for one reason or another are temporarily unfitted for other duties. At present the difficulty of getting thoroughly good Indian agents is greater than you would really believe. If vacancies come in New Mexico or Arizona I have a fairly free hand in filling them; but if they come in any state, I simply can not get a man confirmed unless the senators from that state approve of him, and their approval is well-nigh certain to be conditioned upon the man's possessing qualities which have no relation whatever to the position for which I wish him. They may also make, and often do make, an effort to see that he has those qualities in addition; but the temptation is very great for a man in active politics, who has to deal with vigorous but not over-sensitive frontiersmen, to try to get in the nominee certain qualities which may really interfere with his being a good agent. Furthermore I wish to state with all possible emphasis that to take an agent recommended by the average body of professional humanitarians, or by the average procured in ordinary fashion. To politicians is, for instance, as poor an an advisor as Herbert Welsh. As regards the proper custodian for the Indian as a ward, I have130 -2- not thought ever the matter sufficiently to be sure that the courts would be more careful than the Interior Department. As regards the public school system in our territories, etc., I, of course, absolutely agree with you. How far it would be practicable out of hand to change the existing system I cannot say. Now, to change to something else. The sun and the Harper's Weekly, who seem at present to be the recognized exponents of that portion of the capitalistic class which objects to any kind of supervision or control no matter how [?wild (erased), limited? (suscript)] over the great corporations and great controllers of corporations, have entered upon a systematic campaign, not merely against me, which is not important, but against the principles for which I stand. Both those papers, and in addition to those, papers like the Times and Brooklyn Eagle, so far as their financial columns go, have been endeavoring, sometimes by open statements, sometimes by insinuation, to persuade the public that my action in the Northern Securities suit, and in addition, my action in securing the passage of the law creating a Department of Commerce, with in it a Bureau of Corporations to secure publicity, has been mainly responsible for the financial stringency in Wall Street. Of course this is a preposterous falsehood. A promoters, speculators and over-capitalizers panic--it is this which we have seen. But any disturbance in the business world, no matter how [properly (erased), poorly (suscript)] due to the excesses of speculators, is sure to effect great members of other people, and when these feel the pinch it is invariable a relief to them to have somebody or something concrete on which to lay the blame; and there are131 -3- plenty of business men, wealthy, venturous and unscrupulous, men of whom the arch type is William C. Whitney, who find it for their advantage to encourage this feeling, as what they most wish is absolute and unfettered freedom to act without regard to law. Such being the case I think it is well to recall that on this labor and capital question the following are the important steps I have taken: 1. On the advice of Knox I directed the bringing of the Northern Securities case. The court of first resort has unanimously, by a vote of four judges, declared in favor of the Government. The position of The Sun and the Harper's Weekly in this matter is then boldly that although the law may be clear, yet it must not be invoked against Mr. Pierpont Morgan and Mr. Hill; that is against any people whose financial interests are sufficiently vast. To my view this position is not only profoundly immoral, but quite as profoundly foolish, from the standpoint of property itself. Nothing would so jeopardize the rights of wealthy men in this country as the ac- ceptance by the public of the belief that the law would not touch these men if they offended against it. 2. Securing the enactment of the law in reference to a bureau of corporations. This was the law against which the Standard Oil Company so bitterly fought. The creation of this bureau is undoubtedly a very important thing from the standpoint of these big corporations doing an interstate business; for from it can be developed by experiment and trial, an effective method of regulation and supervision over them. But avowedly, in its present form, what is to132 -4- be done is of tentative character; our first object being merely to get at and publish the facts that ought properly to be made public. The peculiar venom the passage of this law has caused among corporations like the Standard Oil is sufficient to show its need; and moreover, emphasizes how much more may be accomplished by resolute but moderate and practical action than by anything revolutionary. The Standard Oil and similar corporations have never really been frightened by any of the demagogic assaults upon them; they do not mind Mr. Davis [?] Hill's empty threats about nationalalizing them; and they laugh at the populists and professional labor agitators; but they have been aroused to immense hostility by having put upon the statute books a measure which does mean that a practical step in advance has been taken in reference to their supervision and regulation. 3. The law making real the requirement that railroads shall give no rebates to favored shippers; in other words, throwing the highways of commerce open on equal terms to all who use them. So fair is this law that the hostility to it dares not openly avow itself; that there is such [under??] antagonism. 4. The settlement of the anthracite coal strikes I was of course not required by the Constitution to attempt this settlement; and if I had failed to attempt I should have held myself worthy of comparison with Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan,among my predecessors. For the timebeing, and in vital fashion, this question was that which beyond all others concerned the entire nation; and, as being for the moment the head of the nation, I obeyed the supreme law of duty to the republic in acting as I did. I think all competent observers agree that if the strike had not been settled there would have been within thirty days the -5- most terrible riots that this country has ever seen,with as their sequence the necessity of drastic, and perhaps revolutionary measures, by the various state governments, or by the national government. The strike certainly would not have been settled if I had not interfered. It was settled in a manner which has commanded the assent of both parties for its [?] and the report of the Commission is of is of lasting value as a text book in which the principles of dealing in concrete instances with [?] labor and capital are set down temperately, sanely, but clearly and forcefully. What I did here was of no more advantage to labor than it was to capital - in fact I think that noth- ing can be done which is of real advantage to the one without being of real advantage to the other. 3. The Miller case in the Government Printing Office; here,not by preaching, but by immediate action, I enforced the doctrine that the union man and the non-union stand on an exact equality in the eye of the law, and therefore in the Government service. This was simply carrying out what I had said in my last message,that corporate cap- ital and organized labor alike should be protected when they did well, and should not be allowed to do ill; for the fundamental right of each man is to do what he wishes with his own property or his own labor, as long as he [?] not infringe upon the rights of others. 4. When the miners strike in Arizona became a riot and the Acting Governor telegraphed that the territorial authorities could not deal with it and could not restore order, I sent thither instantly some regular troops. At their coming resistance to the civil authority ceased at once peace was restored and I was able to withdraw them. -6- This was simply putting into practice what I had said [?] [?] [?]as to putting down of crimes of violence, just as the Northern Securities [?]uit was enforcing what I had said about putting down crimes of greed and cunning. The above represent as well as I can recall the six affirmative steps I have taken as regards labor and capital. They have carried out exactly what I preached- for instance I preached in my speeches and my letter of acceptance as Vice-Presidentail candidate, when The Sun and the Harper's Weekly and all their employers who now so bitterly oppose me heartily applauded me, evidently under the im- pression that what I said was only intended for electioneering pur- poses, or at least that it did not matter, as I was not to be put where I would turn my words into deeds. Now they hope to use against me, alike the hatred of those labor unions who demand that tyranny shall be connived at by the Government,if it is [?] tyranny of labor unions; and its hatred of these great corporations who demand that law breaking shall be condoned by the executive, if the law-breaker is so wealthy that his welfare can be said to be essential to the general business welfare. Of course they do not for the most part venture to avow the reasons of their oppose- tion; yet they do avow them often enough and with sufficient bitter- ness to make them plain. They may win or they may not; but I intend [?] [?] that the true reason of their hostility shall be made clear, Can you come out to see me sometime within the next two or three weeks? Faithfully yours, Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott, Theodore Roosevelt THE OUTLOOK, New York City. [*135*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 5, 1903. My dear Mr. Finley: Mrs. Roosevelt and I both enjoyed your note so much, and I was very much interested and pleased with the poem you enclosed. I send herewith a formal letter to be read if you so desire at the laying of the corner stone [and] on your inauguration. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. John H. Finley, Princeton, N.J.[*136*] Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 5, 1903. My dear President Finley: It is a matter of very real regret to me that I am unable to be present with you on the occasion of your inauguration. The day marks a new epoch in the history of the University of New York; and it is therefore of special and great interest to all who are interested – as every good American should be interested – in the cause of popular education. You are now called to preside over an educational institution which marks the crown of the public school system of the greatest state in our union; an institution whose existence shows how definite has been the decision of our people that the state shall aid not only in elementary, but also higher education. Nothing is more distinctive of our American republic than the peculiar fostering care which through their representatives the people have assumed [as regards] over the education of all citizens in primary matters and of all those who care to go beyond primary matters in those additional branches necessary as prerequisites for the attainment of leadership in the great professions. In all this our people have surely been very wise. Education as given in the schools and colleges cannot of itself fit us for good citizenship. But the lack of it would assuredly render us [???] fit. You, and these associated with you, and those who in the innumerable other institutions of learning throughout the[*137*] -2- country are doing work similar in kind if not in degree to yours, all alike make the whole body politic your debtors. Next to the home it is the school, the college, the university, which do most to determine the efficiency of the individual as a citizen in this great, self-governing republic of ours; and therefore those who, [as?] their life work, devote themselves to training aright the people who are to shape our citizenship of the future [render] put the nation in a special sense [their debtors] under obligation to them. I congratulate you, because it is given to you in high position and in a university well-nigh unique among out American educational institutions to do your part in this great work; and I speak in no vein of empty compliment when I say that I am absolutely certain how well and faithfully this part will be played by you. With all good wishes, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt President John H. Finley, President, College of the City of New York.[*138*] PERSONAL AND PRIVATE Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 5, 1903. My dear Judge Holt: There is an East Side Hungarian lawyer named William Blau for whom I have a real liking and of whom I hear very well. He has been an ardent anti-Tammany man, and has worked hard not only for the Republican ticket on national matters, but for the reform tickets in municipal campaign. He is now a great fusionist, and is doing all he can to forward the fusion movement – that is, to help Low, if, as I suppose, Low is to be the fusion candidate. Of course an East Side lawyer who makes headway against Tammany has to suffer a good deal and is handicapped. Would you be willing to look into his case, and if he is worthy man in your judgment, aid him in any proper way? Perhaps you would be willing to send for him and consult with him, so as to see him for yourself. I write to you because East Side people who fight Tammany, and who are not in touch with those Republican leaders whooccasionally, I regret to say, make deals with Tammany, have a pretty hard time of it. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. George C. Holt, United States District Judge, New York, N.Y.140 122 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 5, 1903. My dear Mr. Payne: Here is an editorial upon that Delaware case. I feel very strongly that the women should be reinstated. Just at this time it is peculiarly undesirable that a false impression should get out about the Department, and the way your conver-sation has been quoted about this has created the very worst possible impression. As I said, if any politician now demands anything of the Department which is not exactly square with the interests of the service and with the rights of the individual, [????cut] him down, and if he complains, send him to me. I appreciate fully the desirability of keeping on good terms with the Senators and Congressmen, and any proper concessions to them I should like to make; but I do not regard the turning out of a postmaster because he or she is “personally obnoxious” as sufficient grounds. Of course, in view of the bitter feel-ing over the Addicks business, trouble was absolutely certain to come in such a case in Delaware. I feel very stronglythat the woman should be reinstated, and then an investigation held. I am glad you will have Bonaparte hear that further statement of the postmaster at Baltimore; but I am very sorry you can not take your trip for I am sure you need it. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H. C. Payne, Postmaster General. (Enclosure)[*142*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 5, 1903. Personal. My dear Senator Hanna: I hope that you are feeling well. I have been uneasy about your condition. Loomis was out here yesterday, and he evidently believes there is no danger in Ohio. For certain reasons I asked him particularly whether there was any disaffection in the republican party, and he says not the slightest; that that party [was] is a unit; that the democrats [were] are broken up, and that he believed Herrick [would] will have a hundred thousand plurality. He spoke with absolute confidence and in a way that shows that those with whom he is associating are heartily doing their best. Always yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. M. A. Hanna, Cleveland, Ohio.[*143*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 6, 1903. My dear Hart: I have just been reading with interest and pleasure, your new book. There are lots of things I should like to talk over with you. Do you think you could get down here for a night prior to the 27th of this month, or get on to the White House for a night some time in October? Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Professor Albert Bushnell Hart, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.[*144*] PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 5, 1903. My dear Senator: If I can appoint your friend Barney, I shall; but upon my word I don’t know what I can do about the Ohio man. The situation in Ohio usually results, in each case, in taking a shape with requires just double as much to be done for the State as it is proportionally entitled to! Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John C. Spooner,, U.S.S., Pittsburgh, N.H.[*145*] Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 6, 1903. My dear Florence: I send you back the Euripides, with hearty thanks. I was greatly interested in it, and was glad to read “The Frogs” at the same time with the “Hippolytus.” Some of the feeling in “The Frogs” is to me literally Greek. But how extraordinarily modern in tone much of it is: There were very strong Parisian touches in Athens; and much of the dialogue between Aeschylus and Euripides in “The Frogs” might with very small changes be written by a clever Parisian author upholding, say, Scott, as opposed to the new realistic school – to Ibsen, for instance. Of course to me Euripides has but little in common with Ibsen; but Aristophanes takes of the first as I should of the last. I am not sure that I care for the rhyme translation of Euripides as much as if it were in prose or blank verse. I am going to get the companion books in Aeschylus and Sophocles to compare with Plumtree's translations.I was interested in Godkin’s book. I wish I could disassociate Godkin, the writer on abstract virtue, from Godkin, as I saw and knew him, applying his doctrines in concrete cases! Have you seen Albert Bushnell Hart’s book, by the way? It is rather on the text-book or manual order, but is good, nevertheless. Grant will be out this week. Next winter (if your family cares will permit) we are most anxious that you and he shall pay us a real visit in Washington. With hearty thanks, Ever faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mrs. C. Grant La Farge, Saunderstown, Rhode Island.[*147*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 8, 1903. My dear Governor: I have just received your letter about Doolittle. I hear well of him. Whether I shall be able to offer him the place, I rather doubt, for there are many considerations to which I must pay heed, but I shall now take up his name. By the way, I had a very satisfactory talk with Jacob Riis anent the subject you and I discussed, and he will call on you soon. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. B. B. Odell, Jr., Governor of New York, Albany, N.Y.[*148*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 8, 1903. My dear Mr. Byrne: I am very sorry you feel you have to resign, and I accept your resignation with [very?] sincere regret. I hope it may be in my power some time in the future to have you again connected with my administration. With hearty regards and good wishes, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. William Michael Byrne, 1320 West Fourteenth Street, Wilmington, Delaware[*149*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 8, 1903. Personal. My dear Post: I have your letter of the 30th ultimo. I shall get hold of Luce at once. Of course what you say concerns me. Can you not speak frankly with Hunt? I am especially concerned at your statement that dishonest officials are let go unpunished. Under no conceivable circumstances is this justifiable. Can we not in some way stop it? I should think you could talk freely with Governor Hunt. Show him this letter if necessary. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Regis H. Post, Auditor, San Juan, P. R.[*150*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 8, 1903. My dear Mr. Murphy: I am in receipt of your letter of the 5th instant. It would be a great pleasure to accept your invitation, particularly to speak on such a subject, but it is out of the question for me to make another engagement now. The time is too short before beginning of Congress for me to enter into anything additional; and after Congress is in session I can of course make no engagements. I wish you could see the multitude of requests I receive to which I would particularly like to give favorable answer, but am unable to do so from sheer physical inability. With real regret, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. M. J. Murphy President, Board of Commerce, Detroit, Mich.[*151*] PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y. September, 8, 1903. My dear Mr. Scott: If a fight is started I should be delighted to have you make public that letter. I should feel, unless there was a fight, it would be advisable to refrain from making it public, so as to avoid making bad blood; let me [know?] before you make it public [of course?]. I see some talk of an attempted coalition between Washington Senators and the Oregon Senators on these matters. I do not think this talk is very sensible because no coalition could accomplish anything on these appointments. If I were trying to force the confirmation of anybody, of course a coalition in the Senate would defeat it; but no possible coalition in the Senate could force me to appoint any particular man. As a matter of fact, I am not trying to force the appointment of any one. I am simply insisting that I must have a certain type of man presented to me. If the worst comes to the worst I may ask you togive me names of certain people for the different offices to be filled. But I [???] the Senators will themselves give me the [???] of good men. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. H. W. Scott, Editor, MORNING OREGONIAN, Portland Oregon.[*153*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 8, 1903. Personal. My dear Gray: I am greatly pleased with your letter. I earnestly hope that what you have to say can be made public in some authoritative way. I entirely agree with you that our danger in the Islands is lest we go too fast – not too slow. On other hand, I think it was advisable to substitute civil for military rule as soon as it could properly be done; and I any event, with the temper of our people as it was, it was out the question not to make the effort. Will you be in Washington any time in October? If so I should like to have you take lunch with me and go over the whole question. The attacks on the army have been infamous; and I cannot express the deep indignation I have felt at thefact that the General then commanding the army – General Miles – should have done everything in his power to aid those assailants in their slanders. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. David Gray, 76 Johnson Park, Buffalo, N. Y.155 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 8, 1903 My dear Judge: I thank you heartily for what you did. I shall follow your advice and say nothing whatever in the matter. With warm regards, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Theodore Brentano, Chief Justice, Superior Court, Chicago, Illinois.156 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 8, 1903. My dear Senator: I have your noted of the 5th instant. There will be no session until November 9th. I now understand more clearly than I did when I was speaking with Loomis the real right Johnson is making. By the way, Mr. Loeb send to Mr. Dover copies of correspondence between Shaw and myself. I hope it won’t do harm! I am very glad you are getting about again. I suppose it is no use of my saying anything, but do for Heaven’s sake take the greatest care of yourself. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. M.A. Hanna, Cleveland, Ohio. 157 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 8, 1903. Dear Mr. Secretary: Good. Smith will be promoted just as soon as we can do so. You can tell this to Quay and Penrose. Tell Smith I was pleased with his action. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State 158 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 8, 1903. My dear Mr. Briesen: I wish I could accept, but I am afraid it is simply out of the question. I have had to refuse two invitations to lunch or dine that day, and I believe I should hurt the feelings of these people if I now accepted yours, -- the invitations being one from General Greene and the other from the Governor and two Senators from New Jersey. Thank Mrs. Briesen most heartily for me. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. A.V. Brieson, Fort Wadsworth, S.I., N.Y. 159 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 9, 1903. My dear Garfield: I liked your speech. I liked the fact that it was not truculent and yet courageous. You said the things that ought to be said and yet without saying them in an offensive fashion. Your speech was curiously on the line of what I said in Syracuse, though you worked it out much more in detail. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt, Hon. James Rudolph Garfield, Commissioner of Corporations, Washington, D.C. 160 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 9, 1903. First let me thank you for what you say about my speech. I am glad you like it. Now to business I shall write the Attorney General, asking him to go through your letter personally; then to see you, by preference with me. This means that there will have to be a couple of weeks’ delay in the matter. I shall not write the Department of Agriculture, as what I wanted to put before that Department was the Crane matter, but I am very sorry that your clients will not let you make a complete statement as to the allegations concerning Crane. I think I ought to be given them. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. B.F. Tracy, 71 Broadway, New York. 161 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 9, 1903. Dear John: I am very glad you like my Labor Day speech. Whenever I speak to a body if working men it seems to me that my self-respect, and even more their self-respect, demand that I should show my genuine belief in their quality with me by refraining from words, either of flattery or of foolish untruth, which I should regard as an insult if spoken to me by some one else. Whether this will be the view that they generally take of I, I don’t know. But it is certainly the only terms on which I can speak. Most emphatically your conscience ought not to prod you. You went back to Washington at a time when your presence was needed you are right in going to Newbury. Two weeks from next Monday. I shall be back in Washington myself. Best luck to all of you. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Hay, Newbury, New Hampshire. 162 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 9, 1903. My dear Major Cunningham; I have gone carefully over my engagements, and I am very sorry to say that it is simply out of the question for me to accept your invitation. So great is my desire to meet the wishes of the members of my predecessor’s old regiment that if I were able to break through my rule in your favor I should certainly do so, and had I been warned in time I might have been able to make arrangements, but not that I have accepted an invitation to speak at Antietam, and inasmuch as I speak ??? in the week of the dedication of Major McKinley’s monument, it is simply impossible for me to make another speech at this time. You have no conception of the number of requests I receive for speeches which I should like to make were I able to. There is none that I have refused with greater regret then this. I shall ask the Acting Secretary of War and the Lieutenant General of the Army to be present. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major D. Cunningham, Cadis, Ohio [*164*] [*110*] PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 9, 1903. My dear Knox: General Tracy has been out to see me in person on the matter concerning which I send you the enclosed letter. I told him it was something for you rather than for me, but that I should ask you take the affair up yourself individually, and then write me a brief answer to this letter [which I?]; [enclose?] after first seeing General Tracy yourself at some time that is convenient for you, and perhaps, if you think it advisable, seeing him with me. Will you do this? I have much enjoyed your cordial letter – taking the form which essayists call “an appreciation” – concerning that cor- respondent of mine whom you, with touching accuracy, describe as an ass or a knave, who has invested his money in a line of chips and white stones. What I should like to do would be to send him your letter, but I shall deny myself that pleasure. From your concluding sentence I gather that your letterabout him was a kindly one. Some time when you have leisure please write me an unkind letter about him. I should like to read it and keep it! Always yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. P. C. Knox, Attorney General (Enclosures)[*166*] PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 9, 1903. My dear Dr. Finley: Indeed I do not in the least think you guilty of importunity, and I hope you will not think me churlish if I say that after earnestly thinking the matter over I can not see my way clear to do as you request. I wish you could see my mail and see the requests I receive. For instance, yesterday a major in McKinley’s old regiment asked me to receive the monument to be erected by Ohio on the Antietam battlefield to that regiment. He explained to me that the veterans of McKinley’s old regiment would be personally hurt if I did not come, and was so persistent that I was at my wits’ end how to be firm in refusing and yet not give offense. In the same way my friend Colgate Hoyt is demanding that I speak at the Ohio dinner McKinley spoke there two years ago, stating that it is most important that I show my entire and hearty sympathy and agreement with the people from McKinley’s own State. In the same way Curtis Guild, the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts, a very staunch friend of mine, hasbeen demanding and imploring me to choose my own time for the dedication of the monument to McKinley in Massachusetts. I suppose at least fifty colleges and universities have asked me to make special addresses, usually choosing my own days if I so desire, to commemorate special events. Now, my dear fellow, I tell you the exact truth when I say that I would rather speak on the occasion you request me to than on any of these other occasions; but I simply can not do so. I am awfully sorry. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. John L. Finlay, Princeton, New Jersey.[*168*] PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 9, 1903. My dear Judge: It is very kind of you to write me, and now that I am writing you I can not resist telling you how deeply touched I was by your reference to me when you spoke about the coal strike. I wanted to write you at the time, and then I thought I would [???], just because I did not exactly know what to say! The thing that makes public work worth while doing, from the personal standpoint, is the regard of certain men. If when I get through my presidency I can feel that men like you and Judge Taft, for instance, feel that I have acted fairly and squarely, and have been one of the forces on the side of decency, I shall be more than contented With high regard, Always yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. George Gray, Wilmington, Delaware[*169*] Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 9, 1903. My dear Captain Peary: It was a great pleasure to issue the orders. I feel you have rendered service not only to America, but to all the world, by what you have done, and if in anyway I can help you I am desirous of doing so. With all good wishes, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Captain R. E. Peary, Navy Department, Washington, D. C.170 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 9, 1903. My dear Bishop: About the Delaware Post office, I can say nothing simply because I know nothing save what I see in the papers, and a letter, concerning which I have asked for a report. I am horribly puzzled by the matter, because it is of the kind which should never have been done, and being done is difficult to undo. I heartily appreciate your editorial on my Labor Day speech. You said exactly what I was glad to have said. Isn’t it funny that the SUN should praise me for saying in this speech just exactly what I said about both labor and cap-ital in the New England speeches a year ago, which it denounced as incendiary and revolutionary? By all means be at Ellis Island on the 16th at twelve o’clock. If you find it convenient, stay and take dinner with me that evening on board SYLPH, and we will talkover various thing before I start for Antietam. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. J. B. Bishop Editor, THE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER, 187 Broadway, New York.[*172*] Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 9, 1903. My dear Mr. Wright: I thank you sincerely. I appreciate your telegram. