VOLUME 88 November 18, 1908 to December 13, 1908 SERIES 288 Last page index 11 28 44 84 112 125 140 157 182 208 217 248 266 307 318 339 344 366 395 420 429 450 464 479 EndState 83-136-335-336-480 Treasury 420 War 10-30-104-167-172-190-220-402-442-463-465-467-479 Interior Navy 68-138-156-171-222-419-474 Agriculture Com. & Labor. Atty. General 57-318-448 P.M. General 100-430A B Acheson, A. Campern 56 Advisory Board on Fuels etc. 234-6-8-40 Abbott, Dr. Lyman 59-90-166-456-473 Atkinson, Wilmer 63 Armstrong, R.B. 75 Athletic League. Public Schools 146. Abbott, E.A. 161 Allison, Chancellor John 219 Associated Press 312 Abbott, Laurence T. 432A B Buren, Frank 1 Burke, Jas F. 3 Barringer, D.M. 11 Braun, W.F 18 Beveridge, Senator 24 Baldwin, E.F. 26 Barbour, Mrs. M. 37 Butt, Gen. McC 42 Brenner, Victor D. 54 Bachert, Max 71 Brooks, Sydney 79 Buckner, S.B. 101 Bowen, Clarence W. 123 British Ambassador Brice 141-173 Brooks Jno. Graham 158 Bridges, Robert 174-263-286-377 Burns, W.T. 193 Brown, Justice H.B. 205 Boyle, James 206 Barton, Rear Ad. J.K. 234 Bliss Cornelius N. 260 Buxton, E.N. 283 Bennett, March G. 294 Banks, Charles 305 Boke, Geo. H. 310 Bacon, Robert 326 Brent, Bishop C.H. 356 Brown, Wm Garrett 385 Baker, Mrs. Abby G. 392 Bishop, J.B. 403 Butler, J.G. 407 Brady, Jas. F. 442 Brass, Ernest 443 Becker, Walter R 453 Buchtel, Gov. H.A. 464 Bigelow, Dr. W.S. 494 Blair, F. Van Dyke 495 C D Cortelyou - see front "Treasury" Cunningham, Henry W. 17 Cowles, Mrs. W. S. 52 Cromer, Lord 110 Cullen F. B. 131 Crampton, C. Ward 146 Cross W. R. 150 Crozier Gen. Wm. 170 Cuban Minister 182 Civil Serv. Com'n 192-194 Cherry Wm S. 227 Crockett, Ingram 228 Chief Tom 254 Civil Service Reform League, 288 Collier, Robert J. 289-376 Chapman, Frank M. 292-397 Cooley Mr. Mrs. A. W. 308 Carpenter, Frank O. 317 Century Co. see "Scott, F. H." "China" 340 Curtin, Mrs. Jeremiah 354-435 Chanler, Winthrop 357 Chicago Hist. Society 371 Cannon J. G. 396 Cannon, Ralph H 408 Cromwell Wm N. 424 Camp, Walter 457 Carnegie, Andrew 471 Cody, Col. W. F. 488 Cooper, Wm E. 490 Cutting, Wm. B. 491 Chambers, Julius 498C D Douglas, Albert 55 De Weese, Deill 64 Doane, Rev. John 85 Donald, Malcolm 112 duPont, Senator 148 De Auesada, Gonzals 182 Dean, Dudley S. 212 Depew, Senator 215 Day, Holman 229 Darwin, Leonard 233 Davis, Geo. W. 328 Dana, Richd H 329 Dalzell, John 399 Day, Holman 440 Darwin, Leonard 485 Dolan, Thos J 489E F Elwes, N. J. 40 Eliot, Pres. Chas. W. 95 Eames. Edward A. 128 Eddy. Frank M. 316 Emerson. Edwin 369 Egan. Maurice F. 410 Earl of Warwick 449 E F Fassett, J. S. 4 Frost, Pres. W. G. 5 French Ambassador 29 Filene, Edward A. 39 French, Albah P. 61 Frye, Senator 99 Foulke, Wm. D. 102 - 296 - 297 Forbes, W. Cameron 110 Ferguson, R. H. M. 175 - 353 Fairbanks, Vice Pres. 439 Frantz, Orville G. 470G H Guild, Hon. Curtis 8 Gilder, Richard Watson 21 - 426 - 437 - 441 Gavegan, Edward J. 38 - 444 Gillilan, Strickland W. 65 Gladden, Washington 98 Garle, Frank 121 Grinnell, Geo. Bird 147 Garland, Hamlin 187 Grosvenor, Gilbert H. 209 George, Edwin S. 242 Goodwin, Elliott H. 288 Gear, Bishop, David H. 311 Graves, John Temple 320 Grunsfeld, Ernest A. 373 Gavin, Tony 445 Gary, E. H. 486G H Heller, Edmund 13 - 359 Harrison Russell B. 20 - 404 Higginson, Henry L. 35 Hasbrouck, Hon. G. D. B. 60 Holmes, Justice 74 Harris, Frank 115 Haughton, Percy 155 Hooper, Wm. 177 Hawkes, Clarence 188 Hatt, Prof W. K. 236 Harris, Bishop M. C. 279 Hale, Wm Bayard 321 Hoyt, Henry M. 325 Hitchcock, Frank H. 332 Howland, Henry E. 367 Head, Franklin H. 371 Howze, Lt. Col. R. L. 380 Holland Soc. of Phila. 401 Herrick, Gov. M. T. 438 - 462 Hartzell, Bishop J. C. 455 Hill Rev. John W. 472 Heney, Francis, J. 477 Hurlbut, Dean B. S. 500I J Ireland. Archbishop John 43 Interstate Com. Comm 191 Irvine, Alexander T. 295Jusserand. J. J. 29 Jones. Wm P. 118 Johnson. Wm. H. 331 Johnson. Harry H 345-347-348-349-351-352 Jenks, Prof. J. W. 363 Johnson. Walter H 416 " Frank S. 451 Knott. Richd W. 6 Kleitz. Post Qmm 30 Knox. Senator 44 Kean Sen. 159 Knox. Senator 423-425-458 K L Lurton, H. L. 7 Llewellyn, W. H. H. 12 Lilly, B. V. 27 Lodge, Sir Oliver 32 Low, Seth 69-113-124-304-493 Laurier, Wilfrid 73 Lowell, A. Lawrence 84 Lee, Arthur 94 {Loomis, John T. Lowdermilk's} 125-145 Longworth, Nicholas 126 Leech, Jno. S. 149 Lindley, Dr. Walter 151 Larrabee, Maj C. F. 168 Lane, T. K. 191 Lee, Capt. Fitzhugh 195 Lewis, T. L. 238 Lodge, Geo Cabot 248 Lyon, Cecil A. 249 Lee, Chas. 278 Lambert, Alex 309 Lombard, Frank A. 370 Lodge, Senator 384 Lindsey, Ben B. 412 Long, Comdr. A. T. 415 Lytton, Henry C. 469 LMcAdou. Wm 36 McCook. Anson G. 259 McCormick. Robert R. 454 McMc M Meyer, P. M. Gen. see front Moss, Frank 33, Madeira, Percy C. 106-132, Mead, F. S. 111, Morse, Richd D. 116, Monin, Dean Louis C. 186, Milner, Rev. Dr. D. C. 225, Morton, Paul 230, Mason, Rear Ad. N. E. 240, Moody, Wm. H. 261, Magruder, G. Lloyd 265, Morley, John 271, MacMonnies, F. W. 307, Maxim, Hiram Percy 360-468, MacQueen, Peter 381 Macnaughtan, Mrs. Allan 497 N O Newbery, T. H. (See front page) -------------------------------------- Noel, Gov. E. F. 9, Noyes, Walter C. 52, Nathan, Lt. Col. Sir Matthew 92, National Geographic Society 209, Newbury, Asst. Sec. (resignation) 222, Northcott, Richard 256, Neil Chas. P. 460, Olmstead, Jno B. 19 Osborne, Hon. WmH. 282 O'Reilly, Rob't M 327 O'Connell, Bishop 421 P Q Post, Melville D. 71 Public Schools Athletic League 146 Pres. NY. Republican Club 152 Pringle John D. 204 Parsons, Herbert 216-355 Platt, Senator 217 Peabody, Dr. Endicott 291 Pritchett, Henry S. 306 Porter, Robert P. 409 Pascal, Miss Margaret P. 428 Pease, Alfred E 481 R S Sullivan, Jas. E. 15-107-137-157 Shelton, W.T. 16 Scott, Frank H. 23-319 Smith, Chas. B. 25 Saxe, John G. 58 Selous, T.C. 66-134 Scribner's Sons, Chas. 97-436 Shaw, Richard E. 