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Carroll D. Wright, Commissioner of Labor, Washington, D. C.173 141 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 9, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Payne: I have your letter of the 8th in regard to the re-port. That is entirely satisfactory. All I can hope now is that sometime in October, or at least before the special session of Congress occurs, we can make the complete re-port with my memorandum. I shall be back in Washington Monday, September 26th, and I can see you then, or as soon after as you can make it convenient, and go over the re-port with you. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H. C. Payne, Postmaster General, Washington, D. C.174 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 10, 1903. My dear Mr. Vezin: First let me thank you for your very kind expressions about myself. In view of what you say about President Cleveland, it may perhaps [??] you to know that as strong and warm letters of endorsement as I have received from any [??] for certain of the things I have done – as my action in the anthracite coal strike – have come from President Cleveland. This for your private information. I agree absolutely with what you say about honesty and the curious perversion of feeling about certain forms of dishonesty among men who are otherwise respectable. I have written my speech for Antietam, otherwise I should bring in the point you make, and I shall try to bring it in later in some address to the Grand Army, showing that the man who comes back after fighting valiantly, and then sells his vote or bribes any one else, is as bad as Benedict Arnold, and that there is no difference between public and private dishonesty. To show the utter callousness of some of our people on this subject I shall mention to you a curious incident – again for your private information. Recently a very wealthy man, of high social and business standing was criticizing me to a close friend of mine for my action in settling the [anthracite] coal strike. He stated that if it had not been for [my interference] the strike would have been broken within a very few [days]: and when my friend expressed his disbelief in this the other gentleman175 2 gentleman answered that he knew it was so because the operators and their friends had made arrangements to purchase – that is bribe – the leaders of the striking miners, and to have the strike broken or declared off. Now I have no idea whether there was a basis of fact for the assertion of this gentleman. The point I am making is that he evidently had no conception that he was making an avowal of an act that was infamous. To him, the settling of the strike by bribery seemed to be a proper and legitimate thing to do; and he objected most bitterly to my action as having forestalled this settlement. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles Vezin, 349 Broadway. New York.176 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 10, 1903. My dear Elwes: These were most interesting photographs, and ??? sketch also, although I would like to be sure that a moose would fight a bear with its horns instead of its fore legs. Wolves I know they fight with their fore legs. The black bear rarely attack moose, just as it rarely, just as it rarely kills cattle, but it certainly does attack moose in some cases, just as I have known repeated instances were big black bears have killed cows and steers. Be sure that you let me see you when you come to American. There is much I should like to talk over with you, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt M.G. Elwes ??? England 177 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903. My dear President Schurman: I am greatly pleased that you like my Labor Day speech. Now as to what you say of the Canal question. Here again I agree precisely with your views. The trouble is that for me to announce my feelings would undoubtedly be taken as equivalent to an effort to incite an insurrection in Panama. I should of course infinitely prefer to get title to the Canal outright, and I do not consent for a moment to the view that Colombia has the right permanently to block one of the world’s great highways. Furthermore, I absolutely agree with you that to wait a few months, or even a year or two, is nothing compared with having the thing done rightly, but I cannot publicly express my feelings as if I were in private life, because, as I have said, if I should publicly state what I, in the abstract, thought would be most desirable, it would undoubtedly be deemed by the great majority of the people as an effort to bring about that state of affairs in the concrete. If Congress will give me a certain amount of freedom and a certain amount of time, I believe I can do much better than by any action taken out of hand. But of course, what Congress will do I don’t know. With heartiest good wishes, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt President J.G. Schurman, East Hampton, L.I., N.Y. 179 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903 My dear Mr. Payne: (All right about the Typothetae.) About the Delaware situation, your letters show me far more clearly than I had understood the difficulty the Department labored under. I appreciate the strain when a faction which polls less than five per cent of the total vote has all the offices. On the other hand, the country at large ??? undoubtedly a certain amount of reason, has concluded that Addicks is a flagrant exemplar of all that is worst in the way of securing elections by bribery and improper means. I shall do nothing about this case, of course, until I see you. Meanwhile do not take any action in any other Delaware post office without consultation with me. If the existing postmasters keep absolutely clear of politics, I think the best course is to let them go on and serve out their terms. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H.C. Payne, Postmaster General 180 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 10, 1903. My dear Mayor Robb: I am much obliged to you for your letter. May I through you extend to Mr. and above all to Mrs. Claude my heartiest congratulations and good wishes? They are the right type of American citizens. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Ellis D. Robb, Mayor, Eldorado, Iowa 181 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903 Personal. My dear Commissioner Richards: That is a first-class letter of yours to Pracht. If he answered it insolently, I suggest that you remove him out of hand. As for who his backers are or may be, I care not a snap of my finger in a case such as this. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. W.A. Richards, Commissioner, General Land Office, Washington, D.C. 182 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 10, 1903 My dear Mr. Secretary: If I can do what you recommend in your letter of the 5th I gladly well. I do not know who the other candidates are, so I cannot promise outright. I am immensely interested in the prospect of you going to the General Assembly. It seems to me a very high-minded and patriotic thing on your part to do. With warm regards to Mrs. Long, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John D. Long, Buckfield, Maine. 183 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 10, 1903. My dear Brother Lamberton: My Secretary has just called my attention to the [specific] bound memorial volume of the celebration at the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, of the Sesqui-centennial anniversary of the initiation of Brother George Washington into the brotherhood of Freemasons, which you have so kindly sent me. Pray accept my sincere thanks for your courtesy. I shall keep it with the other souvenirs of that occasion, always remembering the pleasure it gave me to be present with the Brethren. With fraternal regards, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. James M. Lamberton, Secretary, 218 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.184 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903. Dear Martin: You may have noticed that in my Syracuse speech I quoted you. I felt you expressed ??? than I could. I have at least one correspondent who evidently thinks so too, for he has written for your ??? He is the principal of a grammar school at New Haven. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. E.S. Martin, Madison, Conn. 185 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903. My dear Father Clune: I have just received your letter and the address, and shall read it with the greatest interest. You have a right to be genuinely proud of the congratulatory letters you have received about it. Let me thank you again for your kind words about my speech. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Michael Clune, St. John’s Cathedral Rectory, Syracuse, N.Y. 186 Oyster Bay, N .Y. September 10, 1903. My dear Mr. Lummis: Do you think you understand the position which the Burton matter assumed after your cordial endorsement of Jenkins as the right type of man to inspect him, and after Moody, your representative, first on the ground, agreed with Jenkins that the charges against Burton had fallen down, and then went back to his home, reversed himself, and utterly destroyed any possibility of attaching the least weight to his report either way by making directly opposite recommendations with no new evidence of any kind before him? Why, my dear fellow, we would not hang a dog on such evidence! I went through the testimony of Mrs. Yates, who was said to be a representative of the Sequoya League, and, upon my word, I think the Sequoya League should sever all connection with her. Her testimony shows her utter unfitness to go into such work at all. Let me recapitulate exactly how the situation stands. [?] [?] were made by trustworthy people of high[187] character. An inspector is appointed to investigate these charges, and in advance the people making them express their entire satisfaction with his competency and honesty. One of their own number is then joined with him. The investigation is held. At its close the inspector reports unqualifiedly in favor of the accused. The representative of the people making the charges who has been joined with him at first assents entirely to this report, and then retracts his assent in a subsequent letter in which he acknowledges that nothing has occurred between times to make him change his opinion, and that he has no satisfactory explanation as to why he did change. I have gone over the evidence, and on this evidence as it appears, taken down before the inspector and Mr. Moody, the case for Mr. Burton is clear. He should have removed, instead of reprimanding, the teacher who misbehaved; and for this he should himself be reprimanded; but no heavier punishment would be advisable if any regard for decency and justice is to obtain in the Interior Department. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Chas. F. Lummis, Los Angeles, Cal.188 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903. My dear Commissioner: This is to introduce the Reverend Jeremiah J. Harty of St. Louis, Archbishop of Manila. I know him well and believe him to be singularly well suited for the work to which he has been assigned. I earnestly commend him to your favorable consideration. His desire is to cooperate heartily with the civil authorities in securing peace, prosperity, and both the physical and spiritual well-being of the Filipinos, and to assist in developing them along broad lines of good citizenship suitable to those who have come under the American Flag. Again earnestly commending him to your courtesy, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Luke E. Wright Commissioner of the Philippine Islands189 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903. My dear Commissioner: This is to introduce the Reverend Jeremiah J. Harty of St. Louis, Archbishop of Manila. I know him well and believe him to be singularly well suited for the work to which he has been assigned. I earnestly commend him to your favorable consideration. His desire is to cooperate heartily with the civil authorities in securing peace, prosperity, and both the physical and spiritual well-being of the Filipinos, and to assist in developing them along broad lines of good citizenship suitable to those who have come under the American Flag. Again earnestly commending him to your courtesy, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Dean C. Worcester Commissioner of the Philippine Islands190 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903. My dear Commissioner: This is to introduce the Reverend Jeremiah J. Harty of St. Louis, Archbishop of Manila. I know him well and believe him to be singularly well suited for the work to which he has been assigned. I earnestly commend him to your favorable consideration. His desire is to cooperate heartily with the civil authorities in securing peace, prosperity, and both the physical and spiritual well-being of the Filipinos, and to assist in developing them along broad lines of good citizenship suitable to those who have come under the American Flag. Again earnestly commending him to your courtesy, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Henry C. Ide, Commissioner of the Philippine Islands 191 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903. My dear Commissioner: This is to introduce the Reverend Jeremiah J. Harty of St. Louis, Archbishop of Manila. I know him well and believe him to be singularly well suited for the work to which he has been assigned. I earnestly commend him to your favorable consideration. His desire is to cooperate heartily with the civil authorities in securing peace, prosperity, and both the physical and spiritual well-being of the Filipinos, and to assist in developing them along broad lines of good citizenship suitable to those who have come under the American Flag. Again earnestly commending him to your courtesy, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. James F. Smith Commissioner to the Philippine Islands192 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903. My dear Governor: This is to introduce the Reverend Jeremiah J. Harty of St. Louis, Archbishop of Manila. I know him well and believe him to be singularly well suited for the work to which he has been assigned. I earnestly commend him to your favorable consideration. His desire is to cooperate heartily with the civil authorities in securing peace, prosperity, and both the physical and spiritual well-being of the Filipinos, and to assist in developing them along broad lines of good citizenship suitable to those who have come under the American Flag. Again earnestly commending him to your courtesy, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. William H Taft, Governor of the Philippine Islands.193 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 10, 1903. My dear Judge: This is to introduce the Reverend Jeremiah J. Harty of St. Louis, Archbishop of Manila. I know him well and believe him to be singularly well suited for the work to which he has been assigned. I earnestly commend him to your favorable consideration. His desire is to cooperate heartily with the civil authorities in securing peace, prosperity, and both the physical and spiritual well-being of the Filipinos, and to assist in developing them along broad lines of good citizenship suitable to those who have come under the American Flag. Again earnestly commending him to your courtesy, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John T. McDonough, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands, Manila, P.I. 194 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 10, 1903 My dear Archbishop Harty: I enclose those letters to the five American Commissioners at Manila, and to Judge T. McDonough. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt The Most Reverend Jeremiah J. Harty, Archbishop of Manila, St. Louis, Missouri. (Enclosures)195 [165] Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 11, 1903. To the Attorney General: I would like to make this appointment if the chance comes. T. Roosevelt The above refers to a letter from Hon. Timothy E. Byrnes, of Minneapolis, Minn., enclosing letters recommending Eugene G. Hay for appointment to the Court of Claims. The letters are from Senators Nelson and Clapp, Congressman Stevens, an Hon. W.H.H. Miller196 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 11, 1903. My dear Mr. Washington I shall read that article in the Atlantic Monthly with great interest. I was rendered a little melancholy by the attitude of some on the Boston colored men toward you, and by their recent action when you come up to speak. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt President Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama. 197 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 11, 1903. My dear Smith: I wish I could accept, but it is simply out of the question. Even for you I can not make another speech at this time. I am awfully sorry. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Charles Emery Smith, Editor, THE PRESS, Philadelphia, Pa 198 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 11, 1903. Personal. My dear Bonaparte: The enclosed copy of a letter from Warfield impresses me strongly. I would like to consult with you about this Warfield case, as well as the other post office cases, as soon after October 1st as is convenient. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Charles J. Bonaparte, Baltimore, Md. 199 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 11, 1903. My dear Cooley: In a recent letter from Elliot H. Goodwin to Postmaster General Payne, he says: “By the revision of the civil service rules, which were signed by the President on March 20 and took effect on April 15, 1903, fourth class postmasters are included in the classified service.” Surely this is not so, is it? No member of the Commission spoke to me about it, and I can not help supposing that Mr. Goodwin is mistaken, as no such important change should have been made inadvertence, and of course it could only have been made by me through inadvertence for we always agreed that there was no way at present of extending the classified service to take in fourth-class postmasters. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Alford W. Cooley Civil Service Commissioner 200 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 11, 1903 My dear Mr. Payne: I thank you for your letter about the complaint of the Civil Service Reform Association. I have at once written to Mr. Cooley to find out what they mean by saying that the fourth-class post offices have been classified. I have received a copy of a letter from Warfield to you which has impressed me very strongly. I shall take up all these cases with you when I get on to Washington. I have written about the Warfield case. Very sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H.C. Payne, Postmaster General. 201 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 11, 1903 My dear Mr. Baldwin: Will you treat the enclosed letter from Commissioner of the General Land Office as purely confidential and return it to me? I like you letter and appreciate the public spirit in which you are rendering service to the Government. I wish you to see some of the difficulties under which we work, even at headquarters. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Roger Sherman Baldwin, Forest Ranger, Griffin, Venture County, Cal. 202 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 11, 1903. Dear Oom John: Those grapes were delicious, and we have all reveled in them. How is that article getting along? Is it going to appear or not? We passed no pleasanter day this summer than the one with you. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt John Burroughs, Esq., West Park, Ulster County, N. Y.203 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 11, 1903. Dear John: I am extremely pleased that you went to Newbury. There was nothing more you could do at the State Department. Under the circumstances it was out of the question for us not to send our squadron to Beirut, and out of the question for us to withdraw it afterwards, unless we are given the satisfaction that should be given. You have done your part, and there was nothing whatever for you to do if you remained in Washington. I was very much please that your son-in-law's first break into politics should be with that temperate and judicial resolution in my favor. That is the kind of spirit I like! Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Hay, Newbury, N. H.204 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 11, 1903. My dear Jim: I wish to thank you for your very nice resolution, a copy of which has been sent me by Otto Kelsey. I am delighted that you are following your father's footsteps in politics; and am very much pleased that one of your first moves should be to help me in this way. With love to the wife and the baby, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. J. W. Wadsworth, Jr., Genesco, N. Y.205 Oyster Bay, N. y. September 11, 1903. My dear Senator: If I should write you whenever you said something kind and pleasant about me. I should burden your mail without cessation. Yet I must just send you a line now to say how much I appreciate your speech of yesterday. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. O. H. Platt, Meriden, Conn.206 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 11, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Baldwin: The exact situation is this. This move is not a new move on my part, nor was the announcement made so completely without reservation as was given in the newspapers. Over a year ago - in fact, I think soon after I came into the Presidency - I announced that where practicable I desired to fill the places by promotion when vacancies occurred in the consular service. Since then I have steadfastly endeavored to make this the rule. I think you will find editorials in the Outlook commending the course I followed in a number of these cases. It is impossible to make it an invariable rule, however, partly because of geographical considerations, and still more because there are certain men who now and then apply for consular positions, or are pushed for them, who really do stand far above the men whom it would be possible to promote into207 them. It may be that I shall come to the conclusion, after experiment, that it is better to lose these men from the service and to make all entries at the lowest grade; but as yet I am not satisfied that this would result beneficially if made an invariable rule. For instance, it would have prevented my gratifying Evans' ambition to be made Consul General at London reward to which in my opinion he was justly entitled. It would have been impossible to get a man of Evans grade to go into the small positions in the consular service and work up. Therefore, I have not made the rule in sweeping form. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Elbert F. Baldwin, The Outlook Company, 287 Fourth Avenue, New York, N. Y.208 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 11, 1903. My dear Mr. Teale: That was a very interesting newspaper clipping, and I thank you for sending it to me. It brought back the old days to me very vividly. With hearty thanks, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles E. Teale, 126 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.209 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 11, 1903. Personal. Dear Gifford: Of course, if I can get any western backing for the transfer, I [am] shall be only too delighted to push it all I know how. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Gifford Pinchot, Agricultural Department, Washington, D. C.210 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 11, 1903. My dear Captain: I have rather lost touch of you in the last year or two. Where are you? Dan Wister was speaking to me last night and telling me what hard luck you had had in reference to the assignment to Girard College just before the war, which was of course broken up immediately after the war. Now, my dear Captain, of course my endeavor is not to show my favoritism; but I know you and your record and services, and if there is something you desire which I can properly grant it will be a pleasure to me to do so. Wister seemed to think that perhaps there was. Will you write me frankly? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Captain Frank Edwards, Care War Department, Washington, D. C.211 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 11, 1903. My dear Sir: Your letter has been handed to me by Senator Hoar, and coming the added weight of his name it makes it peculiarly difficult for me to refuse. Yet I am already pledged to speak elsewhere on Memorial Day next year, and I don't believe I could make two addresses at that time. I am sincerely sorry. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles M. Smith, Care Hon. George F. Hoar, U.S.S., Worcester, Massachusetts.212 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 12, 1903. Dear Leonard: I received your letter and the enclosures, including the letter from Sieinhart, which I have returned after taking a copy. If you wish it I shall destroy this copy, but I thought it might come in handy at some stage of the proceedings. I think the Runcie matter is definitely disposed of by the correspondence which you enclosed. To my mind the charge is on its face absurd, because, leaving out entirely your personal character, it is obvious that you would not permit such a publication to be made when you were already Governor General, and the publication was certain to embarrass you and could not by any possibility help you. Moreover, you [?] you will make Benjamin [?]. Then wus the time for any one who had anything to say against you in this matter to speak up; and if not, then forever after he should hold his peace. The Lawton business I knew all about already. I also knew the facts to which Steinhart refers. A great howl was made over your having received a gift form the "Jai Alai," and about Mrs. Wood having received courtesies in the way of transportation from the Spanish Company. As for the first, on my recent western tour I was presented, as publicly as the Jai Alai proposed, presented you, various presents, including, for instance, a horse and saddle and bridle tendered through the Wyoming Senator on behalf of two of the Wyoming cities; and a big silver loving cup presented by the Mayor of Butte, on behalf of its citizens. As for the second point, the same papers that have attacked you have attacked me because I have traveled on special trains, following 213 2 out the custom of my predecessors - doing exactly what President McKinley did. Neither the attacks on you not the attacks on me on these points are made in good faith. They would have attacked you as an ill-mannered churl if you had refused the gift, for instance. I do not believe, for one moment that they will be able to defeat your confirmation. Proctor and Garfield have both been working hard for you. The friends of Miles, who have been very violent against you, tried to get the Grand Army to pass resolutions against your promotion. They failed, although to my utter surprise they succeeded in stirring up much hostile feeling against you in the Grand Army. Just at the moment it suited Miles to try to discredit you, and he worked his newspaper bureau to advantage, although I do not think he is really as hostile to you as to me. The same thing is true of the SUN. HARPERS' WEEKLY and the EVENING POST hate you personally. The Springfield REPUBLICAN apparently, rarely represents Miles. Wilson, of course, has a personal grudge. I have all the facts ready and am prepared to do battle when Congress opens if there is the slightest need. As I have said, it seems incredible that there should be serious opposition. Recently the EVENING POST has been our most envenomed opponent. As soon as I see Senator Cockrell I shall find out if he is willing to make an active fight. If so I may use him for getting a concise statement of your record before the public. It is a shame that you should be bothered with this matter when your hands will be full with the [?]oros. Don't worry. I believe it will be all right. Least of all need you feel any regret on my account. As I have explained to various well-meaning jacks who feel that I have been showing 214 3 favoritism to you, I am doing nothing of the kind. I have told them that I am simply promoting you in your order as I have promoted those above you, and shall promote those below you in their order; that I am acting on your record, and that if I did not know you at all I should fight for you in just the same way - that for instance, when Franklin Bell's turn comes along I shall fight for him in the same way, if by any chance he happens to be attacked in the same base and cruelly unjust manner, and this although I have never seen Bell in my life. Fighting and worrying are parts of my regular business, and I have to face them in so many matters that one case more or less makes but little impression upon my nerves! Always yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major General Leonard Wood, U.S.A., Manila, P.I.215 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 12, 1903. My dear Senator: I cannot act upon that case until I get the report of the District Attorney and Judge. Moreover, I am exceedingly reluctant to extend a pardon in a case of this character where the term is almost served out. The usual practice is to commute the sentence, and not to restore the man to rights of citizenship until he has proved he is fit for it. I deviate from this practice only for special reasons. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Thomas Kearns, Salt Lake City, Utah. This refers to a pardon in the case of Charles Meighan, former postmaster at Ogden216 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 12, 1903. My dear Captain: The two boys turned up safely, having had the time of their lives, thanks to you and also to Mrs. Bullock. I want you to know that Mrs. Roosevelt and I appreciate to the full your great kindness to them. All we can hope is that they were not too much of a bother. The experience has been invaluable for them in every way. They loved the riding, the shooting, the life in camp and at the ranch, and all the men whom they met. Your son, by the way, completely captured Ted. With warm regards to Mrs. Bullock, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Capt. Seth Bullock, Deadwood, S. D.217 [*200*] PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 12, 1903. Dear Mr. Payne: Please say nothing to any one about that Delaware post office matter until you have seen me. As I have said, take no action as regards any of the Delaware appointments without consultation with me. I understand entirely how you came to act, and I also understand entirely your interview in the press; but your position is not understood, and in addition to malicious people, many entirely well-meaning people have been deeply shocked and regard the affair as a proof of hypocrisy in me. It is a great misfortune that the removal was made. It may not be possible now to undo it. In any event I shall come to no conclusion until I see you in Washington. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H. C. Payne Postmaster General.218 [*68*] Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 12, 1903. My dear Mr. Secretary: Evidently it will not do to appoint Mr. Eustis form Minnesota until I have place Mr. Hay. Would Mr. Hay take the General Appraisership? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. L. M. Shaw, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C.219 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 12, 1903. Personal. My dear Judge: You need have no uneasiness about my attitude in the Miller case. He will not be dismissed unless the evidence against him is so strong that it leaves me no alternative. Under the circumstances, I should require a far stronger case against him than if the original quarrel between him and the trades union had never arisen. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Theodore Brentano, Judge, Superior Court, Chicago, Ill.220 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 14, 1903. Taft, Manila. Am exceedingly sorry but offer has been made to Winthrop otherwise I should act on your suggestion at once. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. (Official)221 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 15, 1903. To the Irrigation Congress, Ogden, Utah. The passage of the national irrigation law was one of the great steps not only in the forward progress of the United States but of all mankind. It was the beginning of an achievement so great that we hesitate to predict the outcome. But it was only the beginning. Now that the law is an accomplished fact it must be given effect. To that end the reclamation service organized under the national irrigation law of June 17,1902, has been pushing its surveys and examinations of possible irrigation projects energetically in each of the thirteen states and three territories named in the act. Some of the projects which promised well at first are found on careful study to be impracticable either because of scanty water supply or of great cost; others must await higher values in land; while others stand the test and are ready for immediate construction. The feasible projects are always large and costly because private enterprise has already seized upon the smaller and less expensive ones, leaving to the government the great works which are to bear so essential a part in bringing the nation to its full development. Great care and highest engineering skill are required to plan and build such works, which are among the most difficult undertakings of mankind. They must be built for permanence and safety, for they are to last and spread prosperity for centuries. To design and build such works a body of engineers of the highest character has been brought together in the reclamation service, for only men impartially selected for capacity alone are capable222 2 of creating these great structures. Merit must govern not only in the selection of the men but still more in the selection of the projects. Every reclamation project selected for construction must possess the qualities which commend it as a national undertaking, certain to reclaim large tracts of arid land and to support in wellbeing a dense and vigorous population. Vast though the benefits of the reclamation law will be, many disappointments necessarily await both the advocate of special projects and the men whose desire for accomplished results outruns the slow and steady development of these great undertakings. It should be borne in mind that a broad survey of all possible projects gives new conception of their relative value, and that a work of prime importance to one group of men may seem less desirable in the light of wider knowledge. Nor is it wise in large affairs to begin construction first and elaborate details afterward. Each important point must be carefully studied in advance and the whole plan tested and approved before work can begin. Yet if we proceed both cautiously and persistently under this beneficent law we may confidently expect the largest possible development of our arid lands and their settlement by industrious, prosperous, self-respecting men and women who will exchange the products of irrigated agriculture for the products of mills and factories throughout the United States. Such communities flourishing in what is now the desert will finally take their places among the strongest pillars of our commonwealth. The irrigation development of the arid west cannot stand alone. Forestry is the companion and support of irrigation. Without forestry irrigation must fail. Permanent irrigation development and forest destruction cannot exist together. Never forget that the forest reserve policy of the National Government means the223 3 use of all the resources of the forest reserves. There is little profit in destruction compared with use. The settlement of the great arid west by the makers of homes is the central object both of the irrigation and the forest policies of the United States. In forestry as in irrigation the immediate private interest of some individuals must occasionally yield to their permanent advantage, which is the public good. The benefits of forestry are not only for the future but for the present. The forest reserves are for all the people, but first for the people in their immediate neighborhood for whom supplies of wood and water are among the first necessities of life. The wiser and more skillful the management of the reserves by trained men, the greater obviously will their usefulness be to the people. We must never allow our chagrin at temporary defects and difficulties in the management of the forest reserves to blind us to the absolute necessity of these reserves to the people of the west. Support of the forest reserve policy has grown with wonderful rapidity in the west during the last few years. It will continue to grow till the last vestige of opposition, now almost gone, has wholly disappeared before a true understanding of the object and effect of forest reservation. The greater the support of the forest reserves by the people of the west, the greater the assurance that the national irrigation policy will not fail; for the preservation of the forests is vital to the success of this policy. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. OFFICIAL224 195 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 15, 1903. To the Acting Attorney General: I have read through the report of Messrs. Bonaparte and Conrad on the Tulloch charges. I should like the attention of the Postmaster General and of the Secretary of the Treasury called at once to it, especially with reference to the summary of conclusions, and I should like a report from them as to these conclusions. My concern is of course with the actual practices in the Department at present and with the conduct of the men who are now in office, together with the conduct of those men, whether in or out of office, who can be criminally prosecuted for whatever has been done of any illegal nature. Theodore Roosevelt Enclosure.225 198 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 15, 1903. My dear Sir: I have received and looked through the report of you and Mr. Conrad, filed today with the Soliciter General. I have asked Mr. Hitchcock to appoint you for his work on the conditions named in your letter. In accordance with your letter about the Elliott and Hatch book typewriter business, I notified Senator Cameron of what you had said, and asked him to communicate with you immediate- ly in the matter. In a fortnight I shall be coming to Washington, and I shall then want to see you and Mr. Conrad at your convenience. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles J. Bonaparte, 216 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland.226 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 15, 1903. My dear Senator: I thank you for your letter. I have submitted it to the Secretary of the Interior for full and detailed report. I shall go over the whole matter with you when I see you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John H. Mitchell, Portland, Oregon.22[7] Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 15, 1903. To the Secretary of the Interior: I should like a detailed report upon this letter of Senator Mitchell's. Please give me a full statement inquiry report about the inspector and the other matters touched on. Theodore Roosevelt Enclosure.228 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 15, 1903. Dear Cabot: Just a line. Inside of a fortnight I shall be back in Washington, and then - unless I am not renominated - I shall have practically no let-up until the election is over. Very worrying things have turned up recently, and I have had my hands full. I do not believe there are any of them in which you could have helped me; but I should have given a good deal just to have had you hear to unburden myself to about them. The Post Office scandal grows deeper the deeper I probe. Of course it was all before my time, and what I am doing is simply to out out the evil; but I don't know whether the people will see this. High Republican politicians in New York, including the Chairman of our State Committee, will be implicated in all probability, and I suppose this will have a bad effect politically; and this means that I shall pay the penalty although the wrongdoing was that of other men, and the remedy alone is that for which I am responsible. There are a number of things that have been worrying me which I don't care to put down upon paper as they concern other people, but I shall have much to go over with you when you come back. As for your affairs, I most earnestly hope that the English judge will see wisdom. If he does not, why we must face facts and act with temperance of expression, and at the same time with unyielding resolution, no matter what the outcome may be.229 2 I hope Nannie is enjoying herself. We have had a lovely summer. Edith has ridden a great deal with me, and we have often gone off together in a row-boat for a day's outing. I have also seen a great deal of the children. Ted is now sixteen and has physically passed me by. He can do better than I can at almost all outdoor sports except shooting with the rifle and horse-back; and when it comes to high jumping on horse-back he can certainly beat me too, if only on account of his weight. He had a delightful trip in the Black Hills with Seth Bullock. All the children have been well this summer, and it has been a happy season. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H. C. Lodge, Care American Embassy, London, England.230 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 15, 1903. My dear Mr. Hall: I heartily congratulate you upon the fact that we now have in New York State, child labor laws, which I believe can be enforced. It is of the utmost importance that these laws shall not be left idle on the statute books. Your committee has been instrumental in securing their passage, and I wish you God-speed in your efforts to complete the great service you have thereby rendered the community. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Fred S. Hall, Secretary, Child Labor Committee, 170 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y.231 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 15, 1903. My dear Mr. Minister: That is an interesting speech, and I thank you for sending it to me. Will you convey my personal regard to the Minister for Foreign Affairs? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles Page Bryan, United States Minister, Lisbon, Portugal. 232 218 Personal. Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 15, 1903. To the Secretary of the Treasury: The writer of this letter is an important man. When you have looked over it and spoken to me, I should like to have him on and talk with him in your presence. T. Roosevelt This refers to a letter from Major John Byrne on the financial question.233 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 15, 1903. My dear Major Byrne: I thank you heartily for your letter, and I have read it with great interest. Before speaking definitely concerning it, I shall go over it carefully with Secretary Shaw, and then I shall get you to come on to Washington and meet us and talk over the matter at length. With regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major John Byrne, St. Marys, Pa.234 225 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 15, 1903. My dear Bonaparte: I shall keep the Warfield matter until I see you and then I shall want to talk with you about the whole affair. I have read through the Tulloch very carefully and am greatly pleased with it. There are two points about which I wish to speak to you. The first is as to what you say about excepted places,when you quote Madison. It seems to me it's the most essential thing as regards civil service reform at present is to keep the business clear from the least taint of hypocrisy. As you know, I have always believed that President Cleveland was most unwise when he made the impossible promise that every office should be filled in accordance with the principles of civil service reform. He could not keep this promise. He never tried to keep it for so much as an hour, and to have kept it in spirit and letter would have meant an absolute and complete break, not only with his party's representatives in Congess, but with his party [?], inside of a week. Fourth-class post offices, for instance, could not now be classified even if it were advisable to try to hold competitive examinations for them, because in the country districts there is practically no sentiment in favor of such classification. Now in the same way I have found that where we meke excepted positions it is out of the question to try to keep political motives out of the appointment and removal. To make the attempt amounts literally and exactly to putting a premium upon hypocrisy. It does not stop a single unworthy appointment; and it tempts weak men to 2 perjure themselves, and it causes upright men embarrassment. If it were not for this I should [?] definitely increase the number of excepted places, for I do not at all regard the system of written competitive examination as a particularly good one. I simply regard it as better than the alternative spoils system. Such being the case, it seems to me to be in the interest of honesty not to make any effort to apply to these excepted positions, any more than to the [?] classified positions, the rule which ought to be rigidly enforced as regards the entire classified and non-excepted places. Now for the next and much more serious matter. I do not want the post of office investigation to hang on indefinitely. I am very anxious that it should be closed as soon as is compatible with thorough probing. I am a little uneasy as to what you say as to the probability of the evil conditions of which you speak having continued in the offices of the First Assistant Postmaster General, the Postmaster at Washington, and the Postmaster at New York City since I came into office, or since 1900. Of course my prime sin throughout this investigation has been to find out whoever [?] guilty and in office and remove him; whoever [?] guilty and can be reached by process of law and prosecute him; and finally, to find out whatever condition is now wrong, and to right it. If you have any doubt whether Bristow has [?] probing to the bottom the present and recent conditions in the three depart- ments named by you and Conrad, I feel that you ought to see Bristow at once and find out what has been done, and satisfy yourself whether he had sone it or not. I wish there to be no doubt that I have cut out every possible evil which it was possible for me to get at. As you know, I have made it my business to see that no human being was shielded [?] [?] [?] 236 3 Between ourselves, I may tell you that yesterday a Republican state officer of New York came to me,on behalf of the highest Republican leaders in the State, to tell me that in their judgment the indictment of State Senator Green, with the trouble it would probably cause to the Chairman of the Republican State Committee, rendered it out of the question for me to hope to carry New York in the next presidential campaign. I answered them that if so, I was exceedingly sorry; that no one could possibly be as much interested in carrying New York in the next presidential campaign as I was myself but that when the question was one of honesty or dishonesty, I nether could nor would permit any consideration as to the future of myself or any one else to weigh in the balance for one moment; that I should hope to be able to show the public that I was not in any shape or way responsible for the existence of the corruption within and around the Post Office Department, but solely for putting an end to it; but that I thoroughly understood the difficulty of preventing multitudes of ignorant but well-meaning people from being misled by dishonest people in such a matter; - for instance, that I thoroughly understood how the New York SUN, [TINKS/TIMES]? [? ?] and EVENING POST would day in and day out endeavor to make it appear that the corruption disclosed in the Post Office Department was somehow or other a reflection upon me; and that it was perfectly possible they would deceive the people into acting on this belief, and that if so I should simply accept the consequences without repining. In the same way I have felt about Senator Cameron. He is a valued friend of mine. He has always been my supporter. I have liked him and237 4 believed in his honesty. He gave me his word that he had done nothing whatever of any kind that was censurable. If the reverse is true I have not one word to say in his behalf, and desire that exact and full justice be done; and for doing it I am perfectly willing to pay the penalty, no matter what it may be. But if, at the same time that at no matter what cost, I do justice and cut out corruption, I can also have it made evident that I am doing justice and that I have cut our corruption, and that I am not responsible for the iniquity but for cutting it out - why, of course I think it a matter of mere naked right that such showing should be made. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles J. Bonaparte, 216 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland.238 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 15, 1903. Dear John: I entirely approve if your idea. Let us do nothing in the Colombia matter at present. I shall be back in Washington by the 28th instant, and you a week or two afterwards. Then we will go over the matter very carefully and decide what to do. At present I feel that there are two alternatives. (1) To take up Nicaragua; (2) in some shape or way to interfere when it becomes necessary so as to secure the Panama route without further dealing with the foolish and homicidal corruptionists in Bogata. I am not inclined to have any further dealings whatever with those Bogata people. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State.239 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 15, 1903. My dear Mr. Jones: Come in October to Washington, and let me know in advance and I shall have you at lunch. I have much to talk over with you. I shall ask the Attorney General if he can use Somerby for that work. I don't know whether they have already got somebody or not. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. H. V. Jones, Manager, THE COMMERCIAL WEST, Minneapolis, Minnesota.240 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 15, 1903. Dear John: I agree with all you say about those little islands. I should be glad to use them as a make-weight in the [?] boundary matter. If we can come to an agreement over them, all right; if not, arbitrate - before The Hague Court by preference. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State.241 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 15, 1903. Dear John: I agree with all you say about those little islands. I should be glad to use them as a make-weight in the [?] boundary matter. If we can come to an agreement over them, all right; if not, arbitrate - before The Hague Court by preference. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State.242 [*232*] PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 15, 1903. Secretary Shaw: Please look up this matter carefully before you act. All I want is to be sure that you have exercised your best judgment, and that you are confident that whatever decision you come to can not be upset. T. Roosevelt (Enclosure) The above refers to a letter from ex-Senator Mason, Chicago, protesting against the removal of General Thomas, and stating that if General Thomas is to be removed, his place should be filled by a soldier. States that the President has but one federal appointee in Chicago, besides Gen. Thomas, who has been a soldier.243 [*217*] Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 15, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Payne: Bonaparte and Conrad have made their report on the Tulloch case. It is a damaging report, for it shows - and I fear conclusively - that the practices that prevailed under Perry Heath were very reprehensible. I shall take up certain parts of it when I see you. Meanwhile, I want to call your attention to the summary, in which it is stated that the conditions complained of probably have existed during the last two or three years in the office of the First Assistant Postmaster General, in the Post Office at Washington, and in the Post Office at New York City. As I understand it, the inspectors under Mr. Bristow have investigated all these three offices, and are able to state definitely what is and has been going on in them. Is this so, and will you call Mr. Bristow's attention to the matter? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H. C. Payne, Postmaster General, Washington, D.C.243 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 15, 1903. Personal. Dear Will: Your telegram about Davis came a week after Winthrop had accepted my offered appointment to him. If I had received it in time I assume I should have made the offer to Davis. Yet I should be very reluctant to have Davis taken away when there is a chance of my using him on the Isthmian Canal. No one can tell what will come out in the Isthmian Canal business. This winter we may start the Nicaragua Canal, or the course of events may force us to take action in Panama. If so, I should like to have Davis immediately available. I do not think Winthrop as good a man at present as either Rockhill or Davis, and I think he is too young; but he was the best man available as far as I knew. I am having hard work and endless trouble here, but I am doing my duty just as well as I know how, and as far245 as I can see there are but few things that I have done which I would change with my present knowledge. With love to Mrs. Taft, Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Wm. H. Taft, Governor of the Philippines, Manila, P.I.246 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 15, 1903. My dear Mr. Gilbert: Your letter pleases me such and I thank you for it. I shall be glad to see you after my return to Washington. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Dr. J. E. Gilbert, Washington Savings Bank Building, Twelfth & G Streets, N.W., Washington, D. C.247 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 15, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Knott: I thank you heartily and agree with you to the full. Of course I have exactly your view, that what we want is a republican victory. It does not amount to a hill of beans whether it is a Roosevelt victory or not, so long as it is a republican victory. Would it not be possible for you, without quoting me directly, to say editorially that you happen to know on the highest authority that this is my wish; that I am exceedingly interested in the success of Colonel Belknap, and that no one outside of Kentucky is so much concerned as I am in seeing victory won in Kentucky this year? If you think it will help, you may mention also that Mr. Belknap's close connection with General Buckner has given him an added interest in my eyes. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Richard W. Knott, Editor, Evening Post, Louisville, Ky.248 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 15, 1903. Dear Cotty: I enclose you the two letters. You say that at times you feel depressed. It is the penalty of doing hard and active work, old fellow. No man ever did good work yet save at the cost of experiment, and effort so intense that there was bound to be a certain quantity of error or mistake in the work done. If, in addition, his work is genuinely important, he must expect to be misrepresented by a large number of base men, and to be misunderstood by a much larger number of ignorant but well meaning men. All of this he must expect as part of the penalty of what he does, and part of this effort to work in effective fashion for the achievement of results worth achieving. If, at the end of twenty years of effort, he has as much to show as you now have for your twenty years of work, he may well count himself thrice fortunate. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Endicott Peabody, Groton School, Groton, Mass.249 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 15, 1903. My dear Sir: Honorable Oscar S. Straus has forwarded to me your memorial. It is, I trust, unnecessary for me to say how deeply and anxiously I have studied the situation of our shipping. I shall go over your letter with certain public men, who in the past have shown their great concern in American shipping. I earnestly hope that we may be able to devise some method that will benefit this industry. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Aaron Vanderbilt, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine, 203 Broadway, New York, N. Y.250 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 15, 1903. My dear Admiral: I have your letter of the 13th instant. It is good news indeed. I am especially struck at the radical difference between ships like the CHICAGO and PANTHER, which have not tried the new system, and the others which have tried it, as shown by the actual results of the target practices. You say that with the big guns we stand abreast of the English. Taking all the guns together, can you say how we do as compared with the Germans? Will you write me a paragraph for my message on the General Staff bill? I shall push for it all I know how. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rear Admiral H. C. Taylor, U.S.N., Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department.251 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 16, 1903. My dear Stewart: I saw Stevens when he was here. He told me that the inspector had reported its [fa?] of [?ing][against], Bailey and Howbert. I at once wrote to the Attorney General's office and they replied that the inspector had not reported against him [?] [?] [?] would [?] [?] and that the report was not quite ready. I have[shall] sent[d] on for it again. I have written to Bristow at once about Vickroy. I do not have to tell you that I must have something definite to go on when I remove public officials for causes such as you indicate. I shall let you know as soon as I hear from the Attorney General. With warm regards, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Philip B. Stewart, Colorado Springs, Colo.252 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 16, 1903. The Acting Secretary of State: Keep Nelson O'Shaughnessy in view for the secretaryship of the Embassy at London. Is it true that the Third Secretary in London intends to resign? T. Roosevelt253 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 16, 1903. The Acting Attorney General: Please send me at once the report on Baily and Howbert, and the other federal officials in Colorado. T Roosevelt254 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. My dear Senator: I have written on at once asking that your request be granted unless there is reason, of which I know nothing, to the contrary. I shall let you know as soon as I hear. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Geo. F. Hoar, Worcester, Mass. This refers to Dr. George L. Collins, 1st Lt. and Assistant Surgeon, U.S.A., who desires to resign from the army to accept a position in Marine Hospital service.255 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 18, 1903. My dear Mr. Mayor: I thank you heartily for your courteous letter, and regret that I did not have the pleasure but understand the reason that prevented. I enjoyed speaking to the people of Hagerstown. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Henry Holzapfel, Jr., Mayor, Hagerstown, Maryland.256 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 18, 1903. My dear Mr. Cortelyou: The enclosed clipping from the HERALD interests me. Is it true that these petitions are being circulated about Miller? They of course render it impossible that he should be put out, save on a state of facts which would absolutely preclude his being retained. I may want to make a statement in the way of an answer personally about this, I want them to understand absolutely that so long as the question of his expulsion from the trades union, or of non-union men working in the Government Printing Office, is the issue, it precludes my taking up Miller's case at all. I suppose now new men who come into that office are being admitted solely without regard to their being in the union or outside. This is so, is it not? Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor. (Enclosure)257 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 18, 1903. My dear Mr. Sleicher: I thank you cordially. I appreciate the editorial and the cartoon most heartily, and I want to say how I value the work you have done. I wish you would say, if it comes in your way, that I am taking no part whatever for or against any city as regards the holding of the national convention. Your argument seems to be very strong. If there is any way of my getting into touch with those country editors, I should like to. There work is not appreciated as it should be. I am afraid I could not see them unless they came to Washington. I shall be leaving for there on the 28th instant. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John A. Sleicher Editor LESLIE'S WEEKLY, 225 Fourth Avenue, New York.258 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. My dear Schuyler: I have your letter of the 5th. There was nothing whatever in that. A crazy man with a revolver came to call on me in a buggy; and, of course, was arrested. That was all there was to it. Hoping to see you when you return to this side, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Philip Schuyler, Millden Lodge, Edzell, Forfarshire, Scotland.259 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. Personal. My dear Senator: Mr. Loeb has shown me your letter to him, with en- closure from Mr. Warfield. Tell Mr. Warfield I am look- ing into that case, and that the first unfavorable impression I have had of him comes from his letter of the 15th in- stant to you. Up to this time his communications have been dignified and proper. This last contains what may be construed as threats, which I am in no mood to tol- erate. I am having the whole case looked into; and will make my decision absolutely without regard/to anything but the merits thereof. If Mr. Warfield is wise, he will let his case stand absolutely on its merits. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. L. E. McComas, United States Senate, Washington, D. C.260 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 18, 1903. Dear John: That was an excellent letter, and I return it herewith. Well, I hope things go right as regards [?] Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State. (Enclosure)261 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. My dear Father Doyle: I thank you very much. I shall read the address with great interest. I owe you a real debt for having given me the chance to see Bishop Harty. I liked him much. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. A. P. Doyle, Box 2, Station N, New York, N. Y.262 (Copy in the President's Book) Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. My dear Mrs. Flandreau: The news of the death of your husband came as a shock to me. Mrs. Roosevelt joins with me in sending our love and sympathy. I need not tell you how I admired Judge Flandreau, for you know it already; and I cherish the memories of the kindness he and you showed me on so many occasions. With profound regard and sympathy, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mrs. Rebecca B. Flandrau, St. Paul, Minn.263 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. My dear Mr. Hassell: I wish I could be present with you. But as that is impossible, let me send you my best wished, my hearty congratulations upon what you have done in the past, and my earnest hope for your success in the future. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. W. R. Hassell, President, 403 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.264 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. My dear Marshal: I am pleased with those clippings you sent me. If my letter on lynching had the slightest influence in producing such a series of opinions, I am greatly gratified. As for the slur at me in the good Bishop's address, in the first place I am not much hurt by a slur in which my name is coupled with that of Andrew Jackson, and in the next place I would be quite willing to have any man make fifty such slurs, if he will also make such a strong appeal for order and against lynching as the Bishop's address contained. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Walter H. Johnson, United States Marshal, Atlanta, Ga.265 Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 18, 1903. To the Civil Service Commission: My attention has been called to the statement purporting to come from Commissioner Green, stating that the fourth-class postmasters have been classified under my order of April 15, 1903. This of course is an entire misapprehension. They were not classified at that time. I have been thinking over the matter carefully and I remember that the Commissioners and I were then agreed that it was out of the question to classify them under present conditions; and it never entered my head that any one would consider them classified, nor could it have entered the head of any of the Commissioners, for not the slightest effort has been made to provide eligible lists for them, or treat them as if they were classified. I take it for granted that the members of the Commission - or certainly Mr. Procter and Mr. Garfield, who must be accessible - will have the same memory of the fact266 that I have, and if so I should like a brief statement to the effect that the Commission never considered the fourth-class postmasters as classified by the order in question, and does not now so regard them. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt I wish to state in the most emphatic way that when I signed the April 15th note of classification it never entered my head that I was classifying the 4th class post officer, and that no member of the Commission ever hinted that I was doing so.266 that I have, and if so I should like a brief statement to the effect that the Commission never considered the fourth-class postmasters as classified by the order in question, and does not now so regard them. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt I wish to state in the most emphatic way that when I signed the April 15th note of classification it never entered my head that I was classifying the 4th class post officer, and that no member of the Commission ever hinted that I was doing so.267 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. Personal. Dear Cabot: In Edith's recent mail appears the following pathetic appeal for assistance from a former butler of yours. I thought this would strike Nannie as strictly meritorious. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H. C. Lodge, Alaska Boundary Tribunal, London, England. Enclosure.this gentleman in 1886 & 1887 as Butler and Mrs. Lodge will remember me very well. I also remember Mr. Presidente Theodore Roosevelt when in 1887 was visiting Mr. & Mrs. Cabot Lodge at Nahant also remember to well the beautifull expression he saide at the tea table in the evening when I was cerving bird's on toaste, as he helped himself with a very small little bird he turned to Mr. Lodge saying that little bird appeared as if had died in conception! after the word was said there was a roar of a great laugh all over the table. I sall finish hoping of your kindness to forgeave my liberty. Your servant Augustus J. Mattos. (Copy) 44 Mozart Street, Jamaica Plain, Mass. September the 16th 03. Mrs. President Theodore Roosevelt Madam I have maide an examination for the United States civil service as an interpreter for the Portugueze immigration, therefore I am sure of other applicants competency to feel the place presentely vacant at Ellis Island State of New York, but they are people of good means, and I have a wife and two children depending on me for self support. So I appeal to you in the nime of our Lord to give me a little protection with a few lines to the President of the commission at Washington. I have been ill for some time past and not able to earn a living for sometime going under a date in which soon would get cleared if I could get the posation as Portugueze Interpreter. If the Honorable Henery Cabot Lodge was in the States I would appeal to him as I worked for 268269 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. My dear Sir: I most sincerely wish it were in my power to accept your kind invitation, tendered by you in person, for the Saengerfest to be held next summer at Milwaukee. Surely I need not tell my Milwaukee friends that with the memory of my more than pleasant visit of April 3rd last fresh in my mind, any invitation from Milwaukee is one that I should like to send a favorable answer to, and especially an invitiation of this kind. I had the good fortune to attend the Baltimore Saengerfest this June; and I esteem it a real deprivation to be unable to accept your invitation to attend the Northwestern Saengerfest next year. Nothing but my sheer inability to be present stands in the way. With all good wishes for the success of your meeting, which no one will follow with a livelier interest than I, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John W. Suetterle, President, 170-174 Clinton Street, Milwaukee, Wis.270 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 19, 1903. My dear Mr. O'Neal: Permit me to add my best wishes for the success of your Sunday School Bazaar, and believe me, Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. C. H. O'Neal, Secretary to Committee, 119 N. Howard Street, Baltimore, Md.271 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. My dear Mr. Ambassador: I thank you for your article. I shall read it with interest. I am rather amused at finding myself playing Turan to the Iran of Tolstoi. With warm regards, I am, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt General Horace Porter, U. S. Ambassador, 33 Rue de Villejust, Paris, France.272 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 18, 1903. My dear Mr. Von Briesen: The enclosed letter explains itself. I don't wonder Mr. Williams feels irritated. It was a great pleasure to see you at Ellis Island the other day. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Arthur von Briesen, 49 Wall Street, New York. (Enclosure)273 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903 Personal _________ My dear Seth: I have been at my wit's end what to do in reference to the municipal election. Willis Ogden called out here and seemed to think that the democrats were being driven from you by the statements that I was endeavoring to work in your interest; and when Jerome repeated the statement in another form and publicly, I thought I would issue an authoritative denial once for all. It has been difficult to use exactly the right language. I hope I succeeded. Privately, of course during the last few weeks I have not hesitated to tell people who have asked me that in my judgment you had to stand, and that I did not see how any- one could advocate any other course. But I have striven hard to take no position in public which would in any way embarrass you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Seth Low, Mayor, New York, N.Y. PERSONAL. Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 18, 1903. Dear Mr. Cooley: In view of your letter and Comissioner Green's statement, I have sent a letter to the Commission which refers not to you but to Procter and Garfield. Frankly, I think it simply nonsense to claim that the fourth-class postmaster were classified by that order. Not a suggestion was made to me at the time that they were so classified, and not an attempt has been made to provide eligible registers for them or to suggest any system of examination for them, and the appointment and removal of them has gone on absolutely unchecked. Doubtless you know this of your own congressional district. Either the Commission will tell me that they do not regard those offices as classified, and that it was never their intention for one moment to classify them, or I shall take them out of the classified service at once by an order, in which I hall recite the fact that at the time, and for four months afterwards, no one sug- gested that they were classified. I am positive that both Mr. Procter and Mr. Garfield will state that these offices were not classified; because they could not have been classi- fied except by subterfuge. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. A. W. Cooley, Civil Service Commission276 [*234*] Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. Personal. _________ My dear Bonaparte: I thank you for your letter. As for Senator Cameron, all I have to say is, first, that I am exceedingly sorry and greatly surprised if the Senator has been guilty, and second, that I of course - and indeed I do not suppose it is really necessary for me to say this - leave the matter entirely in the hands of you and Mr. Conrad and the Department of Justice, and desire nothing whatever in his case, or in that of anyone else, save that exact justice be done, no matter who is hurt or who helped. As for the fourth class post office business I feel somewhat indignant. I cannot believe that Foulke, Procter and Garfield will take the view that they had any idea of classifying the fourth class post offices by the order they submitted to me and which I signed on April 15th.277 It would hardly be too strong for me to say that if such was the case, I have been led into classifying them by a subterfuge; for they and I have often talked notably [with] Mr. Foulke [?] about putting the offices under the Civil Service law, and we had agreed that it was impossible at present, and indeed undesirable until public opinion was more advanced. We did not discuss classifying them at the time I signed the rule; and during the five months that have [?] elapsed there has not been a suggestion from the Civil Service Commission or any of its members as to classifying them. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles J. Bonaparte, 216 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Md.278 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 18, 1903. Personal. _________ To the Acting Attorney General: I am informed that Judge Holt of Puerto Rico has given much dissatisfaction and that his term has about expired. Mr. Henly Luce and also governor Hunt have given me in- formation to this effect. T. Roosevelt279 PERSONAL. Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 18, 1903. To the Acting Secretary of War. In view of the enclosed it seems to me that I should like to pardon Ehrhart. Lieutenant Moore and Ehrhart's other superior officers take the view that he was an exceedingly good man, very quiet and well-behaved. I should like a re- port upon his case. T. Roosevelt280 PERSONAL. Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 18, 1903. My dear Lieutenant McCoy, I thank you for the Cavalry Journal, which I shall read with interest, and I thank you for your letter, which I have already read and which made me long to be with you. I shall miss you and the General next winter very much; but, great Heavens: I find more and more that I am unable to get any real exercise, and another year and a half in the White House will make me as heavy and unable to take exercise as Washing- ton Irving's Dutchman - not, as you have observed, the keen, Dutchmen who have done so much in Java, and who have shown themselves so formidable in South Africa. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Lieutenant Frank Ross McCoy, U.S.A., Care Major General Leonard Wood, Manila, P.I.281 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 21, 1903. My dear Mr. Bishop: I send herewith copies of the letters discussed [?] over the conversation at dinner on the Sylph. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Wm Loeb, Jr. Secretary to the President. Hon. J. B. Bishop, Editor Commercial Advertiser, New York. (enclosures) Dear Mr. Payne: Please say nothing to any one about that Delaware post office matter until you have seen me. As I have said, take no action as regards any of the Delaware appointments without consultation with me. I understand entirely how you came to act, and I also understand entirely your interviews in the press; but your position is not understood, and in addition to malicious people, many entirely well- meaning people have been deeply shocked and regard the affair as a proof of hypocrisy in me. It is a great misfortune that removal was made. It may not be possible now to undo it. In any event I shall come to no conclusion until I see you in Washington. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt. 282 COPY 243 Oyster Bay, N. Y., PERSONAL September 16, 1903. My dear Mr. Payne: About the Delaware situation, your letters show me far more clearly than I had understood the difficulty the Department labored under. I appreciate the strain when a faction which polls less than five per cent. of the total vote has all the offices. On the other hand, the country at large, with undoubtedly a certain amount of reason, has concluded that Addicks is a flagrant exemplar of all that is worst in the way of securing elections by bribery and improper means. I shall do nothing about this case, of course, until I see you. Meanwhile do not take any action in any other Delaware post office without consultation with me. If the existing postmasters keep absolutely clear of politics, I think the best course is to let them go on and serve out their terms. Sincerely yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Hon. H. C. Payne, Postmaster General.283 (Copy) Princeton, June 25, 1903. My dear Mr. President: Just as I am starting for Gray Gables, I am told by my old friend Senator Charles F. McClelland of Westchester Co. N.Y., that he will make an application to be appointed on the Board of General Appraisers. Mr. McClelland is now a member of the Senate of New York. I have known him a great many years; and I shall depart from a rule I have laid down, sufficiently to say to you that I cannot believe that any mistake would be made if Mr. McClelland were appointed. He is a Scotchman, and the stubbornness of his race runs towards honesty. He is a first rate lawyer and his practice has been quite a little in customs cases; and so far as he is a politician he has not been accustomed to follow party leadership, unless his notions of right led in the same direction. I should be very much surprised if I were to find I have made a wrong diagnosis in this case - though I ought to add that I have known less of Mr. McClelland during the last few years, than before. Your obedient servant (Signed) Grover Cleveland. To The President.PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 19, 1903. My dear Mr. Cannon: The American Protective Tariff League has been engaged in sending out a circular attacking the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty - a treaty started by President McKinley, negotiated by President McKinley's appointee, Secretary Root, under me, and approved by every Republican senator save one; a treaty to secure action on which a special session of Congress will be called on November 9th of this year. It would be difficult to imagine any action more in- geniously calculated to do damage to the Republican party, and therefore to the protective tariff, than the action which the American Protective Tariff League is thus taking. Whether as well as the party. [285] If you are familiar with the circumstances and have authorized the use of your name, I have of course nothing to say; if not, I think I ought to call your attention to the matter. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt This is not in the least like any other reciprocity treaty; it is demanded my military reasons, by reasons of far reaching [democratic?] policy. Mr. LeGrand B. Cannon, 19 West 47th Street, New York, N.Y.[285] If you are familiar with the circumstances and have authorized the use of your name, I have of course nothing to say; if not, I think I ought to call your attention to the matter. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt This is not in the least like any other reciprocity treaty; it is demanded my military reasons, by reasons of far reaching [democratic?] policy. Mr. LeGrand B. Cannon, 19 West 47th Street, New York, N.Y. PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. , September 19, 1903. My dear Senator Warren: You are down as one of the Board of Managers of the American Protective Tariff League. This organization is doing what it can to damage our party by circulating attacks upon the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty, for which you voted last year. It seems to me that such circulars should not be sent out with your name upon them. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Francis E. Warren, U. S. S. Cheyenne, Wyoming. PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 19, 1903. My dear Mr. Witherbee: The American Protective Tariff League has been engaged in sending out a circular attacking the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty - a treaty started by President McKinley, negotiated by President McKinley's appointee, Secretary Root, under me, and approved by every Republican senator save one; a treaty to secure action on which a special session of Congress will be called on November 9th of this year. It would be difficult to imagine any action more in- geniously calculated to do damage to the Republican party, and therefore to the protective tariff, than the action which the American Protective Tariff League is thus taking. Wheth- or they succeed or fail they will damage the cause of protec- tion as well as the party. If you are familiar with the circumstances and have auth- orized the use of your name, I have of course nothing to say; if not, I think I ought to call your attention to the matter. With regard, Sincerely yours,, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Frank S. Witherbee, 71 Broadway, New York.289 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 19, 1903. My dear General: The American Protective Tariff League has been engaged in sending out a circular attacking the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty - a treaty started by President McKinley, negotiated on the lines laid down by President McKinley, by President McKinley's appointee, Secretary Root, under me, and approved by every Republican senator save one; a treaty to secure action on which a special session of Congress will be called on November 9th of this year. It would be difficult to imagine any action more ingeniously calculated to do damage to the Republican party, and therefore to the protective tariff, than the action which the American Protective Tariff League is thus taking. Whether they succeed or fail they will damage the cause of protection as well as the party. If you are familiar with the circumstances and have auth- orized the use of your name, I have of course nothing to say;[290] if not, I think I ought to call your attention to the matter. With regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt This is not like an ordinary reciprocity treaty; it stands by itself; it is demanded by our military needs in Cuba, and [xx xxx xxxxxx] without it the Platt amendment, pushed by President McKinley himself, will assume a most unpleasant aspect. General W. F. Draper, Oakdale, Massachusetts.[*290*] if not, I think I ought to call your attention to the matter. With regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt This is not like an ordinary reciprocity treaty; it stands by itself; it is demanded by our military needs in Cuba, and [???] without it the Platt amendment, pushed by President McKinley himself, will assume a most unpleasant aspect. General W. F. Draper, Oakdale, Massachusetts.Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 19, 1903. My dear Mr. Secretary: I enclose herewith a letter from the President in reply to the communication from Professor Izoulet, which was transmitted with your letter of the 15th instant. Will you be good enough to have the President's reply transmitted to Professor Izoulet through the American Embassy? Very truly yours, Wm Loeb, Jr. Secretary to the President. Hon. Alvey A. Adee, Acting Secretary of State. Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 19, 1903. My dear M. Izoulet: It will give me great pleasure to have the books translated as you request, but there is no fourth volume coming out this October. There may be a collection of my speeches made next spring. Perhaps that is what you refer to. Have you ever happened to run across my "Winning of the West"? I am afraid it would be too local to be of interest to any but Americans, but perhaps the first volume might stand on a little different footing. Permit me to thank you most warmly for "The Modern City." Curiously enough, I have been about to send for it myself. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Will you kindly, in addition write the publishers of "Oliver Cromwell" and "American Ideals", to make the necessary arrangements. Tell them I desire these arrangements made. M. Izoulet, Professor of Social Philosophy, College of France, 2 Boulevard St. Germain, Paris.291 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 19, 1903. My dear Mr. Secretary: I enclose herewith a letter from the President in reply to the communication from Professor Izoulet, which was transmitted with your letter of the15th instant. Will you be good enough to have the President's reply transmitted to Professor Izoulet through the American Embassy? Very truly yours, Wm Loeb, Jr. Secretary to the President Hon. Alvey A. Adee, Acting Secretary of State. Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 19, 1903. My dear M. Izoulet, It will give me great pleasure to have the books translated as you request, but there is no fourth volume coming out this October. There may be a collection of my speeches made next spring. Perhaps that is what you refer to. Have you ever happened to run across my "Winning of the West"? I am afraid it would be too local to be of interest to any but Americans, but perhaps the first volume might stand on a little different footing. Permit me to thank you most warmly for "The Modern City." Curiously enough, I have been about to send for it myself. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Will you kindly, in addition write the publishers of "Oliver Cromwell" and "American Ideals", to make the necessary arrangements. Tell them I desire these arrangements made. M. Izoulet, Professor of Social Philosophy, College of France, 2 Boulevard St. Germain, Paris.292 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 19, 1903. My dear Mr. Philbin: That was an admirable editorial and I thank you for having had it put just as it should be. Surely I need not tell you I enjoyed seeing you, and how you helped me by your presence - as you always do. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Eugene A. Philbin, 32 William Street, New York. 293 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 19, 1903. My dear Sir: I heartily believe in Captain Peary, and I feel that I should do all in my power to assist him in his work of polar exploration. I am unable to accept to the honorary presidency of any organization; but honorary membership in your Society would be a compliment that I should greatly appreciate. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. W. J. McGee, Acting President, National Geographic Society St. Louis, Missouri.[*294*] PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 19, 1903. My dear Senator: I have your letter of the 16th instant. Surely you have forgotten what I explained again and again, and stated publicly in the press last year, that the special session was called in pursuance of a statement on my part that I would do so, without which statement it would probably have been impossible to secure the ratification of the Reciprocity Treaty by Cuba. I am committed to it. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. J. H. Millard U. S. S., Omaha, Nebraska.295 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 19, 1903. My dear Governor: The American Protective Tariff League has been engaged in sending out a circular attacking the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty - a treaty started by President McKinley, negotiated by President McKinley's appointee, Secretary Root, under me, in accordance with President McKinley's policy, and approved by every Republican senator save one; a treaty to secure action on which a special session of Congress will be called on November 9th of this year. It would be difficult to imagine any action more ingeniously calculated to do damage to the Republican party, and therefore to the protective tariff, than the action which the American Protective Tariff League is thus taking. Whether, they succeed or fail they will damage the cause of protection as well as the party.[*296*] If you are familiar with the circumstances and have authorized the use of your name, I have of course nothing to say; if not, I think I ought to call your attention to the matter. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Franklin Murphy, Governor of New Jersey.[*297*] Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 5, 1903. My dear President Finley: It is a matter of very real regret to me that I am unable to be present with you on the occasion of your inauguration. The day marks a new epoch in the history of the College of New York; and it is therefore of special and great interest to all who are interested - as every good American should be interested - in the cause of popular education. You are now called to preside over an educational institution which is the crown of the public school system of the greatest state in our union; an institution whose existence shows how definite has been the decision of our people that the state shall aid not only in elementary, but also in higher education. Nothing is more distinctive of our American republic than the peculiar fostering care which through their representatives the people have assumed over the education of all the citizens in primary matters and of all those who care to go beyond primary matters in those additional branches necessary as prerequisites for the attainment of leadership in the great professions. In all this our people have surely been very wise. Education as given in the schools and colleges cannot of itself fit us for good citizenship. But the lack of it would assuredly render us unfit. You, and those associated with you, and those who in the innumerable other institutions of learning throughout the -2- country are doing work similar in kind if not in degree to yours, all alike make the whole body politic your debtors. Next to the home it is the school, the college, the university, which do most to determine the efficiency of the individual as a citizen in this great, self-governing republic of ours; and therefore those who, for their life work, devote themselves to training aright the people who are to shape our citizenship of the future put the nation in a special sense under obligation to them. I congratulate you, because it is given to you in high position and in a college well-nigh unique among our American educational institutions to do your part in this great work; and I speak in no vein of empty compliment when I say that I am absolutely certain how well and faithfully this part will be played by you. With all good wishes, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt President John H. Finley, President, College of the City of New York. PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N. Y., September 21, 1903. My dear Mr. Davis: I thank you for your editorial, which was in such marked contrast with the very unfair editorial of the New York SUN. I hope I need not tell you that nothing would make me flinch in this Miller case. I have been nervous upon just one feature. I have been dreadfully afraid that some charges would be proved against Miller, so serious that it might be well-nigh impossible to keep him in, for if I removed him, no matter on what charges, the action will certainly be misinterpreted; and indeed I don't see how I could do it unless the evidence was so serious and so overwhelming that I had literally no choice - and not even then unless I was able by some action to indicate in the clearest way that I stood squarely on the doctrines I had announced in the Miller case. There are some matters which I regard as of such overwhelming import- ance as to dwarf all personal considerations. In this particular mat- ter I would be as incapable of considering my own personal future as if I were facing foreign or civil war, or any other tremendous crisis. It is a sheer waste of time for these people, through such resolutions as those of the unions you quote, to threaten me with defeat for the Presidency next year. Nothing would hire me even to accept the Pres- idency if I had to take it on terms which would mean a forfeiting of self-respect. Just as I should refuse to accept it at the cost of 2 abandoning the Northern Securities suit, or of repealing the trust regula- tory legislation of last year, or of undoing what I did in the anthracite coal strike, so I should refuse to take it at the cost of undoing what I did in this matter of Miller and the labor unions. The labor unions and the trust magnates may perhaps unite against me. If so, I shall do my level best to make the fight an open one and beat them - and I think I run a good chance of winning; but, if I fail I shall not regret the policy I have pursued. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. L. Clarke Davis, THE PUBLIC LEDGER, Washington, D.C. 301 Personal Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 21, 1903. Dear John: The enclosed letter and clipping from Foster show that deliberate effort is being made to bring political pressure to bear so as to prevent an impartial decision in the Alaskan Boundary matter. I wonder if the jacks realize that while it may be unpleasant to us, it will be far more unpleasant to them, if they force the alternative upon us; if we simply announce that the country is ours and will remain so, and that so far as it has not been reduced to possession it will be reduced to possession, and that no further negotiations in the matter will be entertained. Faithfully yours, T. R. Hon. John Hay, Newbury, N.H. (Enclosure)302 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 21, 1903. Dear John: I congratulate you upon the way your gallant boy handled himself and the Lawrence. I congratulate you upon the outcome. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John R. Proctor, The Reef, Newport, R. I.303 PERSONAL. Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 21, 1903. My dear Stewart: Your letter interested me much. It is so difficult to understand from afar what is going on. For instance, I see that THE OUTLOOK heartily approves of the action of the machine Republicans in joining with the Democrats in the city election last year, and that seems to be the general opinion of the people in the East, who of course do not understand the partisan significance of the case. The Attorney General has made a report on Taylor's report, in which he advises against Bailey's removal. I have, however, forwarded it, with comments of my own, for a further report from him. Did I understand you to say that Howbert's case had never been investigated, or an investigation asked for? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Philip B. Stewart, El Paso Club, Colorado Springs, Colorado.304 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 21, 190 3. My dear Mr. Hassell: I greet the Brooklyn Christian Endeavor Union in Fifteenth Annual Convention assembled. The true Christian is the true citizen, lofty of purpose, resolute in endeavor, ready for a hero's deeds, but never looking down on his task because it is cast in the day of small things; scornful of baseness, awake to his own duties as well as to his rights, following the higher law with reverence, and in this world doing all that in him lies, so that when death comes he may feel that mankind is in some degree better because he has lived. With best wishes for the success of your gathering, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. William R. Hassell, President Brooklyn Christian Endeavor Union, 403 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 305 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 22, 1903. My dear Mr Gill: I thank you very much for the Cucullain Saga. I had ordered it myself, and have now canceled the order and have ordered Douglas Hyde's "A Literary History of Ireland." Unfortunately, next Sunday is the day before I go to Washington. Is there no chance of your passing through Washington a little latter? I should so much like to see you again. With renewed thanks, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. T. C. Gill, 51 West Forty-eighth Street, New York, N.Y.306 Private. Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 22, 1903. Dear William: I sent those green goods circulars to the Chief Post Office Inspector at once. It was a great pleasure to hear from you; Although I have only time to send you a line in reply. Sometimes I feel a little melancholy because it is so hard to persuade people to accept equal justice. The very rich corporation people are sore and angry because I refuse to allow a case like that of the Northern Securities Company to go unchallenged by the law; and in the same way the turbulent and extreme labor union people are sore and angry because I insist that every man, whether he belong to a labor union or not, shall be given a square deal in Government employment. Now I believe in rich people who act squarely, and in labor unions which are managed with wisdom and justice; but when either employee or employer, laboring man or capitalist, goes wrong, I have to cinch him, and that is all there is to it. [307] Give my warm regards to all your people, and believe me. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. W. W. Sewall, Island Falls, Maine. 