153 Strachey, J. St. Loe 183 Strandvold, Geo. S. 189 Shiras, Geo. 3d 214 Sim[p]son, Leslie 218 Swadener, Edward E. 223 Scherck, Hy. Joseph 224 Sledge, L.L. 226 Stone, Fred A. 243 Sullivan, John L. 253 Sheldon, Geo. R. 258-374-427 Smith, Delavan 297 Stone, Melville E. 312-244-378 Seligman, Prof. E.R.A. 361 R S Thompson, John W. 41 Taft, Wm H 76-108-211-231-333-398-434 Thompson, Mrs Hugh S. 122-280 Terry, James T 245 Tom, Chief 254 Trevelyan, Sir Geo Otto 267 Tracy, Jas F. 484 T U U U U U UV-W Von Kapherr , Egan Baron 72 Ver Wieber Ernest 119 V von Kaltenborn , Hans 130 von Briesen , Arthur 247 Vanderhoogt. CW 401V W Wright, see front "War" Wadsworth, W.A. 129-210 Wilcox. Amsley 154-330 Walsh, Dr. Jos. J. 160 Wingate, Sir Reginald 162-413 Wood, Leonard 169-208-483 Wanamaker, Rodman 207 Wiley, Hon. O. C. 244 White, W.A. 262-431 Wilhelm II, 266 Winthrop, Beekman 323 Wise, Jus. C. 324 Watson, Thos. E. 334 Willis, H. Parker 365 Winchester Rptg Arms Co. 406 Wynne, John J. 450 Washburn, Cls, 487 Wingate, Gen. Geo. M. 496 Warwick, Earl of 499Y Z Y. M. C. A (N.Y.) 117 Youth's Companion 372 Y Y Qu QuRoot, Elihu see front "State" Rositter, W.S. 14 Republican Club, Pres of N.Y. 152 Reid, Whitelaw 177[?]-257-382 Royal Geographic Soc. 233-485 Russel-Scove. Miss Anna 255 Rodd, Sir Rennell 264 Robinson, Douglas 293 Red Cross Appts. 324 and following ppd. Roswell, CH. 358 Rideing, Wm H. 372 Rodger, John 405 Reagan, Chief Michael 445 Robertson, Miss Alice M. 452 Reid, Chas. E. 466 Roosevelt, Theo. Jr. 45-202-390 Roosevelt, Archibald 86-198-389 Roosevelt, Kermit 88-200-394 Z Z1 November 18, 1908. My dear Mr. Buren: Thank you for your letter of the 18th. Will you say to Senator Flint, this: I do not want to delay about that appointment. For reasons which I will explain when I see the Senator, I do not feel at liberty to nominate Mr. Ward, and moreover, I feel that Allen is the man who should be appointed. Things have gone on in connection with cattle importations in that neighborhood which I do not like, and I feel that it is better on every account to make an appointment that comes out of the run of mere political appointments. There is another matter. Mr. Newberry, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, will on December 1st be made Secretary of the Navy. I should like to secure a first-class man from California to put in his place as Assistant Secretary. But of course it must be a man with a genuine2 interest in naval affairs. The man must of course understand that I can only offer him an appointment until March 4th. President Taft will replace or retain any man whom he wishes, and I can not make any requests of him. Does the Senator know a really first-class man, thoroly fit for the job, whom he could recommend to me for this place? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt [*??????*] Mr. Frank Buren, Private Secretary to Senator Flint, United States Senate. 3 November 18, 1908. My dear Mr. Burke: Your letter of the 17th instant has been received. I should greatly like to appoint Mr. Pringle to that office and I earnestly hope that you and my other friends in Pittsburg can see your way clear to recommend him. Mr. Pringle has done first class work, not only for the Republican Party, but for the country, in this paper and I would like to favor him. How do you feel in the matter? With thanks for your kind note, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. James Francis Burke, Pittsburg, Pa.4 November 18, 1908. My dear Fassett: I have your letter of the 16th instant. It is as frank and [un???ing] as all your letters. When you come to lunch I shall ask you to bring Mrs. Fassett with you, especially to talk over that Women's Federation Building. With hearty good wishes, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. J. S. Fassett, Elmira, N.Y.5 November 18, 1908. My dear President Frost: I am afraid that I cannot do what you request without losing another day from the office. I am really disappointed, but of course it is not possible for me to spend another day away from Washington at that time, particularly with Congress in session. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt President Wm. Goodell Frost, Berea College, Berea, Ky.[*6*] November 18, 1908. My dear Mr. Knott: Would you be willing to write the letter to Taft, instead of to me? I should gladly lay it before him, but I think it would carry much more weight if you wrote to him direct. If you care to, refer to me in the letter, saying that, if he asks me, [???] you know I will vouch in every way for you and urge the adoption of the policies you recommend in reference to the Federal appointments at Louisville. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Richard W. Knott, Editor, Evening Post, Louisville, Ky.7 November 18, 1908. Dear Judge: Three cheers for Horace H. Lurton, 3d: Now about Brown, I will take the matter up with Luke Wright. I am a little uncertain whether this administration ought to appoint another Tennesseean. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Horace H. Lurton, United States Circuit Judge, Nashville, Tennessee.8 November 18, 1908. Dear Curtis: I have your letter of the 17th instant. I simply could not accept even that attractive invitation. I can not accept any invitation of any kind now. I know well the character of the Tavern Club, and if I accepted any invitation it would be a particular pleasure to accept its invitation. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt His Excellency, Curtis Guild, Jr., Governor of Massachusetts, Boston. 9 November 18, 1908. My dear Governor Noel: I do not feel at liberty to refuse to place this telegram before you for your consideration. Of course I can make no suggestion whatever in the matter. With all good wishes, and assuring you that I think of our different meetings with the most genuine pleasure, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Edmond F. Noel, Governor of Mississippi, Jackson, Mississippi. Enclosure10 November 18, 1908. To the Secretary of War: Wherever there is a vacancy for bandmaster in a white regiment, transfer a white bandmaster from a colored regiment to it and fill the place by the assignment of a colored man. This is to carry out the spirit of the order I have already issued. As soon as it can be done without injustice, I wish all the colored regiments supplied with colored bandmasters. Theodore Roosevelt 11 November 18, 1908. My dear Mr. Barringer: I have your letters of the 16th instant and return herewith the enclosures, as you request. I thank you not only for your letters, but for your kind offer in reference to the bear gun. Indeed I would accept gladly if I did not already have all the rifles I can take with me. Denby is a fine fellow, but I think Rockhill will be retained as Minister to China. With hearty regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. D. M. Barringer, 370 Bullitt Building, Philadelphia. Enclosures12 November 19, 1908. My dear Major: I have your letter of the 14th instant, and enclose for your information a copy of Secretary Straus' report about Murphy. Murphy's conduct was an outrage. There was no man for whom I had to work harder to get a place. I finally succeeded, and he immediately went on a spree and behaved in such a way that there was no alternative but to turn him out. I could not possibly reinstate him. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major W. H. H. Llewellyn, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Enclosure13 November 19, 1908. My dear Mr. Heller: I have your letter of the 13th. It is all right, and the incident is now probably forgotten. I hope you will soon be able to come on here so that we may all meet and discuss the details of the trip together. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Edmund Heller, University of California, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, California.14 November 19, 1908. My dear Mr. Rossiter: I have received those very interesting tables and thank you for sending them to me. Upon my word, they are rather melancholy! By the middle of this century it looks as if all the civilized races would have stopt increasing. Of course, by that time, or before that time, it is perfectly possible that we may have gotten aroused to the moral side of the matter (when I say "we" I mean the civilized peoples) and the tendency may be changed; but it certainly is a very [*???*] curious tendency now. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. W. S. Rossiter, Chief Clerk, Census Office, Washington, D.C.15 November 19, 1908. Private My dear Mr. Sullivan: I have your letter of the 18th instant, and I look forward to the receipt of the copy of your address. I quite agree with your feelings about that publication from the British Embassy. I had not known of it until you enclosed it to me. Moreover, in view of what you tell me about the English Amateur Athletic Association writing you, you could not refrain from action. I am sorry to hear of the death of Mr. Montgomery. With hearty goodwill, and the most cordial sympathy, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. James E. Sullivan, President, Amateur Athletic Union, 21 Warren Street, New York.16 November 19, 1908. My dear Mr. Shelton: I am very much obliged to you for sending me the old Latin dictionary belonging to my grandfather's brother. I am interested in the notes. It is most kind of you to have thought of me. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. W. F. Shelton, 216 West Armour Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri.17 November 19, 1908. My dear Mr. Cunningham: I have just received your letter and the really beautiful volume of the Class of '82 which you have sent me. Naturally I was particularly interested in what you said of Woodbury Kane, and only less so of what you said of Morton Goddard. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Henry W. Cunningham, 69 State Street, Boston, Mass. 18 November 19, 1908. My dear Mr. Braun: I am sorry to learn of the death of Major General Thomas J. Lucas at the end of his long and honorable career, in which he served both in the Mexican and Civil Wars. Pray present my sympathy to your daughter, the General's grandchild. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. W. F. Braun, The Peoples National Bank, Lawrenceburg, Indiana.19 November 19, 1908. My dear Mr. Olmsted: Will you give my heartiest regards to the Almy twins; long life to both Fred and Frank. I wish I could be with you at the dinner in their honor. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John B. Olmsted, Public Service Commission, Albany, N. Y. 20 [*Private*] November 19, 1908. My dear Harrison: All right. Perhaps you are wise, so I would ask you not to show the letter about Delevan Smith even to Smith himself, and keep it purely as a confidential communication for yourself. Now, my dear Colonel, I did not know that you ever wanted any position from me. I wish you had mentioned it sooner. Of course much would have depended upon what the position was. I have appreciated always your courtesy and kindness to me. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Col. Russell B. Harrison, 706 Newton Claypool Building, Indianapolis, Indiana.21 November 19, 1908. Dear Gilder: I have your note of the 18th. Of course you are welcome to show the letter and enclosure to Brown. I have sincerely admired Brown and I was genuinely shocked when I saw what he had written. One word of something entirely irrelevant. I was reading Trevelyan's Macaulay again last evening, and on page 298 of the new edition I came on his caustic comment on the people who think they can have a literature written to order? Don't you think that this applies to the excellent people who would try to get anyybody to write a national anthem to order? Julia Ward Howe's "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is an inspiration of genius. No other nation has so fine a poem for its national anthem, and there is a first-class tune for it - a great popular tune. There really is not a word of sectionalism in the poem. We 22 practically have Dixie as a national tune everywhere. There isn't the slightest reason why we should not have Julia Ward Howe's hymn as our national anthem. It is [?] waste of time to [?]. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Richard Watson Gilder, The Century Magazine, Union Square, New York. P.S. My dear fellow, the volume of poems has just [?] I am so touched and pleased at your mailing it to me. I shall enjoy it well; the [?]23 November 19, 1908. My dear Mr. Scott: I have your letter of the 18th instant and would be glad to have you go ahead and do whatever you think proper in the matter of that small volume. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Frank H. Scott, President, The Century Company, New York.24 November 19, 1908. My dear Senator: I have your letter of the 16th instant. It seems to me that it is mere folly to kick longer against the pricks. At the time of our conversation I urged you to let both States in at that time, and I think it would have been very much better to [?] so; but I acquiesced of course in your decision, and stated to Senator Flint that tho I should personally prefer to have the States admitted at once, yet if you declined to do so I thought it was from every standpoint disadvantageous to undertake the fight and that the[y] [?] had better fall in with your views - which, as far as I am aware, Senator Flint did. But I do feel very strongly that no good whatever comes of any further delay. You will have to take them both in. You can not take them both in together, and by keep-25 ing them out for a short time (which is all you can do)[?] you merely irritate the people there against the Republican party. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Albert J. Beveridge, U.S.S., Indianapolis, Indiana.26 November 19, 1908. My dear [?] Baldwin: I am sorry about your accident. I shall urge that complete power over all railroads be given to the Interstate Commerce Commission - power along all these lines. It is the only think to do. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Elbert F. Baldwin, Marheim, Lakewood, N.J.27 November 19, 1908. Friend Lilly: I have received your second letter. I send you a copy of my first letter, but you move about so much that I can't be dead sure that you will receive either of my letters. Now do let me hear from you whenever you can. I am always interested in you. I think you are about the best hunter of the real old Leatherstocking type that I ever met. When I come back from Africa I must manage to meet you so as to tell you about the trip. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. B. V. Lilly, La Palma Ranch, Muzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico. Enclosure28 November 19, 1908. My dear Mr. Smith: I thank you, and thru you, your congregation. Believe me, I enjoyed my visit to Jordanville. With all good wishes, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Charles B.[?] Smith, Jordanville, N.Y.29 November 20, 1908. My dear Mr. Ambassador: Here are he two lectures, of course only in rough draft. Will you look them over and then tomorrow if it is good weather I will get you to come in for tennis and you can speak about them at that time. Probably for your sins you will have to spend a business evening with me correcting them. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. J. J. Jusserand[?], The French Ambassador, 2460 Sixteenth Street.30 10 November 20, 1908. To the War Department: In view of the correspondence in the case of Post Quartermaster Kleitz it is perfectly evident that he is entitled to the appointment, if it stall appear that Gen. Weston wrote the letter referred to, to Gen. Peck. Please have the matter lookt up at once and unless the statements of Gen. Peck shall prove unfounded arrange for Kleitz to be appointed. His record seems to be excellent, and he has every reason to be keenly disappointed when, after in effect having been promised the appointment by Gen. Weston, he was not given it. Please have this attended to immediately. The enclosures are returned herewith. Theodore Roosevelt32 November 20, 1908. My dear Sir Oliver: I greatly appreciate your courteous invitation not only as coming from the University of Birmingham but as coming from you personally. But I have had to refuse a similar request from Cambridge already as well as requests from other bodies. I fear that it will not be possible for me to make more than one university address while in England. I wish it were in my power to accept your very kind invitation. With high regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Sir Oliver Lodge, Principal of the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England.33 November 20, 1908. My dear Mr. Moss: Indeed you may be sure that I shall never misunderstand any letter from you. You are one of the New Yorkers - one of the Americans in whom I most heartily believe, and whatever you say will have my most careful consideration. But, my dear Mr. Moss, it is not possible for me to answer "yes" to this suggestion of yours. Believe me, I deeply appreciate it. You and I have the same creed in these matters, and that creed is that the highest honor any American can attain is the chance to do real service without the slightest regard as to the particular kind of service that is