308 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 12, 1903 Dear Will: Just after the receipt of your second telegram in the Winthrop mat- ter, Winthrop himself called on me and showed me your telegram to him. If I had supposed you would send him my telegram to you I should have been a little more careful in its phraseology. Winthrop acted extremely well and said he should, as a matter of course, relieve me from my promise at once. By his action he increases my already high opinion of him. After some thought, I told him that as there was no immediate decision needed I should wait until he reached the Philippines, and then would get both of you to cable me and I would decide definitely at that time. I naturally desire to be guided by your judg- ment in the matter. Although I do not know General Davis personally, I have the highest regard for him. On the other hand, as I said my already high opinion of Winthrop has been heightened by his action. It will of course be a disappointment to him if through no fault of his he is obliged to relinquish for the time being his ambition to be Commissioner. Still he will of course be the next man in line for a commissionership, and if I am in office when another vacancy occurs - or at least when a vacancy among the Protestant members of the Commission occurs - he will certainly be appointed. Under these circumstances it may be that in view of the309 2 strong feeling your Commission generally has about General Davis, Winthrop should wait. I have sent him a copy of this letter, and shall expect to hear from you and him as soon as you have conferred together. Always yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. William H. Taft, Governor of the Philippines, Manila, P.I. 310 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 22, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Cortelyou: The enclosed letter from General Clarkson deals with a very important matter. Will you take a little hold of it? Would it do to consult with Sargent in the matter? The National Committee seems to be letting things drift at present; and of course the State Committee of New York is at the moment bitter against me because I have necessarily had to have poor Green indicted. I think this should be looked into very carefully. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Geo. B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor, Washington, D. C. Enclosure.311 Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 22, 1903. Dear Opt John: I have your letter of the 20th instant. I wish I could accept for Kingston, but it just is not possible. I have literally hundreds of invitations, scores of which I should like to accept but am unable to. Now I am going back to Washington. My duties will be very absorbing until after Congress adjourns next summer, and then the campaign will be on and I can not speak. So I am afraid it is simply out of the question. I am to see Lyman Abbott tomorrow and I am going to speak to him very plainly about Long. Really, after reading Long's article on "animal surgery" I feel as if he were demented. I never read such nonsense in my life. I earnestly hope that Gilder will print those articles fairly soon. I am very anxious to see them. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John Burroughs, West Park, N.Y.312 (Copy in the President's book) Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 24, 1903. My dear Captain: I wish I could be present at your wedding, but it is simply out of the question. Mrs. Roosevelt and I have taken the liveliest interest in it. Will you present our warm regards to the bride elect? With best wishes for the future happiness of her and you, believe me, Sincerely yours, Captain Jas. M. Andrews, Schenectady, N. Y. 313 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 23, 1903. Darling Corinne: I am sorry Stewart's letter from Sagamore did not reach you. Both Edith and I were very much pleased with him. He was as good as gold and was an interesting companion, while to Ted he was, as always, the most fascinating of friends. I think he has improved much, having sobered and steadied down, and I was much interested in his clear purpose to be a doctor. I wish any of my boys had developed a genuine taste for a pursuit in after life. Stewart, Ted and I took an hour and a half ride bare back together. Ted is always longing that he could go off on a hunting trip with him. I should be delighted to have them go off now, and though I have no doubt that they would get into scrapes, I have also no doubt that they would get out of them. We have had a lovely summer - as lovely a summer as we have ever passed, Alice has been at home very little - spending most of her time in Newport and elsewhere, associating with the Four Hundred - individuals with whom the other members of her family have exceedingly few affiliations. But all the rest of the children - ours, Laura's, and Christine's and Emlen's - have been here, and we have had the happiest, healthiest, most old-fashioned kind of a summer together. Ethel finds Loraine a soul-satisfying companion. They ride a great deal, and are very fond of books and of sewing. Moreover,314 2 Ethel has entirely of her own accord undertaken the summer education of Archie in music, and of Quentin in everything. She is a little trump. Quentin has little Edward Mackaye as a friend, in addition to the Secret Service men, with whom he is on terms of affable familiarity. Archie goes with Nick; Kermit by preference with Philip, and under duress with Oliver; and Ted with George and Jack; and Christine associates with all of them, as well as with Edith and me, and is a dear girl. The two Russell boys and Ensign Hamner have been with the children all the time, playing tennis, going out in the row-boat for a night or two, shooting in the marsh, etc., etc. Edith and I have been a great deal with the children, and in addition to that we have ridden horseback much together, and have frequently gone off for a day at a time in a row-boat, not to speak of the picnics upon which everybody went. In the intervals I have chopped industriously. I have seen a great many people who came to call upon me upon political business. I have had to handle my correspondence, of course, and I have had not a few worrying matters of national policy, ranging from the difficulties in Turkey to the scandals in the Post Office. But I have had three months of rest and holiday by comparison with what has gone before. Next Monday I go back to Washington, and for the thirteen months following there will be mighty little let-up to the strain. But I enjoy it to the full. What the outcome will be, as far as I am personally concerned, I do not know. It looks as if I would be renominated. Whether I shall be reelected, I have not the slightest idea. I know there is bitter opposition to me from many different sources. Whether I shall have enough support to overcome this opposition, I can not tell. I suppose few Presidents can form the slightest315 3 idea whether their policies have met with approval or not - certainly I can not. But as far as I can see these policies have been right, and I hope that time will justify them. If it does not, why, I must abide the fall of the dice, and that is all there is about it. Give my love to Douglas, and to Monroe and Corinne if they are still with you. Ever yours, T. R. Mrs. Douglas Robinson, Jr., 422 Madison Avenue, New York.316 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 23, 1903. Dear Ted: Seth Bullock has written me a very nice letter about you and George. Evidently he was very much pleased with you both. He said of you that you were "hard as nails", and that there was "good leather" in you, and that he believed you might make a good citizen in time if you were allowed to complete your education out west! Yesterday, after you and Kermit had left, I consoled darling mother by taking her a ride over to Jayne's Hill - she on Yagenka, and I on Renown. Renown consoled me, effectively, by doing everything short of throwing a fit, whenever he saw, or thought he saw, something resembling a road mending engine or an automobile. As he is a large and vigorous animal, when his nerves are shaken, his rider is perfectly aware of the fact. In the afternoon mother and I went for a swim, and then I chopped with much vigor until George and Jack turned up to say good bye. They are very good fellows, and I think you are very fortunate in having them and Stewart among your cousins. This morning good Loraine came up and played tennis with me. We played four sets, each winning two. Archie, by the way, went down yesterday to say good bye to Oliver, and they celebrated their last317 -2- cordial fifteen minutes together by a ferocious scrap -- Archie receiving large moral, though no physical, assistance from Philip and Nick. I am rather glad to say that Archie fairly stood Oliver off, after a somewhat sanguinary encounter, in which, as I heard him afterwards explain, he believed he would have earned a decisive victory if not hampered by riding boots. This morning, early, Archie on Algonquin went down to escort George and Jack to the train. Your loving father, T. R P.S. I have just beaten Lorrraine two straight sets at tennis. Ha! Ha! Arenot you glad you did not play your venerable father that final match! Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Groton School, Groton, Mass.318 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 23, 1903. Blessed Kermit: The house seems very empty without you and Ted; although I cannot conscientiously say that it is quiet - Archie and Quentin attend to that. Archie, barefooted, bareheaded, and with his usual faded, blue overalls much torn and patched, has just returned from a morning with his beloved Nick. Quentin has passed the morning in sports and pastimes with the long-suffering secret service men. Allan has been associating closely with mother and me. Yesterday, Ethel went off riding with Loraine. She rode Wyoming, who is really turning out a very good family horse. This evening, I expect Grant La Farge and Owen Wister, who are coming to spend the night. Mother is as busy as possible putting up the house; and Ethel and I insist that she now eyes us both with a purely professional gaze, and secretly wishes that she could wrap us up in a neatly pinned sheet with camphor balls inside. Good bye, blessed fellow! Your loving father, T. R. Master Kermit Roosevelt, Groton School, Groton, Mass.319 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 23, 1903. Dear Leonard: I had a very satisfactory talk with Senator Proctor, and also with Mr. Benedict, through whom I tried to get into touch with Mr. Cleveland so as to enlist his support for you. As I wrote you, I can not believe that there will be any difficulty. Senator Gorman has announced that he will oppose you. This, however, is due purely to what Miles has told him, as I happen to know from the inside; and as Miles statements were inaccurate, when Gorman finds this out he may abandon his intention of making a fight. There has been a great effort to show that I was acting through personal favoritism - was jumping you over the heads of several war veterans, etc., etc. It is curious how blind people are to the facts. I found out that most of our friends were actually ignorant of the fact that I was simply putting you up in your turn. I explained to them that I was able of my own knowledge to testify as to your efficiency as colonel, and to the fact that you stood head and shoulders above any of the colonels or acting colonels of the regular regiments with whom I came in contact down at Santiago; that I could testify that you won your brigade on your merit purely and solely; while Root could testify that you won the Governor Generalship of Cuba in the same way, and through your conduct as Governor General320 2 General won your brigadier generalship in the same way. At this point I again come in, and can testify of my own knowledge that your handling of the Governor Generalship, and your conduct since you left the Governor Generalship, have been such as to make it a gross and flagrant injustice to think of passing you by and promoting some one else over your head. A number of our friends, however, including Root, feel very strongly that it would be inadvisable for Alice to go to the Philippines with Mrs. Wood at present, as it would at once revive and seem to give point to the cry that I was acting, not on your merits, but because of our personal relations. It will be a bitter disappointment to Alice not to go, but I am at present inclined to think it would be unwise. Always yours, Theodore Roosevelt Brigadier General Leonard Wood, U.S.Army, Manila, P.I.321 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 23, 1903. My dear Governor: I thank you very much. I understand your position entirely. I am sure I need not say how I enjoyed being with you. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Franklin Murphy, Governor of New Jersey, Trenton, N. J. 322 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 23, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Cortelyou: I enclose you two letters. The first is from the Central Labor Union of Washington. This letter in its first paragraph makes it as clear as a bell that the objection is not to Miller's bad moral character, but to the fact that he is not a union man. My present judgment is that it is of no use even to consider the charges against Miller, so long as the unions persist in making the real ground of his offense the fact that he is not a union man. I have not answered these letters personally, because I want to see you and see whether more is necessary than to say that my decision has already been rendered and is irrevocable, and that the present petitions show by their contents that the real animus against Miller is not that he has done anything improper, but that he is not a union man. In other words, that the effort really is to get me to change323 a decision which I regard as being as fundamentally right and necessary as Abraham Lincoln's emancipation proclamation - of course, it does not approach it in importance, to be clear from the moral standpoint. Under such circumstances, I should simply decline even to consider the matter. It may be that all that is necessary for me to say is that the case has been decided definitely, and that the principal issue is, in my mind, so clear that I shall not consider reopening it. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Geo. B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor, Washington, D. C. 324 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 24, 1903. My dear Mr. Dickinson: I am very much obliged to you for sending me that editorial. If you see the FREE PRESS people will you tell them that it is the kind of an editorial which gives me heart for the work? I would do the work anyhow, whether I received backing or not; but of course it is pleasant to be backed up. With warm regards, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Don M. Dickinson, Union Trust Building, Detroit, Michigan.325 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y. September 24, 1903. My dear Senator: I shall take that up with Secretary Hay again, but I do not think he can alter his past course. He tells me he explained to you carefully why he thought great harm would come if he did as you desire. I am awfully sorry. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt. Hon. Frank Hiscock, Syracuse, N.Y. 326 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 25, 1903. My dear Mr. Kohlsaat: I am much obliged to you for the editorials. Politically, I am afraid that the Miller matter will hurt; because all the people who are opposed to me politically and say I am right in this business, will, after saying I am right, continue to be opposed to me; whereas I suppose there are a number of people in the labor unions who on this issue alone will go against me. But whether this be the result or not, does not in the least alter the fact that I was absolutely right to act as I did and nothing I have done has given me more hearty satisfaction. With regard, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. H. H. Kohlsaat, RECORD-HERALD, Chicago.327 PERSONAL Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 25, 1903. My dear Mr. Davis: I thank you for the editorial. I feel just as you do about the Miller matter. All that has made me nervous at all is lest some showing should be made against Miller so very bad as to make it hard to keep him in; because I entirely agree with you that his removal would be certain to be misinterpreted. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. L. Clarke Davis, THE PUBLIC LEDGER, Philadelphia.328 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 25, 1903. My dear Judge Gray: I was very glad to receive your letter of the 21st If a vacancy occurs I shall carefully consider Mr. McMahon. I had thought of giving it to a Texan, a gold democrat. I have a very high opinion of McMahon, and it may be that he is the man I can give it to. I shall do it if I can, because you recommend him. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. George Gray, United States Circuit Court of Appeals, Wilmington, Delaware. 329 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 25, 1903. My dear Florence: Since I received your letter, Grant has shown me one he had which he has also doubtless shown you. In view of both communications, I think I had better keep an open mind until I have had a chance to see how things are shaping themselves in Washington. I shall then let you know just what I do, and why. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mrs. C. Grant La Farge, Saunderstown, Rhode Island.330 PERSONAL. Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 25, 1903. My dear Mr. Mellen: I have just been told of your election to the Presidency of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railway. Selfishly, I am glad. It is a great thing for me to have you back in the East. I have leaned on you much in many ways, and I fear that (for your sins) I shall continue to do so. But apart from any personal interest, I am sincerely glad to see this happen. I believe in you, and I know how well you will do in the new place of high trust to which you have been called. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles S. Mellen, President, 49 Wall Street, New York.331 Sent in handwriting Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 25, 1903. My dear Mr. Mead: The death of the Senator came as a great shock to me. I have appreciated to the full his steady friendship and support during the time I have been President. I have written to Mrs. Gibbs; but I wish to send you this line personally, also. Sincerely yours, Hon. Clarence W. Mead, 421 West 22nd Street, New York, N.Y. 332 Sent in handwriting Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 25, 1903. My dear Mrs. Gibbs: You must permit me to send you a line of respectful sympathy for you in your great sorrow. You know how I valued your husband, and how I enjoyed the occasions when I lunched at your house and was shown by him his noteworthy collection of pictures. Pray believe me when I say how deeply I regret his loss and how much I sympathize with you. With great regard, Sincerely yours, TR Mrs. Frederick W. Gibbs, 421 West 22nd Street, New York, N. Y. 333 Oyster Bay, N.Y., September 27, 1903. My dear Grinnell: I send you the piece and the photographs. I shall ask you to put in all of those that I send, including the big grizzly, because I allude to these photographs in the piece, and specifically allude to the fact that both grizzlies and black bears are shown in the photographs. It was very pleasant seeing you Friday. Do let me urge you to be exceedingly cautious in giving the weight of your name to the theory that mountain sheep are animals of the plains. Their very name shows the corollary. They wander upon the plains at times, but whenever alarmed they seek refuge in their natural fastnesses, the mountains and high jagged hills. Along the big plains rivers, such as around my ranch on the Little Missouri, they are found in the Bad Lands and places just as broken and sheer as among the mountains. I have seen antelope among the mountains, and I have seen sheep on the plains; but to dwell upon the exceptional[334] tional in either case is to misrepresent the animal's real character; for the antelope is essentially a beast of the plains, and the sheep essentially a beast of the mountains and high hills. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. George Bird Grinnell, Editor FOREST AND STREAM, New York. (Enclosures)335 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 26, 1903. Personal. My dear Senator: I thank you. Will you convey to Mr. Rooker my appreciation of what he has done? I shall tell Gompers and the others frankly, if they speak to me, that I cannot and will not take up the case against Miller as long as it appears that the allegation of immorality is advanced, not in good faith, but as a means to get rid of him because he is a non-union man. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Albert J. Beveridge, Indianapolis, Ind.336 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 26, 1903. Personal. My dear White: Many thanks for your very interesting letter. I was particularly delighted with what you say about the Alaska business. I most earnestly hope that your forecast is true. The Canadians have had some very ugly articles published, which I was afraid might influence English opinion. This would be unfortunate. It would be a bad thing for us if there was a deadlock in the present Commission; but it would be a very much worse thing for the Canadians and English, because it would leave me no alternative but to declare as courteously, but as strongly, as possible that the effort to reach an agreement having failed, I should be obliged to treat the territory as ours, as being for the most part in our possession, and the remainder to be reduced to possession as soon as in our judgment it was advisable - and to declare furthermore that no additional negotiations of any kind would be entered into.337 I look forward to seeing Hamilton, Ribblesdale and Poynder, and especially to seeing you at Christmas. I hope Jack enjoys Harvard. Give my warm regards to Mrs. White. I was greatly interested in Balfour's masterly pamphlet; it is a noteworthy article. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Henry White, 6 Whitehall Gardens, S.W., London, England.338 Oyster Bay, N. Y. September 26, 1903. My dear Dr. Moerdyke: Let me through you extend to your congregation and those meeting with you on this occasion a warm message of good-will. I think we have a right to feel proud of what the people of Dutch stock have done in the upbuilding of this great American people. Our nation derives its blood from many different sources. From each strain it has received something of special value; and not the least valuable of these contributions has come form that race, alike of homely and heroic virtues, which has carved for itself so splendid a history in the lands which it wrested from the North Sea and has held against all human rivals. With great regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Dr. P. Moerdyke, 689 Harrison Street, Chicago, Ill.339 September 28, 1903. My dear Stewart: I have requested a specific report from Taylor on the lines of your letter. Meanwhile, I am more than pleased over the news you tell me. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Philip B. Stewart, Colorado Springs, Colo.340 224 Canceled Personal September 28, 1903. My dear Mr. Knox: Senator Green has been making rather ugly threats as to what he will do if pressed under the indictment. Of course this makes it doubly incumbent upon us to press him to the limit. I am sorry to say that Dunn, the Chairman of the State Committee, has been more quietly making much the same kind of threat. Green has powerful political and financial backing in New York. The United States Commissioner at Binghamton, before whom the hearing is to be held, is an old friend of his. District Attorney Curtis, who is, however, a perfectly straight man, is also an old friend of his. I think we should have a special man to prosecute him. How would it do to take Thomas F. Conway, of 21 Cortland Street, New York City? He is a democrat; his appointment would like guarantee that [?] Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. P. C. Knox, Attorney General341 [*340*] PERSONAL September 28, 1903. The Attorney General: If it becomes necessary to employ outside counsel in New York, please consider carefully the name of Thomas F. Conway, of 21 Cortlandt Street, New York, and go over it very carefully with me. T. Roosevelt342 September 28, 1903. My dear Mr. Parker: Permit me through to you to express my very great interest in the work of the Interstate Levee Convention. Exactly as I have taken a keen interest in irrigation in the arid regions, so I feel that the movement for thoroughly protecting the Mississippi lowlands by levees is one of importance to the whole country, no less than to the people immediately adjoining the great river. I wish all success to your convention, and shall follow its proceedings with close attention. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John M. Parker, 816 Union Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.343 September 28, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Trautmann: I was overjoyed when I saw of your nomination. I should have telegraphed you at once, only that I have been warned by the Citizens Union people that I ought not to say anything in public on their behalf lest it should alienate some of the [independent] Democratic vote from them. I think it most fortunate for our party and the City that we should have such a man as you nominated. With hearty regards, I am, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Ralph Trautmann, 312 Broadway, New York, N. Y.344 September 29, 1903. My dear Mr. Treat: Permit me through you to congratulate the members of the Republican Club on the occasion of the dedication of the new building. It cannot too often be said that the successful working of free institutions depends upon the way in which the individual citizen does his part honestly and efficiently in the effort to secure clean and strong government; and of course the individual can only work efficiently in combination with others. Your club is the kind of organization which opens a peculiarly broad field for such work in combination, by men who are disinterestedly anxious for success, not only for the principles in which they as members of a certain party believe, but for the principles in which all men of whatever party must believe, if they are good citizens. To a body like[345] yours I know I can always appeal, not only for support in a contest political or economic, but also for support in every effort to secure decency and righteousness in public as in private life. I wish you well with all my heart. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles H. Treat, Chairman, Committee on Speakers, Republican Club of the City of New York, 450 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. 346 341 September 29, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Knox: I very earnestly want you to go on to speak at the dedication of the ceremonies of the Republican Club of New York on October 15th. You can state any position as regards labor and capital as no other man can state it. I hope you will be able to go. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. P. C. Knox, Attorney General.347 September 29. 1903. My dear Steffens: Please tell Mr. Folk that there are few people indeed whom I should like to see than I should to see him, even if he had no special business with me; but that if there is any way I can help him, I can say with all sincerity I should rather see him than anyone else at this particular time. The sooner he can come the better I shall be pleased. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. J. Lincoln Steffens, McClure's Magazine, 141 East Twenty-fifth Street, New York, N.Y.348 Personal September 29, 1903. My dear Senator: You are most welcome to tell Dunn exactly what occurred, although I can not help thinking he must know it, for I told him I should send for the officers from the Attorney General's department, and he must have seen that they actually came on the day I mentioned and were at lunch with me. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon N. N. Stranahan Collector of Customs, New York.349 Personal not for publication September 29, 1903. My dear Sir: I wish to thank you heartily for your editorial, "Union Labor and the President." You have exactly expressed the idea that I would like to have expressed. I want to stand by every movement for the real benefit of the wage-worker. With regard, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Nicolay Grevstad, Editor, Daily Skandinaven, 183 North Peoria Street, Chicago.350 PERSONAL September 29, 1903. My dear Congressman: I have your letter of the 28th interest. If you will recall you will doubtless remember that last spring after the passage of the treaty, after consultation with Mr. Cannon and others, I made up my mind not to try to get Congress together at once to ratify it, but then stated publicly that I would call Congress together in special session to consider it , and that it was upon this public statement of mine that the Cuban Senate ratified the treaty; and in consequence of the feeling thus created I have been able to get the coaling stations which we so urgently need in Cuba. I am therefore about to call Congress in special session. I have written this already to Senator Quay. I selected November 9th after consultation with the new Speaker, Mr. Cannon. Will you kindly show Senator Penrose this letter? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Henry H. Bingham, 1417 Locust Street, Philadelphia.351 September 30, 1903. The Honorable Lady Herbert, Davos Platz, Switzerland. Am greatly shocked and grieved. Pray accept my profound sympathy. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. (President's private acct.)352 September 30, 1903. Dear Cabot: Well, the summer has come to an end. On Monday, the 28th, we came back here. The last three days were very pleasant. It was brilliant fall weather. Grant La Farge and Dan Wister came out on Wednesday night, and Friday morning I took them on a three hours' ride. Dr. Lyman Abbot was at lunch. The afternoon I spent chopping - having practically struck out all official work, attending to my correspondence in the evening. Friday was a delicious day, cool and fresh, and I on Bleistein and Edith on Yagenka had a four hours' ride. It was really delightful. George Bird Grinnell, with whom I wanted to talk Indian reservations, and incidentally some points on big game zoology, was out for lunch. In the afternoon I played tennis. Saturday I took Edith off in a row-boat, and we were out all day, rowing down to the great marsh at the end of Lloyd's Neck, where we took our lunch and watched the white sails of the coasters passing up and down the Sound. I had a stiff row home against wind and tide. Edith thinks that the enclosed clippings describing the woes of my tailor over my taste in dress, may amuse you and Nannie. Send them back to me when you have read them. Do the same with Mrs. Stuyve Fish's "appreciation" of Edith's dress and my social habits. I have been reading Aristotle's politics and Plutarch's miscellany, and as usual take an immense comfort out of the speeches of Lincoln. I have353 2 just run across a speech of his on lynching, delivered, I think, in 1836, which I wish I had remembered when I wrote to Governor Durbin. I should have quoted from it with a free hand. Dan Wister, by the way, is absorbed in putting "The Virginian" on the stage. As soon as I got back here I had to take up various bits of work, especially the Miller case with the labor unions, and the post office scandals. John Mitchell, Gompers, and various other leaders of the unions called upon me about the Miller case, and the announcement that they intended to do so caused one of those curious panics habitual among our friends of the wealthy and cultivated classes. They got it into their fool heads that as I was to hold a "conference" with the labor men, this meant that I intended to weaken. They immediately fell into a panic and screamed that I had weakened. It was some time before I discovered that their trouble was with the terminology of the affair. I happened to say to one shrill remonstrant that I certainly could not deny to anybody a hearing, whether it was to the labor people or the trust magnates. He seemed immensely relieved, and said that as long as it was a hearing and not a conference it was all right. I did not attempt to find out exactly what the distinction was in his mind; but whatever it was it seems to have been widespread, for all my financial and intellectual friends have solemnly agreed that while it would be wicked to hold a conference, it would be eminently proper to hold a hearing. The labor leaders who saw me were entirely reasonable, Mitchell of course especially so. Gompers (who is a sleek article) thought it better to be so. The others counted less. When not in my presence they have passed multitudes of denunciatory354 3 resolutions, but I had no difficulty with them when face to face. In order that there should be no chance of misinterpreting or misquoting me, I finally read to them my decision as follows: I thank you and your committee for your courtesy, and I appreciate the opportunity to meet with you. It will always be a pleasure to see you or any representatives of your organizations or of your federation as a whole. As regards the Miller case, I have little to add to what I have already said. In dealing with it I ask you to remember that I am dealing purely with the relation of the government to its employes. I must govern my action by the laws of the land, which I am sworn to administer, and which differentiate any case in which the government of the United States is a party from all other cases whatsoever. These laws are enacted for the benefit of the whole people, and cannot and must not be construed as permitting discrimination against some of the people. I am President of all the people of the United States, without regard to creed, color, birthplace, occupation, or social condition. My aim is to do equal and exact justice as among them all. In the employment and dismissal of men in the government service I can no more recognize the fact that a man does or does not belong to a union as being for or against him than I can recognize the fact that he is a Protestant or a Catholic, a Jew or a Gen- tile, as being for or against him. In the communications sent me by various labor organizations protesting against the retention of Miller in the Government Printing Office, the grounds alleged are two-fold: 1, That he is a non-union man; 2, that he is not personally fit. The question of his personal fitness is one to be settled in the routine of administrative detail, and cannot be allowed to conflict with or to complicate the larger question of governmental discrimination for or against him or any other man because he is or is not a member of a union. This is the only question now before me for decision, and as to this my decision is final. Mitchell stated he was absolutely satisfied with what I had said. The others appeared to be also. The union controlled by that indicated scoundrel, Sam Parks, the Bridge Builders Union, has just added its mite of denunciation. Moody has been of the utmost assistance to us throughout this incident; so have Cortelyou, Garfield and Sargent. In the Post Office scandal I have had some ugly times. Payne unfortunately became involved in the Delaware row the Addicks and anti- Addicks people. His position was defensible, but unfortunately, whoever touches Addicks is smirched by him, and it was not well that the thing should355 4 have happened just at the time when the Post Office was under fire anyhow. I am making a grand round-up of the people who have gone crooked. In strict secrecy, we have skated unpleasantly near Don Cameron, having had to indict his former private secretary. Fortunately, he himself was just cleared. I had a very ugly time over the indictment of State Senator Green of New York. He is the close personal, political, and business friend of Dunn, the State Chairman, and of the State Comptroller, Miller. Dunn is a heavy stockholder in the concern on behalf of which the crookedness was done, and he is very naturally bitter against me. Whether he himself was cognizant of the wrong-doing or not, I can not say. It is greatly to be regretted that he is Chairman of the State Committee. Platt was disturbed and angry over the affair, but seemingly Odell was more so. He sent down the Comptroller, Miller, to see me to explain that if Green were indicted it was his judgment that we should certainly lose the State next fall. I was as polite as possible, answering that of course I was more interested in carrying the State than any one else was, but that in the first place I should certainly not let up on any grafter, no matter what the political effect might be; and that in the second place, my judgment was that whereas we might lose the State if we did make it evident that we intended to prosecute every guilty man, we should certainly lose it if we did not. It has been a worrying and disheartening business. Of course it is perfectly possible that the public at large may simply take the view that as the scandals have been discovered in my administration, I am responsible for them. On the other hand we have a year and may be able to make the public see that I am responsible, not for the evil, but for finding it and rooting it out.356 5 Under the leadership of that [?] body, the American Protective Tariff league, there has been a revival of the crusade against the Cuban reciprocity treaty. The Pennsylvania delegation now show symptoms of being affected by it. It does not seem possible to make some excellent people, including for instance General W. F. Draper, to understand that the menace to the protective tariff is greatest from such foolish extremists as those with whom he is associating himself. It now appears, by the way, that some of the bitterest articles circulated by the League against the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty, attacking me specifically for having advocated it, were by Tom Reed. This is of a piece with Tom Reed having tried to do what he could against us on the trust issue and on the Northern Securities suit. The figures of his estate show that he had made immense amounts of money in New York through the Morgan people and certain others. I have no doubt that he kept technically honest; and I have also no doubt that he got the money as the equivalent on consideration for using his name and influence against me personally, and against all others who were striving to make good the promises given before election. If the man were alive now he would be the rallying point for all the disaffected elements. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Balfour's pamphlet on Free Trade v Protection is a brilliant bit of work. Hon. H. C. Lodge, Care American Embassy, London, England.357 Personal. October 1, 1903. My dear Mr. Philbin: Of course, take your own time about that report. I should like it before Congress is in session, merely because at the time Congress meets the Presidential campaign will, in the opinion of my more unscrupulous foe, be on, and every effort will be made to twist anything said or done into a reflection upon me. I am much amused in the information of the last paragraph in your letter. By the way, I take it for granted you approve my final utterance in the Miller case. Will you communicate with my friend, Emil v. Schleinitz, the Editor of the Germania of Milwaukee, who has some facts about the Ellis Island matter? Between ourselves, I think we must be a little careful in accepting all of v. Schleinitz's views. He is a German, and a good fellow, but with a possible natural tendency to view with the greatest suspicion any strict constuction of the law which will prevent a single German from coming here. It would be a favor to me if you would mention to him that you communicated with him at my request. My own feeling is that we cannot have too many of the right kind of immigrants; and that, on the other hand, we should steadily and consistently endeavor to exclude the man who is physically, mentally or morally unfit to be a good citizen or to beget good citizens. We do not want men who live in such a way and work for such a wage as to358 -2- depress by their competition the American wageworker; and we do not want men whose grandchildren will be undesirable fellow citizens for our grandchildren. Let me illustrate what I mean by concrete examples. When I want advice by which to be guided in reference to social or politico- social conditions in New York, I turn indiscriminately to men like Jacob A. Riis, who was born in Denmark; like Trautmann, who was born in Germany; like Nicholas Murray Butler, whose ancestors came over from Ireland over a century ago; to you, whose ancestors I suppose, although I do not know, came over at a later date; I consult De Forest, who is of old French Huguenot stock- Low, who is of English stock; I consult Catholic and Protestant, Jew and Gentile. One of the members in my Cabinet is by birth a Scotchman. My late Private Secretary, now in the Cabinet, is by descent a Dutchman. My present Private Secretary is of German parentage; his parents came through Castle Garden. The last two friends who spent the night with me at Oyster Bay were Owen Wister and Grant La varge. If it were not that in writing to you I am diving into the ethnic and religious history of my friends, it would never have entered my mind to think either of their faith or descent, but as it happens, one is a protestant of German origin and the other a catholic of French origin. I am of Dutch, French, Scotch and Irish origin. Now, what earthly difference does it make to anyone! and how could I possibly take any view359 -3- about immigration, except that we want to leave the door open to men who will make good and desirable citizens, and to endeavor to shut it against those whose admission will lower our standard of citizenship: I firmly believe Williams is an honest and competent official, of high grade Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Eugene A. Philbin, 52 William Street, New York, N. Y.360 October 1, 1903. My dear Mr. McClure; I hear you have just returned from Europe. Can't you come down here and take lunch with me some time in the next week or two? Let me know what day would be convenient to you. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. S.S. McClure, Care McClure's Magazine, New York. 361 PERSONAL October 1, 1903. My dear Governor: I thank you for your letter of the 29th. I realize to the full your great influence in Kentucky, and to any people who have asked me in reference to you I have always said that you were a straight Republican - a man of high loyalty to his party and its principles; and that I was sure you would do as I most strongly felt you ought to do- sink any personal feeling and work hard to carry Kentucky. I can not express my gratification at the way you have made good my beliefs in the matter. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. W. O. Bradley, Kentucky Title Building, Louisville, Kentucky.362 October 1, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Straus: I thank you heartily for your letter. When you can get on here I should like to tell you for your own information some of my experiences in connection with this Miller case. I feel exactly as you do- that my action was a complement to my action, for instance, in the anthracite coal strike, and that I could no more hesitate in the teeth of opposition from the labor unions in one case, than I could when the opposition came from the big, monied men in the other case. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon.Oscar S. Straus, 42 Warren Street, New York, N. Y.363 346 PERSONAL October 1, 1903. My dear Knox: Your letter gave me real pleasure, for I am always peculiarly pleased to have you think well of what I have done. When you come on Monday, can you take lunch with me? Don't if it is at all inconvenient, but I should like to see you and have a brief talk over several things. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. P. C. Knox, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.364 October 1, 1903. My dear General King: I have already been asked to be present at Gettysburg on decoration day next spring. It would be impossible for me to accept another invitation to go there now. It was a great pleasure to hear from you and I thank you for your letter. I must see you whenever you are in this neighborhood. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt. Gen. Horatio C. King, 375 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.365 October 1, 1903. My dear Mr. Shortridge: I have received the volume, "A Century's Record of the Philadelphia National Bank," for which accept my thanks. I anticipate looking through it with much pleasure and profit. With great regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt N. Parker Shortridge, Esq., President, The Philadelphia National Bank, Philadelphia, Pa.366 Personal October 2, 1903. Dear Emlen: You spoke to me of being willing to do something, not too great, in a financial way. For Assemblyman in Nassau County we have nominated Cocks, ex-State Senator. He is of old Quaker stock, and is as square a man as I know within or without politics. He is one of the few men whom I would be willing to describe as of literally unbending integrity. Owing largely to the shortcomings of certain republican local officials, we may have a hard time to pull Cocks through, and of course I am very anxious that my home district should go for the republican when we have nominated a republican of such a stamp. Cocks will have no money. The fact that I have been hitting right and left at certain prominent party men in connection with these postal frauds will prevent, I fear, any assistance being tendered to my home member from the ordinary republican sources.367 If you feel like sending him a contribution -- but of course not unless you really care to - I think it would be a very good thing to do. Perhaps the best way for you to do would be to raise a little money for him. As a starter I send you $200. Of course don't say where it comes from when you send it to Cocks. Always yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. W. Emlen Roosevelt, 33 Wall Street, New York.368 October 2, 1903. My dear Captain Brainerd: Will you accept this pin from Mrs. Roosevelt and myself as a token of our friendship, and of our appreciation of what you did this summer? Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Captain W. P. Brainard, 202 West 80th Street, New York. (Enclosure) 369 Personal. October 2, 1903. My dear Bishop: I send you a letter from Clarkson, which seems to me important. I wish you could get hold of Clarkson and have a little talk with him. Note what he says about Harriman. If his information is accurate, Harriman is not entirely straightforward. I shall see him and have a definite explanation again. As a matter of fact, Harriman either knows, or ought to know, that the letter of which he complains was sent by Mr. Loeb while I was in the Yellowstone Park. I never knew anything about its phraseology until I saw the matter discussed in the newspapers, as I had never seen it, or indeed seen the original letter which it answered. The protest was received as innumerable similar protests were received, and was answered just as they are answered. Doubtless if I had been shown the form in which it was answered I should have approved it, for it would never have occurred to me that anyone would twist it into the meaning given it, or sought to be given it, by some of our Wall Street friends. We received all kinds of protests, which were answered courteously, without going into the merits of the matter. For instance, I had a violent protest from the Manufacturers' Association against appointing to public office any labor union man. This was in connection with the appointment of an Assistant Secretary to Mr. Cortelyou. I merely had the protest answered courteously, not thinking it worth while at that time to go into370 -2- an explanation of the reason why I favored labor unions when well conducted, (believing heartily in their capacity for good, and indeed in their necessity in certain cases) and why I was [am] resolutely opposed to them when ill conducted, believing that when thus handled badly they contain promise [?] of incalculable mischief. However, all this is aside from the fact that, as the dates in [of] the following letter show, I neither did nor could know of the protest or of the answer to the protest. A copy of the correspondence was furnished to Mr Harriman and runs as follows: "May 15, 1903. "E. H. Harriman, Care of H. G. Burt, Omaha, Neb. The following is copy of correspondence had relative to protest against using Union Pacific Railroad on the President's western trip: 'Salt Lake City, Utah, April 15th, 1903. Theodore Roosevelt, Cinnabar, Montana. 'Dear Sir: We the Utah Federation of Labor respectfully request you that on your trip you will avoid as far as possible passing over the Union Pacific System as that system is radically unjust to its employees in the various shops and the result is that their rolling stock is in very bad repair. Hoping this will appeal to your sense of justice, I remain, (Signed) Daniel I. Elton, Secy.' 'Cinnabar, Montana, April 18, 1903. Mr. Daniel I. Elton, Secretary, Salt Lake City, Utah. 'My dear Sir: Your letter of the 15th instant has been received, and in reply I beg to inform you that the schedule of the President's trip was made up several weeks ago and a change in it now such as proposed would cause serious disappointment371 -3- to thousands of people, many of whom have been to considerable expense in expense in preparing for his visit. Very truly yours, (Signed) Wm. Loeb. Jr., Secretary to the President.' "The refusal to change the plan was sent by direction of President Roosevelt but the phraseology was not his, he being at the time in the Yellowstone Park. Wm. Loeb, Jr., Secretary." (From April 8th to 22nd I was away from Wm. Loeb, within the Yellowstone Park) Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. J. B. Bishop, Commercial Advertiser, New York, N. Y. 372 October 2, 1903. My dear Holt: Are the enclosed letters all right? Are my descriptions of your services correct? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. H. J. Holt, 26 Blagden Street, Boston, Mass. ((Enclosures)373 October 2, 1903. My dear Mr. Bishop: This is to introduce a former member of my regiment, Mr. H. J. Holt. he is a graduate of Harvard, was an admirable man under me, and did first -class work as a correspondent in South Africa. He is a gentleman of the highest character. I take pleasure in giving this note of introduction to you, as he is to live in New York where he is to enter journalism. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. J. B. Bishop, The Commercial Advertiser, 187 Broadway, New York. 374 October 2, 1903. My dear Mr. Riis: This is to introduce former member of my regiment, Mr. H. J Holt. He is a graduate of Harvard, was an admirable man under me, and did first-class work as a correspondent in South Africa. He is a gentleman of the highest character. I take pleasure in giving this note of introduction to you, as he is to live in New York where he is to enter journalism. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Jacob A. Riis, 524 Beech Street, North, Richmond Hill, N. Y. 375 October 2, 1903. My dear Mr. Mathews: This is to introduce a former member of my regiment, Mr. H. J. Holt. He is a graduate of Harvard, was an admirable man under me, and did first-class work as correspondent in South Africa. He is a gentleman of the highest character. I take pleasure in giving this note of introduction to you, as he is to live in New York where he is to enter journalism. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Professor Brander Matthews, Columbia University, New York. 376 October 2, 1903. My dear President Butler: This to introduce a former member of my regiment, Mr. H. J. Holt. he is a graduate of Harvard, was an admirable man under me, and did first-class work as a correspondent in South Africa. He is a gentleman of the highest character. I take pleasure in giving this note of introduction to you, as he is to live in New York where he is to enter journalism. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt President Nicholas Murray Butler, Columbia University, New York. 377 October 2, 1903. Personal. My dear Moody: How are affairs in Massachusetts? If necessary, but not otherwise, I think Wilson and Shaw could speak there. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. W, H. Moody, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 378 October 2, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Fahnestock: I have come to the same conclusion that you have , [?]-that it would not be wise to try to get any financial legislation at the extra session. With regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. H. C. Fahnesstock, First National Bank, New York, N. Y. 379 October 2, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. von Brieson: Of course take ample time. Have the report made thorough and accurate. That is all I wish. As to public hearings, let me suggest that there is a certain risk always to be encountered. The notoriety hunter and scandal monger likes to make charges before such hearings, knowing perfectly well that the refutation never receives the circulation that the charge does. I should be exceedingly cautious about allowing the slightest publicity to any charge until you had investigated it and found out whether it was true or not. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Arthur von Briesen 49 Wall Street, New York, N. Y.380 October 2, 1903. My dear President Finley: Of course I never for a moment thought you were in any way responsible for that item, and indeed I should never have thought of the item a second time if I had not received your note. It is the kind of lie which I must expect. I am so glad everything went successfully at the laying of the cornerstone. I sincerely hope I may be able to be present at the dedication. With best wishes, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. John H. Finley, President, College of the City of New York, New York, N. Y. 381 October 2, 1903. My dear Mr. Harriman: Are you to be in Washington this fall? If so, I should like to dine or lunch with you. Ther are one or two matters I should like to go over with you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. E. H. Harriman, 120 Broadway, New York. 382 Personal October 2, 1903. My dear Admiral Taylor: In view of what you say, do make every effort to get the best type of sight, and secure the control over gun fire so essential. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rear Admiral H. C. Taylor, USN. , Chief Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department. 383 October 2, 1903. Darling Bye: I was pleased with that editorial. Of course a large number of puzzling questions come up just as soon as I return. I am doing my best to solve them on the lines of decency and common-sense, and I hope for success. That is about all I can say! Kiss Sheffield for me. Tell him that Quentin is now going to the public school. As yet he has preserved an attitude of dignified reserve concerning his feelings on the subject. He has just been presented with two white rabbits, which he brought in while we were at lunch yesterday, explaining that they were " the valuablest kind, with pink eyes." Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mrs. W. S. Cowles, Farmington , Connecticut.384 Copy. October 2, 1903. Dear Kermit: I was very glad to get your letter. Am glad you are playing foot ball. I should be very sorry to see either you or Ted devoting most of your attention to athletics, and I haven't got any special ambition to see you shine overmuch in athletics in college, at least (if you go there), because I think it tends to take up too much time; but I do like to feel that you are manly and able to hold your own in rough, hardy sports. I would rather have a boy of mine stand high in his studies than high in athletics, but I would a good deal rather have him show [true manliness?] of [*real manly*] character than show either intellectual or physical prowess; and I believe you and Ted both bid fair to develop just such character. There, you will think this is a dreadfully preaching letter! I suppose I have a natural tendency to preach just at present because I am overwhelmed with my work. I enjoy being President, and I like to do the work and have my hand on the lever. But it is very worrying and puzzling, and I have to make up my mind to accept every kind of attack and misrepresentation. It is a great comfort to me to read the life and letters of Abraham Lincoln. I am more and more impressed every day, not only with the man's wonderful power and sagacity, but [*and*] with his literally endless patience, and [*but*] at the same time his unflinching resolution. Mother and I had a nice ride yesterday. Yagonka behaved well, but upon my word Renown is more nervous and given to shying than ever. "Age385 2 cannot still nor custom wither" the infinite variety of that particular fool's folly. He is worse about automobiles than he ever was, and as they swarm in and around Washington a ride upon him is a live experience. Allan has gone to be trained. Ronald has won golden opinions of all the people around here, as he is very well trained. He sits up beside the driver in the wagon, and follows every one obediently around. He seems to be an excellent city dog. Quentin is the proud possessor of two white rabbits with pink eyes, in which he and Archie revel. Ethel and Archie played tennis yesterday. Your loving father, Theodore Roosevelt Master Kermit Roosevelt, Groton School, Groton, Massachusetts.386 October 3, 1903. My dear Mr. Quinby: I have just seen the Free Press of October 1st, and of all that has been stated about my position, this editorial is what I like most. It puts my attitude just exactly as I wish to have it put. As I have stated already, I feel that what I did in this Miller case exactly supplements what I did for instance, in the Northern Securities case, and the anthracite coal strike. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. William E. Quinby, Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan. 387 October 4, 1903. Arthur von Briesen, 49 Wall Street, New York, N. Y. Can you lunch with me Tuesday at one thirty? Much desire to see you. Theodore Roosevelt. Official 388 October 3, 1903. Dear John: Are you coming north this winter? If so, do let me know in advance, for of course you must manage to spend a couple of days in the White House with us. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John A. McIlhenny, Avery's Island, La.389 October 3, 1903. My dear President Alderman: Are you coming north this winter? If so, cannot you spend a night at the White House? There are several things I wish to talk over with you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Edwin A. Alderman, L.L.D, President, Tulane University, New Orleans, La.390 Personal. October 3, 1903 Dear Elihu: I am back in Washington, and have taken up my work again. The labor union people continue to make a great fuss about the Miller case, so finally I saw half a dozen of their leaders and stated my position definitely. I sent Lodge a copy of what I said, as I wrote it out to prevent the inevitable misconstruction. I would like you to look at it. In Massachusetts I have been having a comic time. The Massachusetts democracy are running Billy Gaston on the reform issue, the two chief items thereof being my maltreatment of Miles and McSweeney. Billy Gaston was a classmate of mine, a tariff reformer, etc., but I always thought him a pretty good fellow. He of course knows perfectly well that Miles was, according to his capacities, a traitor. He also knows that McSweeney is an indicted scoundrel. With the cordial approval of the "best element", he denounces the frauds in the postal service as reflecting discredit upon this Administration for having found them out, while McSweeney, who was as thorough-faced a scoundrel as Machen or Beavers, is carrying on his campaign. Miles, however, is their chief issue, their logic being clear and convincing, namely: that as Miles fought gallantly in the Civil War, and as no such war has occurred during my lifetime, I exceeded my constitutional powers as Commander-in-Chief of the Army by reprimanding him when he misbehaved and by failing to eulogize him when he acted like a scoundrel. An additional small trouble of a391 -2- comic sort has occurred in connection with the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston. This eminently respectable body is not even a militia organization, being more akin to the societies which include, for instance, the body of which I am an honorary member, the Fraternal Eagles. When they visited England some years ago the British slopped over badly. Without taking the trouble to inquire what they were, they treated them as if they had been, for instance, a body composed of the most distinguished members of the Loyal Legion. They gave them elaborate entertainments, had reviews for them, and in short made everybody connected with the affair ridiculous. The corresponding London organization has now come to visit the Ancient and Honorables. When they visit Washington I shall give them a reception, with punch, sandwiches, tea, chocolate, etc. They have clamorously insisted that this is not enough, and that they really should receive the exact equivalent of what was done at Windsor, and Marlborough House and Aldershot; and Curtis Guild, who is a nervous soul, has been horribly afraid of the political effect in Massachusetts if I decline to render myself and the nation ridiculous. Oliver seems to have taken hold well in the War Department. He and Young came over to me and reported that Corbin was having a hard time and wished to be given Chaffee's place as Department Commander of the East, because as things are now he has the humiliation of explaining to countless callers that he has been shorn of his power. I told him that of course if the facts were as he reported them, I was delighted to acquiesce392 -3- acquiesce in the arrangement - that is on the supposition, of which he and Young assured me, that Corbin, who is now absent, wished it, and that it is [was] carrying out your desires. [?] Corbin [???] says he does wish it. New York is having the involved annual row that accompanies self- government in that pleasing city. It is too long to try to tell you everything about it from here. Jerome thought he could be nominated and made a frantic personal attack upon Low, and having thereby done what he could to hurt Low, and hopelessly impaired his own influence, he is now supporting Low. Meanwhile Grout and Fornes, two of the fusion candidates, have suddenly accepted Tammany's nomination also. Do you remember the yell made by the Times, the Evening Post and the "independents" [?] when I refused the Jack Chapman mugwump nomination for Governor at the time I ran as the republican candidate? Well, the same gentry are now yelling that Grout and Fornes are branded traitors because they have accepted the Tammany nomination. Now both positions are not defensible. Of course, my view is that it is an act coming perilously near bad faith to accept a nomination from an organization which is avowedly trying to beat the organization with which you are in sympathy; or, in other words, to lend your name to the effort to best the men running on the same ticket with you. But the Times and Evening Post crowd by their former course ought to be [are] stopped from taking this view now. The situation in Wall Street has not been good. I hear so directly that it is difficult to disbelieve it that certain of the big men have393 -4- been anxious that the situation should continue bad, hoping to defeat Low as a blow at me, and thereby, to use the euphemistic expression of one of them, either to force the republican party back into the [?] paths of conservatism, or to give the democracy a chance to show itself conservative - and victorious. The country as a whole is undoubtedly fairly prosperous. Equally undoubtedly, the trouble in New York City will react somewhat upon this general prosperity. But I cannot help believing that by next summer the move will have been upward, and we shall merely have to front the usual chances as to the crops, etc. In New York City I doubt whether the effect is most due to the wild and reckless speculation among the capitalistic leaders and their followers during the past three years, or to the sinister and shortsighted wrongdoing of the labor leaders during the same period. The South is showing the usual sweet reasonableness which in that section seems to belong, not only to the democrats, but to those who call themselves republicans. The Texas Lily White republicans have recently denounced me because of my policy in filling the offices with negroes. The fact that in Texas I have not appointed one single negro; that every appointment has been of a white man; and that in that State I have happened to be able to make my appointments almost exclusively of republicans,-- is not allowed to interfere with their view of the situation. The postal scandal is being wound up. We have cut deep, and have indicted or turned out of office every guilty man. The greatest394 -5- pressure was brought to bear upon me to try to save State Senator Green, accompanied with perfectly naked threats that if he was indicted it meant the loss of the State next fall. When I see you I will tell you about it. I suppose there will be a Congressional investigation this winter. I am not a bit afraid of their failing to find the amplest justification for everything that Payne has done, for he has been single hearted in his desire, by the most radical measures, to put an end to the scoundrelism which he inherited; but I am not entirely comfortable as to what he may say if before a committee. Hanna has been nervous about the result in Ohio as far as the State Legislature was concerned, and he undoubtedly has a fight on, but I think he will certainly win. The state ticket will, I believe, be overwhelmingly elected. Give my warm regards to Mrs. Root, and also please remember me most cordially to Senator Turner and Mrs. Turner. I have just been looking over the British atlas. If they decline to do the decent thing, and I have to take, as of course I shall have to take, sharp issues in my message to Congress, I shall transmit this British atlas, saying I am entirely content to rest my case on the maps submitted by the British commissioners themselves. I do wish they could understand that this is the last chance, and that though it will be unpleasant for us, if they force395 -6- me to do what I must do in case they fail to take advantage of this chance, it will be a thousandfold more unpleasant for them. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt P S When I see you I shall give you the details of the curiously open attempt made by various forces on Wall St, among the republican leaders of [?]ing states including New York and one half of Ohio, and in G. A. R. circles, to force John McCook into your vacant seat. Hon. Elihu Root, Care of Alaskan Boundary Tribunal, London, England. 396 October 3, 1903. My dear Sir: I thank you cordially for your kind invitation to attend the banquet of the Medical Society of Long Island, at Garden City October 17th, and particularly for the kind words which accompany it. I regret, however, that it is not possible for me to accept. Conveying, through you, to the members of your Society an expression of my regard and best wishes for the success of your meeting, I am,, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Louis N. Lanehart, M. D., Chairman of Committee on Arrangements, Hempstead, L. I. , N. Y. 397 Personal October 5, 1903 My dear Mr. Wells: I am greatly pleased with the Lincoln picture, and regard it as a real addition to the White House. It is a reproduction of the photograph of him which, to me personally, appeals most. As I understand, it represents him as he was at the time of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Ernest G. Wells, 14 Joy Block, Syracuse, N. Y.398 Personal October 5, 1903. My dear Judge: All right. In view of what you say I think I shall appoint Hields. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. George Gray Judge, United States Circuit Court of Appeals, Wilmington, Delaware.399 October 5, 1903. My dear Billings: I send the picture with the greatest pleasure. I am much pleased with what you tell me about Ted. I have been a little uncertain whether I ought to let him play on the second squad, but I feared that if I refused it might have a bad effect upon him. I wonder what Woods thinks of it. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Sherrard Billings, Groton School, Groton, Massachusetts. (Enclosure)400 October 4, 1903. Dear Cotty: I have been in a quandary since the receipt of your letter, and an agonized appeal from Ted. Finally, after much talking it over, Mrs. Roosevelt and I have come to the conclusion that the danger of damage to Ted physically if he plays is probably not so great as the danger of damage to him morally if I forbade him to play. Ted is a queer fellow. I think he has the right stuff in him, and I am very fond of him and very proud of him. But he is exposed to dangers. I rather gather that he has at times shown some qualities which make him lose popularity at school, and though he never said this to me, I think it weighed on him. If I should forbid him to play now I think he would feel that it might make him lose caste, and in such case feel that I would be responsible for the fact. Accordingly I shall take all the responsibility of his being hurt. He is very much tougher than he was a year ago. At the same time, if the coaches at any time come to401 the conclusion that he is out of place on the second squad, of course he must abide by their decision. I enclose you a copy of the letter I have sent him. Do you know what Woods thinks of the matter? He always seemed to know a good deal of Ted. So let him play [?] his [?]! With hearty thanks: Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Endicott Peabody, Groton School, Groton, Massachusetts. (Enclosure)402 October 4, 1903. Dear Ted: In spite of the "Hurry! Hurry!" on the outside of your envelope, I did not like to act until I had consulted Mother and thought the matter over; and to be frank with you, old fellow, I am by no means sure that I am doing right now. If it were not that I feel you would [will] be so bitterly disappointed, I would strongly advocate your acquiescing in the decision to leave you off the second squad this year. I am proud of your pluck, and I greatly admire football - though it was not a game I was ever able to play myself, my qualities resembling Kermit's rather than yours. But the very things that make it a good game make it a rough game, and there is always the chance of your being laid up. Now, I should not in the least object to your being laid up for a season if you were striving for something worth while, to get on the Groton school team, for instance, or on your class team when you entered Harvard - for of course I don't think you will have the weight to entitle you to try for the 'varsity. But I am by no means sure that it is worth your while to run the risk of being laid up for the sake of playing in the second squad when you are a fourth former, instead of when you are a fifth former. I do not know that the risk is balanced by the reward. However, I have told the Rector that as you feel so strongly about it, I think that the chance of your damaging yourself in body is outweighed by the possibility of bitterness of spirit if you could not play, and therefore that you are to play. Understand me, I should think mighty little of you if you permitted chagrin to make you bitter on some point where it was evidently right for you to403 2 suffer the chagrin. But in this case I am uncertain, and I shall give you the benefit of the doubt. If, however, the coaches at any time come to the conclusion that you ought not to be in the second squad, why you must come off without grumbling. As I said, I am delighted to have you play football. I believe in rough, manly sports. But I do not believe in them if they degenerate into the sole end of any one's existence. I don't want you to sacrifice standing well in your studies to any over-athleticism; and above all, I need hardly [need not] tell you that character counts for a great deal more than either intellect or body in winning success in life. Athletic proficiency is a mighty good servant, and like so many other good servants, a mighty bad master. Did you ever read Pliny's letter to Trajan in which he speaks of its being advisable to keep the Greeks absorbed in athletics because it distracted their minds from all serious pursuits, including soldiering[y], and prevented their ever being dangerous to the Romans? I have not a doubt that the British officers in the Boer War had their efficiency [partly] greatly reduced because they had sacrificed their legitimate duties to an inordinate and ridiculous love of sports. A man must develop his physical prowess up to a certain point; but after he has reached that point there are other things that count more. In my regiment nine-tenths of the men were better horsemen than I was, and probably two-thirds of them better shots than I was, while on the average they were certainly hardier and more enduring. Yet after I had had them a very short while they all knew, and I knew too, that nobody else could command them as I could. I am glad you should play football; I am glad that you should box; I am glad that you should ride and shoot and walk and row as well as you do. I should be very sorry if you did not do these things, and if you [?] it [???]. But don't ever get into the frame of mind which regards404 3 these things as constituting the end to which all your energies must be devoted, or even the major portion of your energies. Yes, I am going to speak at Groton on prize day. I felt that while I was President and while you and Kermit were at Groton I wanted to come up there and see you, and the Rector wished me to speak, and so I was very glad to accept. By the way, I am working hard to get Renown accustomed to automobiles. He is such a handful now when he meets them that I seriously mind encountering them when Mother is along. Of course I do not care if I am alone, or with another man, but I am uneasy all the time when I am out with Mother. Yesterday I tried Bleistein over the hurdles at Chevy Chase. The first one was new, high and stiff, and the old rascal never rose six inches, going slap through it. I thought he should fall, but he [?] up like a [?]. I took him at it again and he went over all right. I am very busy now, facing the usual endless worry and discouragement, and trying to keep steadily in mind that I must not only be as resolute as Abraham Lincoln in seeking to achieve decent ends, but as patient, as uncomplaining and as ever-tempered in dealing, not only with knaves, but with the well-meaning foolish people, educated and uneducated, who by their unwisdom give the knaves their chance, and that I must show the same respect in powerfully [?], to find out the right course. Garfield is a great comfort to me. I see much of him and take him out to walk, and I also play tennis with him; although tennis is not very exciting to him as he is at least as good a player as George, and I do not average more than one game in a set. He is working very hard, and as it is a new department, he actually took no holiday this summer. I shall have to bundle him off for a fortnight to the North Woods, if I can make him go. He has such poise and sanity - he is so fearless, and yet possesses such common sense, that he is a real support to 405 4 me. He tells ne that his father, President Garfield, when he and his brother were at school and only 15 and 13 years of age, used to write them in full about his plans- why he went to the Senate instead of staying in the House, etc., etc. The man has the sound body, the sound mind, and above all the sound character, about which I tend to preach until I become presy! Your loving father, Theodore Roosevelt Master Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Groton School, Groton, Massachusetts.406 Personal. October 5, 1903. Dear Cabot: I was immensely interested in your letter of September 24th. This may be too late to reach you before the decision is made; but I did not cable, because you seem to me to be handling the affair exactly right. Of course, we can yield on the Portland Canal Islands, if Alverstone goes with us on the main contention; that is, on the line being drawn around the heads of the inlets. Looking through Vancouver's maps, I have no doubt myself that he supposed the mountains run in a parallel chain within, and well within, the ten league limit, and of course the boundary was drawn on this theory. I have always felt that the geographers put the boundary in the exact place they did, because it was impossible to say exactly where there were mountain chains parallel with the sea within the ten league limits, and they simply drew it all on the ten league theory, with the idea of altering it when it should be actually shown where there were ranges nearer the sea. As you say, we must have an absolutely defensible ground upon which to go when our decision is made. You, Root and Turner are, of course, far more familiar with the maps, text and general evidence upon which you make up the decision, than I am. I know you feel exactly as I do, and I trust your decision implicitly. If, as I understand it, there is on one of these islands at the mouth of the Portland Canal an American cannery, its rights must be407 -2- guaranteed in case a change is made. On the Steekeen [?] River I do not think under any circumstances we should go below the line which we have already occupied and which was set by the Canadians themselves thirty- odd years ago. The plain fact is that the British have no case whatever, and when this is so Alverstone ought to be satisfied, and indeed must be satisfied with the very minimum - simply enough to save his face and bring an adjustment. Rather than give up any essential we should accept a disagreement. I am glad you, Root and Turner all feel alike, that you cannot yield on Alverstone's proposition about the mountains until you see the actual line he proposes and are sure that it is a line which we can accept with justice to our people. We must not weaken on the points that are of serious importance. It is really unnecessary for me to say this for you all three feel it quite as strongly as I do, and you know infinitely more about the situation than I do. In great haste, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H. C. Lodge, Care of American Embassy, London, England.408 October 5, 1903. My dear Moody: I liked your speech at the Massachusetts State Convention so much that I must tell you so. it is admirable is every way. Good Lord, old man, do you realize how I shall here to use you as spokesman next year? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Wm. H. Moody Secretary of the Navy.409 October 5, 1903. My dear Holt: I was immensely amused over my blunder. I did mix you up with Scull. I send you now letters, omitting the South African part. Are they all right? If so, return the others to me. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. H. J. Holt, 26 Blagden Street, Boston, Mass. Enclosures.410 October 5, 1903. My dear Mr. Bishop: This is to introduce a former member of my regiment, Mr. H. J. Holt. He is a graduate of Harvard and was an admirable man under me. He is a gentleman of the highest character. I take pleasure in giving this note of introduction to you, as he is to live in New York where he is to enter journalism. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. J. B. Bishop The Commercial Advertiser, 187 Broadway, New York, N. Y. 411 Ocotber 5, 1903. My dear Mr. Riis: This is to introduce a former member of my regiment, Mr. H. J. Holt. He is a graduate of Harvard and was an admirable man under me. He is a gentleman of the highest character. I take pleasure in giving this note of introduction to you, as he is to live in New York where he is to enter journalism. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Jacob A. Riis, 524 Beech Street, North, Richmond Hill, N. Y.412 Ocotober 5, 1903. My dear Mr. Matthews: This is to introduce a former member of my regiment, Mr. H. J. Holt. He is a graduate of Harvard and was an admirable man under me. He is a gentleman of the highest character. I take pleasure in giving this note of introduction to you, as he is to live in New York where he is to enter journalism. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Professor Brander Matthews, Columbia University, New York, N. Y.413 Ocotber 5, 1903. My dear President Butler: This is to introduce a former member of my regiment, Mr. H. J. Holt. He is a graduate of Harvard and was an admirable man under me. He is a gentleman of the highest character. I take pleasure in giving this note of introduction to you, as he is to live in New York where he is to enter journalism. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt President Nicholas Murray Butler, Columbia University, New York, N. Y. 414 October 5, 1903. My dear President Eliot: I have your letter of the 3rd instant. All right, I shall ask John Hay at once if he can go. I simply cannot go myself. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt President Charles W. Eliot, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 415 October 5, 1903. My dear Mr. Lummis: I want to congratulate you and myself on your straightforward and manly letter which I have just received. It did me good to get it. I feel exactly as you express yourself in your letter about the essential points that have been gained. Between ourselves, and not for any use outside, I went over the evidence and the original report upon it. The Secretary had already recommended the dismissal of one man and the reduction of another, and I added thereto the direction that Burton should be reprimanded and that the hair-cutting order should be denounced, saying that it had proved in its working most unfortunate; and as for Burton, he should not be entirely cleared when the result showed that long ago he should have secured the removal of one teacher and the reduction of another. I think the investigation has been productive of real and great good, and of course you and the416 Sequoya League are responsible for this real and great good. With hearty regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Chas. F. Lummis, Los Angeles, Cal.417 Confidential. October 5, 1903. Dear John: Your note gave me real pleasure. I did not go outside the government case in my decisions because I drew a very sharp line between unions. For instance, if I were a coal operator I should want my men to be in a union with Mitchell at the head, and managed as he strives to manage them. If I controlled a railway I should want my men to be in a union, with a man like Sargent or Clark at its head. On the other hand, if I were at present a builder in New York, and just so long as the union and building trades are managed by men like Sam Parks, and seem to approve of such men, and are handled in accordance with their theories, I should fight to the death before I employed a single union man, and they could attack me as an employer of scabs or anything else they wished. [???????????] Where I was uncertain about the union, and did not regard it as coming under what I might call the Sargent head on one side, or the Sam Parks head on the other, I should employ union and 418 non-union men alike with entire indifference. All this I explained, by the way, in exactly these words to the six labor leaders the other night, and added that of course the minute there was violence, or anything approaching violence, I was bound to interfere if I had the power. Can't you get down here this winter? I wish I could get Dave and Mrs. Dave down at the same time. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John C. Greenway, Ishpeming, Mich. 419 Personal. October 5, 1903. My dear Mr. President: I thank you heartily. I think I feel just as you do about the unions. I also feel as you do about the need of serious delinquency to justify Miller's dismissal under existing conditions. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt President Henry S. Pritchett, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Mass. 420 October 5, 1903. My dear Mr. Davis: I thank you for your letter and the editorials. If you can come down here I shall get you to take lunch with me, and can then tell you more at length than I can put on paper the history both of the labor trouble and the Delaware business. As regards Mr. Gompers's account of what I said, it of course ought to be known by every one that I am responsible only for what I myself say, and not for what others say I say. I put what I had to say to the labor leaders in writing and read it to them for the very reason that I wished there should be no possible chance of misinterpretation. Mr. Gompers wished me to express my judgment upon private concerns in their relation to union labor, and it was for this reason that I put into my speech the sentence in which I explained that the point at issue was one affecting the Government and not private concerns, and that therefore I had nothing to say about the latter. As a matter of fact, I had an exceedingly frank talk with him and the rest of the committee of the Supreme Council afterwards, in which I explained what my unofficial and private views were in a way that they could not possibly misunderstand - although of course there is always a possibility of misrepresentation where there is no misunderstanding. I shall tell you the whole details of what I said when I see you, or will write you421 2 them for your own personal guidance. What Mr. Gompers said of my attitude amounts of course to a misrepresentation chiefly in the way of suppression of essential truths. But all this is aside. Exactly as verbal statements can not be allowed to alter a written contract, so Mr. Gompers's memory, or any one else's memory can not be held to alter, add to, or detract from, what I said to him reading from a written document and published at once as having been said to him; this being done for the express purpose of preventing there being any possible misunderstanding or conflict of memory as to what had occurred. Any people who fail to see that under such circumstances I am responsible only and entirely for what I put into writing, and for no more and for no less, are wilfully blind. This happens to be rather a conspicuous instance; but it is merely one of many instances where I have to face the fact that men endeavor to give their own coloring to what I have said or done, and that other men are, or profess to be, misled by such coloring. Certain Wall street capitalists and their agents do this quite as much as any labor men. You perhaps know of Henry Loomis Nelson. His affiliation with some of the Wall street people are very close, and he does their bidding and represents their views with a servility and mendacity equaled by only a few of the worst labor leaders. For instance, Henry Loomis Nelson has been repeatedly quoting me as believing and saying that it was a mistake to have brought the Northern Securities case; that I am appalled at the possible consequences and that I hope the courts will decide.422 3 against me. This is a much more infamous perversion of the truth than that to which you refer. I have had to keep a grip upon myself not openly to denounce it as such; but if I once get into the business of making denials I shall have to keep at it steadily, for hardly a day goes by that I am not credited with a belief or a statement which is absolutely alien to me. I have to take my stand on the fact that I am to be judged by my deeds and by my own words, and am never to be held bound in any shape or way by what outsiders with no authority choose to say that I believe or that I have said. If you will turn to my Chattanooga speech, to my Syracuse speech, to my Labor Day speech at Chicago three years ago, to my Butte and Spokane speeches, as well as to my two public letters about Miller, and to my little address to these labor union men, you will find my creed in labor matters summed up in my own words. If you will turn to what I did in the anthracite coal strike, in the Northern Securities suit, in this Miller case, in the franchise tax law while I was Governor of New York; to what I did when I sent the regular troops to Arizona last summer when rioting and the civil authorities could not deal with them; to what I did as Governor when I sent the militia to put an instant stop to the rioting in connection with the Croton dam strike - you will find, not what I have said, but what I have done as regards labor and capital. Out of these sets and out of these speeches it seems to me that my conduct and policy can be established by my own mouth and by my423 4 own hands - by what I have said and by what I have done - in a way that is susceptible of misconstruction only by those who either do not take the trouble to find out the facts, or do not care to find them out. There is one small point that I should like to speak to you about. The other day in a very kindly editorial you spoke of me as saying that I would do anything in the world not dishonorable or improper or in violation of my conscience to be re-elected as President. I forget the exact words, but this was the sense. It seems to me that this is calculated to convey a somewhat wrong impression of what I have said. I do not believe in playing the hypocrite. Any strong man fit to be President would desire a renomination and re-election after his first term. Lincoln was President in so great a crisis that perhaps he neither could nor did not feel any personal interest in his own re-election. I trust and believe that if the crisis were a serious one I should be incapable of considering my own well-being for a moment in such a contingency. But of course [?] I should like to be elected President just precisely as John Quincy Adams, or McKinley, or Cleveland, or John Adams, or Washington himself desired to be elected. It is pleasant to think that one's countrymen thought [believe?] well of me. But I shall not do anything whatever to secure my nomination or election save to try to carry on the public business in such shape that decent citizens will believe I have shown wisdom, integrity and courage. If they believe this with sufficient emphasis to secure my nomination and election - and on no other terms can I, or would I, be willing to secure either - why, I424 5 shall be glad. If they do not I shall be sorry; but I shall not be very much cast down because I shall feel that I have done the best that was in me, and that there is nothing I have yet done of which I have cause to be ashamed, or which I have cause to regret; and that I can go out of office with the profound satisfaction of having accomplished a certain amount of work that was both beneficial and honorable for the country. Now about Delaware. You have probably seen what I did in the appointment of the District Attorney. The post office matter to which you refer is of a wholly different type. I have not taken it up yet nor rendered any decision in the matter. But for your private information I shall tell you that the facts represented to me are as follows: In the first place you of course understand that it is one of the seventy thousand fourth-class post offices, and that they do not come before me at all any more than appointments of clerks come before me. Mr. Payne informs me that the statements credited to him in the newspapers are for the most part wholly inaccurate; that what he told the postmistress was that there was nothing whatever against her character, but that he was satisfied not only that all but an insignificant fraction of the patrons of the post office were opposed to her, but that under her and the influence of her brother the post office had become not only the mainstay, but almost the only cause of existence, of this faction, and had been handled in such a way as to make it offensive to425 6 the patrons of the office - so much so that they would not come for their letters - the State Senator, for instance, because of this having actually given up coming to the post office for his mail. The statement that I had agreed to divide the patronage of Delaware between the two senators was of course nonsense. Between themselves they had agreed that one should recommend any appointments for vacancies which came up in Newcastle county, and the other should act similarly in reference to Kent and Sussex counties. I saw them both the other day, and they both instantly acquiesced in my statement that of course they understood that, while I was delighted to consult and advise with them, and would give careful attention to any recommendations they made, yet I was and must remain responsible for the appointments, and could appoint only men who came up to my standard. In short, if you will look through what I have done in Delaware from beginning to end, you will find that it has been on a perfectly coherent plan. I appointed Mr. Byrne and reappointed him because he had been a good District Attorney, the opposition to him being purely factional; and furthermore because he had been of very great assistance, not merely to me personally, but to causes which I had very much at heart in connection with the attitude he had taken about the American policy in the Philippines. He was one of the men who were instrumental in preventing the excellent work done by Governor Taft from being misunderstood and misrepresented by many of our own people in this country. I should have been ashamed of myself if, when he had rendered such services, I had turned against him because he followed in State politics426 7 a certain course in which he conscientiously believed. In the ordinary vacancies occurring in the three counties I have, with the cordial assent of all parties in the State, taken the advice of the two senators as above indicated; and where they recommended men whom I thought fit and worthy I have appointed them. Where they disagreed, as in the case of the District Attorney whom I have just appointed, I have taken the man whom it seemed to me stood highest in personal character and professional ability, and as regards the forces for which he stood and which he represented. One more thing in closing. There has been a good deal of talk about the discovery of corruption in the National Government as if it in some way reflected upon me. I think it will be a bad day for this country when the people are so misled as to hold it against a President when he seeks to discover and cut out corruption. In the Post Office Department and in the Indian Service the corruption discovered under me took place under the administration of my predecessors. I inherited it. It [?] developed in my administration. Some of it began in President McKinley's time. Some of it began in President Cleveland's time - roughly, about half in each case. I am responsible for having cut to the bone in getting rid of it. I have paid no heed whatever to personal or political considerations. Whether the man was a democratic Congressman, like Driggs, or a republican State Senator, like Green, whether he was one of Cleveland's appointees, like Machen, or one put into his recent position by President McKinley, like Beavers, it made427 8 no difference to me. [?] I have had him [?] indicted and I have taken as the two lawyers in the case Mr. Cleveland's former Solicitor General, Conrad, and the President of the Civil Service Reform Association, Mr. Bonaparte, as a guarantee that I shall spare no one, and neither of whom are allied with me politically in any way, or have the slightest possible desire to spare any one connected with me, or to put a favorable construction upon anything under me. Frankly, I can not imagine a better guaranty of good faith, nor a course more self-evidently followed simply with the desire to cut out all corruption and to prove in the clearest way that what I have spoken on behalf of honesty in the public service is reduced to practice in stringent form as soon as the opportunity arises. With great regard, Sincerely yours, Mr. L. Clarke Davis, The Public Ledger, Philadelphia. 428 277 October 6, 1903. Gentlemen: I enclose herewith statements by Mr. Bristow and Mr. Robb as to certain matters connected with the case of Perry S. Heath and the grand jury, the term of which expired yesterday. I desire to have from you a statement as to whether in your judgment there is evidence upon which Perry S. Heath can be found guilty of violation of the law. If so, it is my intention to direct the resummoning of the grand jury immediately, in order that such evidence may be laid before it for the purpose of securing an indictment, which it would be my desire that you should ultimately prosecute. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Messrs. Bonaparte and Conrad, Special Counsel, Washington, D. C.429 October 6, 1903. My dear Sir: I thank you heartily for your letter of the 5th instant and the accompanying photograph. I am proud of you, and especially of Mrs. Dommel as good American citizens, and I congratulate you both on your fine looking family. All of you have my good wishes. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Peter Dommel, Corner of First and Coral Streets, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.430 Ocober 5, 1903. My dear Dr. Sands: Mrs. Roosevelt has told me so much about that photograph of yours, and thinks it such a good one for possible use as a model from which the Treasury Department may copy, if you do not mind I am going to ask you to send it on to me and let the Treasury people look at it. I wish I could come and personally look at I;, but I shall take good care of it and Mrs. Roosevelt will send it back to you. With regard, believe me, , Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. R. A. Sands, 36 East 33rd Street, New York, N. Y.431 428 October 4, 1903. My dear Sir: I note your advice that in your judgment the evidence disclosed to you by Mr. Bristow and the inspectors "is not sufficient to secure a conviction of Mr. Heath of the offense of which he should be charged;" and furthermore, your statement that, as regards my suggestion in relation to calling the Grand Jury together, you "do not see that any good public end can be served by reconvening them." I shall be obliged if you will advise me whether or not Mr. Bonaparte concurs in this view. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Holmes Conrad, Home life Building, Washington, D. C.432 Personal October 5, 1903. My dear Senator: Many thanks for your letter of the 4th. You may have noticed that I have not said a word in public about the canal. I shall have to allude to it in my message, but I shall go over this part of my message with you before putting it in its final form. I am not as sure as you are that the only virtue we need exercise is patience. I think it is well worth considering whether we had not better warn these cat-rabbits that great though our patience has been, it can be exhausted. This does not mean that we must necessarily go to Nicaragua. I feel we are certainly justified in morals, and I believe [therefore] justified in law , under the treaty of 1846, in interfering summarily and saying that the canal is to be built and that they shall [must] not stop it. From all I can gather things seem to be going well in Ohio. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. M. A. Hanna, U. S. S., Cleveland, Ohio.433 October 6, 1903. My dear Mr. Von Briesen: Your letter of the 5th is admirable, and you are doing just what I should like to have you do. Could you take high tea with us next Sunday, at seven thirty p.m? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Arthur von Briesen, 49 Wall Street, New York.434 October 6, 1903. My dear Mr. Johnson: I have just read with deep regret the news of the death of my valued friend, your father. Pray accept my most sincere sympathy . Mrs Roosevelt sends hers. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Bradley S. Johnson, Esq., Rockcastle, Goochland County, Virginia.435 363 October 6, 1903. The Attorney General: Here are specific allegations which, on their face, would show absolute defiance of our order various federal officials. In the past, investigation of similar complaints has failed to substantiate the charges made; but Mr. Stewart is a man of such high character that I desire some representative of my administration to take up all of these charges and investigate them on the spot. I wish the same man to investigate what is done by the marshal, by the internal revenue collector, and by the assistant postmaster. I should like a man of the Department of Justice to do it. Will you designate such a man? T Roosevelt (Enclosure)436 October 6, 1903. My dear Mr. Ahl: Naturally I am very much pleased with your letter of the 3d. I value it especially coming from an old comrad of my revered friend General Sigel, and I assure you I shall use your services to the full. With hearty thanks, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. William C. Ahl, E Plurihus Unum, Pittsburg, Pa. 437 October 6, 1903. My dear Judge Martin: I shall of course look over these charges most carefully. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Celora E. Martin. Court of Appeals, Albany, N. Y.438 October 6. 1903. My dear Mr. Pratt: Those are admirable editorials , and I thank you for them. I need not say how much I appreciate all you have done. With regard be believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Sereno S. Pratt, The Wall Street Journal New York, N. Y.439 October 6, 1903. My dear General Crozier: I send you the " Revu des Doux Mendes", with an interesting article on the China relief expedition by the commander of the French contingent. Look it over and I shall talk with you about it as soon as I get the chance to see you. Sincerely yours, [Theodore] [Roosevelt] Brigadier General William Crozier, Chief of Ordinance, U. S. Army, War Department. 440 October 6, 1903. My dear Senator Dryden: The Attorney General informs me that he is seriously hampered in the administration of justice in New Jersey by the vacancy in the district attorneyship which has existed for the last six months. He ought not to wait any longer. The Attorney General is much planned with the special counsel named Wilson, of Red Bank, who he thinks would be eminently fitted for the place. Will you not, as soon as possible, give me your recommendation in the matter? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John F. Dryden, Newark, N. J.441 October 6, 1903. My dear Senator Kean: The Attorney General informs me that he is seriously hampered in the administration of justice in New Jersey by the vacancy in the district attorneyship which has existed for the last six months. He ought not to wait any longer. The Attorney General is much planned with the special counsel named Wilson, of Red Bank, who he thinks would be eminently fitted for the place. Will you not, as soon as possible, give me your recommendation in the matter? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Kean, Elizabeth, N. J.442 Personal October 7, 1903. Dear Curtis: I agree with you that was an admirable speech of Moody's- as good a one as I have read. I am surprised, however, that you people do not take the democratic platform, where it arraigns us about scandals, circulate William's letter, and point out who McBreanay, the secretary of the democratic convention and campaign manager of Gaston's, is. Fred Stimson and Billy Gaston make a wretched showing for the class of 1900. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Curtis Guild, Jr., Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts. 443 October 7, 1903. Mrs. Wilson S. Bissell, Buffalo, N. Y. Accept my profound sympathy in your great sorrow. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.444 October 7, 1903 My dear Mr. Johnson: You have probably already received the line I wrote you when the cad news of your father came. I thank you for having thought of me. I directed flowers to be sent to Loudon Cemetery. I hope they reached there. Your father's friendship has meant a great deal to me, and I join with you in deploring his loss. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Bradley S. Johnson, Rockcastle, Goochland County, Virginia. 445 October 7, 1903 My dear Senator Quay: When is there any chance of your coming to Washington? As you know, I tried in vein to get you to Oyster Bay last summer. Cannot you come down here? There are a number of things I would like to consult you about. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. M. S. Quay, Beaver, Pa. 446 October 7,1903. My dear Crosby: I am delighted with the picture, and thank you heartily. I could not have had anything that would please me more. Will you forward the enclosed note to Mr. Schreyvogel? With hearty thanks, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John Schuyler Crosby, 206 West Fifty-Second Street, New York, N. Y.447 October 7, 1903. My dear Mr. Schreyvogel: Mr. Crosby has just forwarded to me the reproduction of your Custer picture. I am delighted with it. I have always greatly admired the picture, and I am particularly pleased to receive this reproduction of it. With hearty thanks, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles Schreyvogal, Care of Mr. John Schuylan Crosby 206 West Fifty-Second Street, New York, N. Y. 448 495 Personal October 7, 1903 My dear Mr. Knox: Everyone has been telling me that it is well-nigh impossible to get a conviction from a District jury of a government official. I feel that every effort should be strained to get convictions - most of all against such scoundrels as Machen, Beavers, Barrett, etc. Besides exercising the greatest care in the choice of juries, can not the District Attorney suggest to the Judge that the jury be shut up? I ask your personal oversight of these cases, or at least that you should exercise some supervisory or directory care, because they seem to me so vitally important. I rank them second only to the Northern Securities case among all the legal work that has been done under my administration. The offenses committed by these miscreants in the Post Office Department are offenses against the root principle of our government, and indeed of all successful popular government. I am more449 anxious than I can say to have these people punished, not in the least out of revenge, but for the sake of good government. May I ask you to give some of your personal attention to this matter? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. P. C. Knox, Attorney General.450 Personal October 7, 1903. My dear Senator Warren: Has anything come up to which I can appoint young Grove Porter? As you know, I should like very much to do something for him. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Francis E. Warren, U. S. S. Cheyenne, Wyoming.451 Personal October 7, 1903. My dear Mr. Bowdish: I have gone carefully over the case of Anderson, and I am very sorry to say I am constrained to deny the request for his pardon. What you have said and what Mr. Dutcher and others have said, has had full weight with me. If I could deal with this case alone I should grant the pardon; but I cannot deal with it alone. I must consider the effect upon the public service and the country. Anderson, a man of good social position and political standing, attempted to bribe an officer of the Navy in the matter of a government contract. This is a peculiarly heinous offense, and it belongs to a class of offenses against which all men who wish well to the Republic are bound to wage relentless war. The briber is often considered to be in a different position from the bribe taker. In such a case as this there is certainly no distinction to be drawn between them. If there is one thing I am more anxious to do than all else, it is cut out corruption452 from the governmental service. I can not consistently war against corruption in some cases, and then when with difficulty pardoning the offender. With regard, Sincerely yours, [Theodore] [Roosevelt] Dr. Wellesley W. Boudish, Sixth Avenue M. E. Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.453 Personal October 7, 1903 My dear Mr. Davis: I shall talk over that with you as soon as you can come on here to lunch; and I shall show you some letters of Abraham Lincoln giving the reasons why he, on so many occasions, was content to accept misrepresentation rather than go into the endless task of explaining his position, or answering those who misrepresented it, or even those who in a some cases honestly understood it. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. L. Clarke Davis, The Public Ledger, Philadelphia.454 184 Personal October 7, 1903. My dear Dr. Abbott: Soon I should like you to come on to go over the postal matters. I shall have Bonaparte and Bristow to meet you. Could you not spend a night here? There is one thing to which I should like to call your attention. In a recent number of The Outlook you most properly condemn the dreadful murder of that colored missionary in Louisiana. Has your attention been attracted to the unspeakable foulness and violence of the creature Vardaman, who has won the governorship of Mississippi? The more I have studied what you have been instrumental in bringing to light in Delaware, the more I have been inclined, though reluctantly, to accept your view of Addicks. But accepting without question all that Mr. Kennan alleges about Addicks, it remains true that Vardaman, on Vardaman's own admissions, - on his boastful admissions - is as far below Addicks as Addicks is below any upright public servant. Be it remembered, moreover, that Addicks has not won in Delaware, and that Vardaman has won in Mississippi. I never heard of Vardaman until he was nominated, but it suited him to pretend that I was hostile to his nomination. I could not even repeat to you the unspeakably foul language which he has used about me. It is the kennel filth which the foulest New York blackguard would not dare to use on the stump, nor the foulest New York newspaper print.455 2 Yet Vardaman uses it in his paper, and on the stump boasts of using it, and is elected Governor. His opponents oppose him at the primaries, and when he wins, surrender to him. The Republicans who oppose Addicks have not surrendered to him, and Addicks has not won. I write you because it seems to me that neither Addicksion, nor Tammany, nor the corruption unearthed by Folk in St. Louis, is in any way or shape as foul and as hideous as the unspeakable lowness which has triumphed in the person of Vardaman. Need for condemnation for what has been done in Delaware or St. Louis or New York is, in my opinion, not one-tenth as great as it is for what has been done [out] in Mississippi. If you [only?] will turn to the Washington Times of September 16th you will see quotations avowed by Vardaman, which, as I have stated, I am not willing to put on paper, but which will give you an idea of the character of the man. By the way, I enclosed you a letter which I wrote to L. Clarke Davis, as it touches on some points in which you may be interested. This is of course for your own information. With regards, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott, Editor, The Outlook, 387 Fourth Avenue, New York. (Enclosure)456 Personal October 7, 1908. My dear Dr. Shaw: Some time I should like you to come her, as I would like to go ever two or three matters you touch on in the last issue of the Review of Reviews. I send you a copy of [*a*] the letter which I wrote Mr. Davis, in which I speak of corruption, of the Delaware situation, and of labor matters. As a regards the Isthmian Canal, it seems to me that your condemnation should be, not for the Washington authorities, but for the people of the United States. As yet, the people of the United States are not willing to take the ground of building the canal by force. That is literally the only way it could be obtained [???] on the terms on which both you and I would like to see it obtained. To obtain such terms now by bribery or violence would be wrong; and they could not otherwise be obtained. Whether in the future there will be misconduct among the the people of the Isthmus, or among those controlling the Isthmus, such as to bring about a condition of things that will warrant the action we desire being taken openly, honestly, and in good faith, I do not know. But I do know, and events have shown, that any effort to get more than we attempted to get by treaty would have failed. Treaties are not made by one party in [vacuo?], but with other contracting parties. As yet no one has pointed out one step we have taken in the matter which could have been better taken.457 2 What I wish to call your attention to, however, is what you said about "Major" Vardaman in Mississippi; following on what you said of Addicks in Delaware. The Review of Reviews is one of the greatest and most influential organs of sound public sentiment in the country. If it does not stand against elementary wrongdoing, we cannot expect that any organ will stand against it. The abyss between the best public servant we have ever had and Addicks, even accepting all you say of Addicks, is less than the abyss between Addicks and Vardaman as Vardaman not merely admits but boasts himself to be. In your recent editorial you speak in a kindly way of Vardaman, saying that Northern men probably misunderstand him much as he and his sympathizers misunderstand me. Do you really know the things that Vardaman, through his organs and on the stump, has said about me? I am not willing to put them on paper. If you turn to the Washington Times of September 16th last, you will see quotations from them. The foulest blackguard in New York would not in a political speech venture to make such statements, nor the foulest New York newspaper venture to publish them. Yet they appear in the newspaper owned and edited by Vardaman, and he defiantly admits them and repeats them in his speeches, and is elected Governor of Mississippi in consequence. He is now supreme in Mississippi, as Addicks is not in Delaware; and the Democracy has accepted him gladly and fully, as the Republican party has never accepted Addicks. I wish to repeat that he is as much below Addicks (accepting your view of Addicks [reluctantly?]) as Addicks is below the most high-minded man in public life; and good government, and decency, and cleanliness of thought and word mean458 3 nothing if this man's offenses are to be in any way or shape condoned. As I say, I am not willing to foul my pages with what the man has said. You can find them in Vardaman's paper, the Commonwealth, and you can find quotations from them in the Washington Times of September 16th. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. Albert Shaw, Editor, Review of Reviews, New York.459 October 8, 1903. Personal. My dear Governor Murphy: A few days ago General Miles went to one of the lending men in New York and told him, as illustrating my attitude toward property, that you had recently said that I had informed you that I was certain I was going to win the Northern Securities suit and thereby ruin Pierpont Morgan and Jim Jim Hill, or, to use his exact words, " turn Morgan and Hill into the street." My informant was somewhat upset over the matter and at first declined to allow me to ask you about it. I told him that I should insist upon this because I was absolutely certain that the story was merely a lie of Miles, and that you had never said one word such as you were represented as saying. Indeed, my memory is that we did not speak of the Northern Securities suit at all; and of course I never at any time used any such language as that imputed to me about Hill or Mor- 460 gan, or expresses the slightest feeling of vindictiveness or personal hostility toward either. I am half ashamed to bring such an absurd that if I alone were cognizant of it, I should not bother you to deny it, for I should never think a second time of it; but it is astonishing what some sensible men are capable of believing, and so I should like you to write me just a line on the matter. Can you be on here this fall? I would greatly like to see you. What a delightful time we had on [?] life! Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Franklin Murphy, Governor of New Jersey, Newark, N. J. 461 October 8, 1903. My dear Senator: I have always in the abstract favored the policy you advocate, but I could not commit myself to it in the concrete until I looked over our present treaties, and also considered the full effect of such legislation at the present time. I thank you for sending me your speech. With high regard, and hoping to see you soon. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. S. B. Elkins, Elkins, W. Va. 462 Ocober 8, 1903. My dear Mr. Swarts: I wish I could come, but it is a simple, physical impossibility. I cannot get away from Washington now. I am sorry, for as you know one of my great desires is to see the West take an ever larger share in Harvard in all ways, but most of all as regards the number of students it sends there. With real regret, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. S. L. Swarts, Secretary, Associated Harvard Clubs, 705 Olive Street, St. Louis, Mo.463 October 8,1903. My dear Mr. Higginson: I should be very glad if some time in the not too far future you could come on and spend the night with me at the White House. There are several matters in connection with the financial and business situation I should like to talk over with you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Henry L. Higginson, Boston, Mass. 464 October 8, 1903. My dear Mr. Frankel: I am extremely interested in your work in connection with Ellis Island. When you are through with your investigation can you not come here and see me, so that I may go over the various problems with you? With regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. Lee K. Frankel, Bureau of Jewish Charities, 356 Second Avenue, New York, N. Y. 465 October 8, 1903. My dear Mr. Philbin: I thank you for your very interesting letter. I entirely agree with the course you are pursuing as regards the investigation. I have written Mr. Frankel as you suggest. When I see you I wish to tell you of the extremely interesting conversation I had with the six labor leaders. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Eugene A. Philibin, 52 William Street, New York.466 October 8, 1903. Dear Murray: Of course I should infinitely rather have you come on and present that body to us. If there are 33 of them I could hardly have them at dinner; but what I should like would be to have them come in with you, and if you think best, with the British Charge, after dinner. I shall have John Hay and two or three other members of the Cabinet to meet them. Cant' you spend the night with us? Any evening you select will do, but just let me know at once which it is, so that I may keep it open. Always yours, Theodore Roosevelt President Nicholas Murray Butler, Columbia University, New York. 467 October 8, 1903. Dear Helen: I think that was very generous of you, and it was done in the nicest possible way. I am very much obliged. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. W. Emlen Roosevelt 33 Wall Street, New York. 468 October 8, 1903. My dear Judge: I wish there was any such luck in store for me as joining you for a fox hunt. I can't get away from Washington now, and I have about made up my mind that while I am President it is idle for me to try to take a hunt. I can not keep reporters and gentlemen with kodaks away from the hunt, and I excessively dislike the spectacular side they thus give to it. With hearty thanks, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Allison, Chancery Court Chambers, Nashville, Tennessee.469 October 8, 1903. To the Civil Service Commission: This is being done in the Treasury Department. If it is working out well there I would like it to be done in the other Departments. Will you report to me about it?470 [*242*] Personal October 8, 1903. My dear Secretary Shaw: I have your letter relative to the restoration of Gilmer. Did you look over the report of Bonaparte and Conrad prior to sending me this letter? Upon what do you base your statement about Gilmer's lack of tact in dealing with outsiders? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. L. M. Shaw, Secretary of the Treasury. P.S. Please advise me about Tracewell and Castle in connection with the report of Messrs. Bonaparte and Conrad on the Tulloch charges.471 October 8, 1903. My dear Mr. Morgan: Mr. Perkins tells me you may pass through Washington this fall. If so, I should much like to see you to talk over certain financial matters. With regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt J. Pierpont Morgan, Esq., 23 Wall Street, New York, N. Y.472 October 8, 1903. My dear Dr. Hamlin: I have carefully considered your very kind invitation presented through your Committee. I have the greatest interest in Howard University, but it is a simple impossibility for me to do as you desire. I can not undertake another engagment of any sort. I am now so crowded with work that I can not make an additional engagement at the present time. I have great difficulty in meeting the very few to which I am already committed. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Dr. Teunis S. Hamlin, 1306 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D.C.473 October 8, 1903. Dear Brander: I was much interested in the article you enclosed. I shall get a copy of the Political Science Quarterly at once. I thoroughly enjoyed catching a glimpse of you. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Brander Matthews, 681 West End Avenue, N. W. Corner 93rd Street, New York, N. Y.[*474*] Personal October 8, 1903. My dear Congressman: The statement alleged to have been made by the inspector that I "ordered" the indictment of Senator Green, or any one else, is a lie - just as much a lie as if it had been stated that I ordered that any one should not be indicted. My directions have been explicit and are explicit now. Any one who is guilty is to be prosecuted with the utmost rigor of the law, and no one who is not guilty is to be touched. I care not a rap for the political or social influence of any human being when the question is one of his guilt or innocence in such a matter as the corruption of the government service. I note what you say, that the circulation of this report about me may alienate the support of many of Senator Green's friends from my administration. Frankly, I feel that any one who would believe such a story must be either lacking in intelligence, or else possessed of malignant credulity. If any one is to be alienated from me by the fact that I direct the prosecution of republican or democrat, without regard to his political or social standing, when it appears that he is guilty of gross wrong doing - why, all I can say is, let him be alienated. If District Attorney Curtiss has anything which should be known to the Attorney General or to me as regards this suit, I should be delighted to see him. But frankly, I have not the slightest desire to475 2 see him if his visit is to be in the interest "of the welfare of the party" or of my "success." In a case like this, where the crime charged is one that strikes at the foundations of the Commonwealth, I should hold myself unfit for this office if I considered for one moment either my own welfare, or the interest of the party, or anything else except the interests of justice. Respectfully, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John W. Dwight, M.C., Dryden, N.Y.476 Personal October 8, 1903. My dear Mr. Bristow: I enclose you a letter sent me by Congressman Dwight, with a copy of the answer I have sent him. Will you have Inspector Mayer questioned as to his alleged statement? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. J. L. Bristow, Fourth Assistant Postmaster General. (Enclosure)477 October 9,1903 My dear Mr. Harriman: There is a no hurry about my seeing you, for the only thing that could be pressing- that is, the financial situation- is not so at present. I was interested in the statement you enclosed. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. E. H. Harriman, 120 Broadway, New York, N. Y. 478 October 9, 1903. My dear Mr. Gilbert: If I find I can properly put in the paragraph you wish I most certainly shall do so. In any event I shall do all I can to secure the adoption of a measure designed to meet the end you have in view. But I find that it is most undesirable to recommend specific legislation in detail. Last year, for instance, you will not find that I recommend any special bureaus under the Department of Commerce. If my memory serves me, I purposely left the matter as general as possible, so as to avoid making specific recommendations as to the means. However this is all merely a question as to how I can best help to achieve the result in view. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Dr. J. E. Gilbert, Secretary, American Society of Religious Education, Washington Savings Bank Building, Washington, D. C.479 October 9,1903. My dear Mr. Gleed: I am anxious to see you to talk over two or three matters. When are you coming East? I should like you to give me warning in advance, so that you could either lunch or dine with me. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles S. Gleed, Topeka, Kansas. 480 431 October 9, 1903. Personal. My dear Mr. Conrad: I thank you very much for your frank and prompt note. I may mention that Secretary Shaw has furnished me with the statements of a number of people, including Mr. Mosely, which certainly go to show that Mr. Gilmer is tactless and overbearing in his dealings with outsiders, and that the action taken in removing him from his former position was entirely justified. Secretary Shaw in making the examination upon the facts brought forth in your report concerning Tracewell and Castle, and upon further examining their records, has come to the conclusion, rather tentatively, that it is for the interest of the public service; but he thinks that it would be unfortunate for the public service if Mr. Tracewell were removed. nterest of the p With great regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Holmes Conrad, Home life Building , Fifteenth and G Streets, Washington, D. C.482 Ocotber 9, 1903. My dear Mr. Thompson: I send my photograph to little Miss Josephine Thompson. I am mighty glad that there is so vigorous an exponent of Americanism enlisted in the war against race suicide! Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon, Joseph O. Thompson, Birmingham, Alabama. (Enclosure)483 425 Personal October 10, 1903. My dear Mr. Bonaparte: I have received your letter in which you advise that the Grand Jury be reconvened in the event of Mr. Beach being unable to explain his position. I shall take the matter up with Attorney General Knox at once. Thanking you, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles J. Bonaparte, 216 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland. 484 October 10, 1903. Personal. My dear Governor: I thank you for your letter. It is exactly the letter I supposed I would get from you. Perhaps the report originated as you suggest- most likely General Miles simply made it up from the beginning. I would not say anything about it to Mr. Morgan unless I ask you to. Meanwhile, do get down here whenever you can. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Franklin Murphy, Governor of New Jersey, Newark, N. J. 485 483 October 10, 1903. Personal My dear Mr. Bonaparte: I laughed when I received your letter at the idea of my good friend Conrad thinking I could thus interpret him. Until I received it, it would literally never have entered my head that anyone could suppose I would be capable of entertaining such a supposition. When I entertain any such feelings of either you or Conrad, you may as well make up your minds that I have lost all faith in public life: Seriously, of course? I see that Mr. Conrad would naturally fall to connect the two incidents. i ought to add, however, that Secretary Shaw has furnished me with the statements of a dozen men, including Mr. Moseley, who testify to Gilmer's want of tact, rudeness, and captiousness in dealing with outsiders. Shaw feels very strongly that Tracwell liked him and had no intention of punishing him, and that if neither Beavers nor Perry Heath nor any of other wrongdoers had been in existence, Gilmer would nevertheless have 486 been trusted exactly as he has been trusted. He feels that he could not advise, or agree without protect to Gilmer's reinstatement or promotion at present. Next week or the week or the week after I shall ask Mr. Knox to get Mr. Conrad to meet me with him to go over Bristow's report. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles J. Bonaparte, 216 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland. 487 October 10, 1903. Personal My dear Mr. Perkins: I received from Governor Murphy the following note in regard to General Miles's statement of which you told me: "Thank you greatly for calling my attention to the report which has reached you. You are entirely correct in your opinion of it. It is a lie in its statement and in its inference." Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. George W. Perkins, Care J. P. Morgan & Co., New York.488 October 10, 1903. Dear Cotty: I am really touched by your thoughtfulness about Ted. On receiving your last letter I at first wrote to Ted, saying to him just about what I shall say to him now, that he ought not to go on the higher Eleven this year on every account. Mrs. Roosevelt, curiously enough, was inclined to the opposite view. She is very wise about the children and she knows far more about them than I do. She said she thought that Ted had felt that he was not standing well with the boys, and that if now he were debarred from playing where he so earnestly desired, it might make him brood over the business, and that it might be better to let him run the risk of a broken rib or arm than thus to brood. I entirely agree with you as to the wisdom 486 of the action taken and shall therefore write Ted accordingly. Indeed, I do wish I could be up at Groton and could walk with you and play squash! Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Endicott Peabody, Groton School, Groton, Mass. 480 October 10, 1903. Dear Ted: I have received letters from the Rector, from Mr. Woods and from Mr. Billings. They all say that you should play on the third squad, and Mr. Woods says you are now satisfied to do so. This was my first, and as I am convinced, my [real] sound judgement in the case. If you get smashed up now in in a serious way it may prevent your playing later. As I think I wrote you, I do not in the least object to your getting smashed if it is for an object that is worth while, such as playing on the Grotom team or playing on your class team when you get to Harvard. But I think it a little silly to run any imminent risk of a serious smash simply to play on the second squad instead of the third. i am judging for you as I would for myself. When I was young and rode across country I was light and tough, and if I did, as actually happened, break an arm or a rib491 no damage ensued and no scandal was caused. Now I am stiff and heavy, and any accident to me would cause immense talk and I do not take the chances; simply because it is not worth while. On the other hand, if I should now go to war and have a brigade as I had my regiment before Santiago, I should take any chance that was necessary; because it would be worth while. In other words, I want to make the risk to a certain [accident] extent commemorate with the object gained. Your loving father, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, Groton School, Groton, Mass .492 448 October 19, 1903. Personal My sear Mr. Knox: I enclose you Bonaparte's letter. It impresses me a good deal. I feel as Bonaparte does, that in view of the circumstances of the case of Conrad's advice, and of the Grand Jury's statement, it would have been better if the District Attorney had frankly laid the whole case before the grand Jury. I should like to take this up with you as soon as you get back next week; or perhaps it would be well if you summon Conrad and Bonaparte, and Robb and Beach to a meeting, and afterwards have me see them with you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon P. C. Knox, Attorney General. (Enclosure) 493 October 10, 1903. My dear Mr. Woods: Mrs. Roosevelt has said al along that she thought your judgment would be best about Ted. I am delighted with your letter, and have written Ted accordingly at once. With hearty [??????] Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Arthur H. Woods, Esq., Groton, School, Groton, Mass. 494 CABE - TO BE SENT IN CIPHER. October 11, 1903. Taft, Manila. I deem it very important you should get here in January if you can. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. (Official) October 10, 1903. Dear Mr. Mayfield: I thank you for your the photograph of your interest- ing family. I am proud of Mrs. Mayfield and your- self as American citizens, and heartily congratulate you both. With all good wishes, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Henry Clay Mayfield, Mayfield, Washington.