involved. To give thoroly good government to New York, with all that implies, would be to render as signal service as can be rendered. But there are many reasons why I think that even a President who lived in New York City (and remember that my residence is not in New York City), would probably be less fit than many other men to render this particular service. To 34 do it, a man must be saturated with knowledge of the problems involved. His thoughts must have been for years turned in an especial direction. Now my thoughts have been turned in totally different directions, and I would have to learn the problems as an outsider would and the knowledge thus gained is not the knowledge that is needed. No, my dear Mr. Moss, I am certain that this is not my task. I hate to say "no" to a request of yours, but as to this I have no alternative. Now won't you come on here sometime and give me a chance to see you? Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Frank Moss, 299 Broadway, New York.35 November 20, 1908. My dear Major: Your two letters have come. I wish I could accept the very kind invitation of the Tavern Club but it is out of the question for me to accept any invitation now even as attractive a one as yours. Will you tell those who have asked me how much I appreciate their courtesy? I quite agree with what you say about the United States Steel Corporation and the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company, and am immensely interested in what you tell me about Agaesis'[?] action last year. But I do not believe that it would do for me to write such a letter as you suggest. You know the tendency is to attack me all the time on the theory that I am trying to give too much advice, and this would open a particularly favorable opportunity for making such an attack. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major Henry L. Higginson, 44 State Street, Boston, Mass.36 November 20, 1908. My dear Mr. McAdoo: Many thanks for your letter of the 19th. Those incidents are not only very amusing but indicate an entirely typical habit of mind among the very classes from whom my present critics are drawn. I shall read them to the Cabinet. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. William McAdoo, 30 Broad Street, New York.37 November 20, 1908. My dear Mrs. Barbour: That is extremely kind of you. Of course I should particularly like to receive Sir Alfred Pease's book. With high regard, and many thanks, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mrs. Margaret Barbour, 4 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, Scotland.[*38*] November 20, 1908. My dear Mr. Gavegan: Many thanks for your letter of the 14th. I feel you did important missionary work at and after that dinner! I particularly wanted you to meet Justice Holmes who is a fine fellow of the best New England Brahmin type, who unfortunately does not know the other American of the MacKay type. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Edward J. Gavegan, Tribune Building, New York.[*39*] November 20, 1908. My dear Mr. Filene: I thank you for your letter of the 18th instant. Indeed, I recognize the opportunity you give but it is simply out of the question for me to accept any other invitation to speak of any kind, sort or description. I have not the time to prepare another speech, and if I accepted one such an invitation I would have to accept literally hundreds. I hate to say no, but I have no alternative. With all good wishes, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Edward A. Filene, Boston, Mass.[*40*] November 20, 1908. My dear Mr. Elwes: I thank you for your kind letter. I wish I could accept out-of-hand but it simply is not possible. My stay in England will be so short that I do not venture now to make an engagement of any kind beyond those which are, so to speak, official, in connection with the delivery of the Romanes lecture. But I must manage to see you while in England, together with Selous, Littledals, Buxton and Millais. You could not mention four men whom I would rather see. With warm regards, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. N. J. Elwes, Colesborne Park, Cheltenham, England.41 November 20, 1908. My dear Mr. Thompson: Accept my hearty greetings for the Taft and Hughes club. I will remember the occasion of the dedication of the Douglas Monument at Rochester when I met many of the members of your Club. Trusting you will have a very successful banquet, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John W. Thompson, P.O. Box 493, Rochester, N. Y.42 November 20, 1908. My dear General: What you tell me is much what General Leonard Wood had already told me. I have taken the liberty of sending your letter and the very interesting clipping to the Chief of Artillery. With all regard, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt General McCoskry Butt, Union Club, Fifth Avenue and 51st Street, New York, N. Y. 43 November 20, 1908. My dear Archbishop: I greatly appreciate your letter of the 17th instant. I wish I could see you so that we might congratulate each other on our victory, for most emphatically you are one of those who can feel an especial pride in it. At least give me the chance to see you at the White House if you return before the 4th of March. I am particularly pleased that you liked that letter. I am all the more convinced that it was wise to write it because of the attacks made upon me for having written it. With all good wishes, my dear Archbishop, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Archbishop John Ireland, St. Paul, Minnesota.44 November 20, 1908. My dear Senator Knox: I have received the enclosed letter from Congressman Burke and have written him as follows: "Your letter of the 17th instant has been received. I should greatly like to appoint Mr. Pringle to that office and I earnestly hope that you and my other friends in Pittsburg can see your way clear to recommend him. Mr. Pringle has done first-class work, not only for the Republican party, but for the country, in his paper and I would like to favor him. How do you feel in the matter?" I also enclose a letter from Mr. Pringle which will give you all information about him. The position he is an applicant for is the appraisership of merchandise at Pittsburg, now held by [F.W.?] Edwards (who is about to leave it). Will you be good enough to give me your views as to the matter? Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. P. C. Knox, U.S.S., Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Enclosures45 November 20, 1908. Dear Ted: Ha ha! Don't jeer at your father about Standard Oil. I saw in yesterday's paper that the mills where you are working had just received a large Government contract, and it was evidently felt to be a most sinister coincidence. I guess we will both receive sentence together, and either Quentin or Archie will have to bail us out! The misadventure of the Kaiser has been one of the most curious things I have ever known. It was utterly unexpected to me. I had known there was grumbling in Germany and a desire for a really representative government; but for the last fifteen or eighteen years (I have forgotten just how long his reign has been) the Kaiser has lorded it so over Germany, has been such a complete ruler, and his wishes have been met with such servility, that I did not for a moment believe the Germans would revolt; and the unanimity of the revolt no less than the suddenness was a complete surprise to me. Of course what happened was that for many years they had been storing up their wrath, and when the occasion came, when they finally gave vent to it, the pent-up body of anger simply broke thru the dams and swept everything with it. The conservatives, the members of the aristocrat party, upon which the Empire ought to count as its chief support, were at one with the socialists in the matter. I think it was one of these conservatives who quoted? with46 2 hearty approval my remark that as an Ambassador I wisht to send a man and not a checkbook; the purport of the approval being of course to attack the Kaiser about his course in connection with Hill. Did I tell you of the Kaiser's interview with the American newspaper man Hale last summer, and of my part in helping to prevent the New York Times from publishing the interview? It was a far worse interview than the one that was actually published in the English papers, and the curious thing was that the things that he said were the direct reverse of those in the English papers. In the English interview he claimed to have been the great supporter of England, and to have refused the requests of Russia and France to form an alliance against her. In the interview with the American he was most bitter in his denunciation of England, and even in his denunciation of the King, and said that England was tottering to its fall, that there could soon be a Sepoy uprising in India, and that he expected very shortly that Germany would have to make war on England. If published as given, that interview would have had far worse results than the one that actually was published. The worst parts were struck out by Hale, and the remainder arranged as an article for the Century [?]. The German Government then got this article itself supprest. I hardly know whether they were wise in doing so or not. I saw the article the other day. It contained a very bitter attack on the Roman Catholics which would have caused the Kaiser a great deal of trouble at home, but there was not much in the way of attacking foreign powers, and now that the article has been supprest of course everybody believes that it was full of all possible iniquity.47 3 As you say, the movement in Germany is part of the general liberal movement. Moreover, as you say, it is a movement which at certain times and in certain places has been pushed to hopeless extremes. I think that at the moment in England they have tended to go too far. There is a great deal of discontent and suffering and poverty in England, and the radical extremists are not helping matters by by their actions. In France and in Germany, both, there has been a growth of the socialist party of recent years, and in Russia the movement for reform received a well-nigh fatal blow from the foolish conduct of the violent revolutionists, and of all the silly visionary creatures who follow Tolstoy and his kind. If it had not been for these extremists I believe that at this moment Russia would be enjoying constitutional government but the extremists went so far as to play right into the hands of the reactionaries, so that the Czar was enabled to reestablish the control of the bureaucratic despotism. Here in this country I do not at present see any symptoms of our going too far. We are in just as much danger from the reactionaries and unscrupulous men of vast wealth as from the agitators; and, indeed, I think that the latter gain what strength they have only because of the intense indignation excited by the actions of the former. The overwhelming defeat of Bryan by Taft shows how completely unable as yet the agitators are to do any damage, even when the conditions favor them, provided only that we can oppose them with men whose honestly is above suspicion and who are known to be as sincerely opposed to wrongdoing by[48]-49 4 men of property as to wrongdoing by men of no property; men who really try to reform abuses and to bring about more equitable conditions, altho they set their faces like flint against all violence and against all attacks upon [?] property ?. Moreover, when we speak of the rising of the democratic tide and ? fear concerning the outcome, it is well to remember that again and again during the past century and a quarter the tide has been higher than at present. Of course the French Revolution was the greatest instance of this; but here the catastrophe was so wholly phenomenal that perhaps it can hardly be quoted. In the early 40's, in our own country, the ultra-democratic, the foolishly democratic, movement was at its zenith, and was much higher that it has ever been since. The excuses and follies of democracy were much greater a century ago, when Jefferson was the trusted leader of the people, than they are now. In Europe the foolish as distinguished from the wise side of democracy was most in prominence sixty years ago, in 1848. There has never been as much danger of the same kind since. In Germany the democratic movement was again very strong in the early 60's. It has lost ground, on the whole, during the past four years. [*The adversary to which I put my?*] [*????*] [*????*] I quite agree with you that our business should be to make the best use of what we have rather than to keep trying new experiments. On the other hand, there are certain new experiments which it is absolutely necessary to try in the interest of that wise conservatism which goes hand in hand with wise radicalism. There must be far greater control over the ? ?erations than my forefathers would have deemed wise or possible50 5 [possi]ble; if only for the reason that unless we establish such control we shall make it absolutely certain that the people will turn to violent leaders and follow violent counsels. [*?*] To reform real abuses is the best way to prevent a revolutionary movement which would derive its strength from the fact that the abuses are left unreformed and which when started would work more evil than good. As to what you say about female suffrage, I enclose you a copy of a letter I have just sent to some of the female suffragists. Mother and I are rather lukewarmly inclined to favor female suffrage. Auntie Bye and Auntie Corinne are against it. I do not myself think it makes much difference one way or the other. They have it in Colorado and Wyoming, and I am unable to see that it has made much difference either for good or for evil when those two States are compared with neighboring States of similar conditions such as Montana and North Dakota. I should say that on the whole it may have worked a very, very little good- that is, that the balance would show that rather more good than harm had been done; but I do not think that either enough good than harm had been done to warrant much interest in the movement. The other day I had Colonel Cecil Lyon, the Republican leader of Texas, at lunch, with Dr. Lyman Abbott and his sons, and I wish you had seen their eyes start when he casually mentioned some homicidal incident that had varied the recent political life in the State. I heard him finally explain to the Doctor- "You see, Doctor, Texas is a revolver State, and that has got to be taken into account in handling any political movement there."51 6 I am extremely pleased that you have gotten on so well in your work and that the time has passed so quickly. I think you are quite right in not trying to associate with the people round about you where it would be unnatural. It is possible, altho I suppose not probable, that there will come some occasion where you can naturally join with some of them in a common effort for some object. If so, do it, for the result will be good. But I quite agree with you that to do anything forced and unnatural would do damage, and more social association, without any other object, would certainly come under this category. When I was ranching on the Little Missouri I got along excellently with everyone. I worked hard with them on the roundup; I participated with hearty interest in different political meetings; I took part in the work of the cattle man's association, and, indeed, was its president, was I made no effort whatever for more social association. When they had a formal ball ("formal" is an odd word, by the way, ? not in ? or a ? ball) I went to it because everyone did, and it would have lookt as if I was "putting on airs" if I had not gone; but I never visited the ranches for merely social purposes, or hung about town, or took part in any of the ordinary jollifications, or went into the saloons, which were the recognized clubhouses, so to speak. They all liked me, or at least most of them did, for they knew I liked and respected the,; but we went our several ways without regard to one another, except where we had real interests in common, and where we naturally joined to work for those interests. Your loving father, T.R. Lt. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Thompsonville, Connecticut. Enclosure52 November 20, 1908. Darling Bye: Indeed that is a very touching letter of Mrs. Monson's, and I wish you would send her this in response. I hate to have to answer as I must, but I simply do not know a ranch to which I could write for her son. As a matter of fact, I know no ranches now at all. All I could do would be to inquire thru certain western friends; but the friends thru whom I would inquire are men who certainly would not know of any ranch on which it was desired to place a boy with the idea that he would be out of temptation. Indeed, I think a ranch by no means a good place for a boy who has any temptation to drink. Moreover, it must be remembered that there is absolutely no work which the average young easterner, not trained to out of door labor, can do on a ranch. The only ranches I know are53 cattle ranches. A man is of no use whatever on a cattle ranch, on the contrary he is a source of expense and trouble, unless he is a first-class rider and knows the West. No good ranch will take a man who comes short in these respects, and therefore a boy like Mrs. Monson's would either have to go to a second-rate ranch where they are willing to have young fellows with no knowledge, provided they will pay for their keep, or else to some ranch like that on which Jack Roosevelt was, where young men are taught the business just as they are taught any other occupation, and pay for their teaching. The only thing I can suggest at all is that you write to Emlen and find out about the ranch on which Jack Roosevelt was, and then give the facts to Mrs. Monson to see if she would care to send the boy there. Your loving brother, T.R. Ted writes that he can not begin to say how good you are to him and all that Farmington means to him; and he loves Miss Scanth? and Mrs. Bissell?! You have no idea how much you are doing for Ted's R? Mrs. W. S. Cowles, Farmington, Connecticut.54 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Brenner: I thank you for the photographs of the medallion. I return the case autographed, as you desire. I am exceedingly pleased with the medallion. It is one admirable piece of work. With thanks, and all good wishes, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Victor D. Brenner, 114 East 28th Street, New York. Enclosure55 November 20, 1908. Private My dear Mr. Douglas: Offhand, that seems to be a very good bill and I congratulate you on it. I cannot [commit?] myself definitely. Let me see you when you come on to Washington. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Albert Douglas, M.C., Chillicothe, Ohio.56 November 20, 1908. My dear Mr. Acheson: Your letter carries great weigh with me. I shall bring it up with Mr. Meyer at once. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. A. Campern Acheson, Rector, Holy Trinity Church, Middletown, Connecticut. 57 November 21, 1908. My dear Mr. Attorney General: Messrs. Foulke and Swift say they have papers before you which justify Assistant Attorney Kealing's removal. What are the facts in the matter? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney General.58 November 21, 1908. My dear Mr. Saxe: I cannot be present; but will you accept my hearty good wishes for the success of the dinner of the Society to which my friend and successor belongs? With personal good will, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John G. Saxe, 32 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. 59 November 21, 1908. My dear Dr. Abbott: I enclose you a copy of my letter on woman suffrage. I shall only ask that your do not say to whom it is written and omit the first paragraph and the last paragraph, which I have lightly marked out with blue pencil, as well as another line. It was a great pleasure seeing you and your two boys the other evening. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. Lyman Abbott, The Outlook, 287 Fourth Avenue New York, N.Y. 60 November 21, 1908. My dear Judge I heartily thank you for your letter. You do not know how pleased I was to have our friend Elting appointed. With all good wishes, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. G.D.B. Hasbrouck, 293 Wall Street, Kingston, N.Y. 61 November 20, 1908. Alvah P. French, White Plains, New York. I thank you for your telegram and send my best wishes for a successful celebration of the two hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the historic Westchester County seat. Theodore Roosevelt (Official) 62 November 21, 1908. My dear Judge: I thank you heartily for your letter of the 20th, with the enclosed proof sheets. I have taken the liberty of sending them at once to Seth Low. With high regard, believe me, Sincerely yours. Hon. Walter C. Noyes, United States Circuit Judge, Post Office Building, New York. 63 November 21, 1908. My dear Mr. Atkinson: In its essence, your letter to me is a protest against the daily press, and especially against the metropolitan daily press. There is a very much that you say with which I heartily agree but it is a question that would have to be considered, not in connection with the agriculture movement, but from the standpoint of citizenship at large. The agricultural fair matter I will gladly consider with the Commission on Country Life. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Wilmer, Atkinson, Editor, Farm Journal, 1024 Race Street, Philadelphia. 64 November 21, 1908. My dear Mr. De Weese: I have your letter of the 15th instant and it is mighty nice to hear from you. But, my dear sir, you are an old hunter yourself and you will understand my answer when I say that I prefer to hunt alone, and under no circumstances do I believe that more than two rifles can hunt together; and my son Kermit and I must be those two rifles. To add another rifle to the party would be a harm to me and not of much benefit to him. I thank you heartily for your good wishes. Indeed I look forward to my trip. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Dall De. Weese, Canon City, Colorado.65 November 21, 1908. My dear Mr. Gillilan: I am very much pleased to receive the volume of verses and equally pleased with the inscription on the fly leaf. I anticipate reading the volume with real pleasure and thank you for sending it to me. Good for [?] of me! Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Strickland W. Gillilan, Roland Park, Baltimore, Md.66 November 21, 1908. My dear Selous: I return herewith the papers of the “personal outfit.” I haven’t made a change excepting that I have made it 8 one- pound tins of Vaseline. I am glad you struck out the things you did, and I am very glad to have ample stores. I do not want to come short. I would much rather have a surplus. Moreover, from all I hear I cannot too strongly say how I appreciate your wisdom in insisting upon the desirability of my having a man to manage the caravan, and everything tends to show that Cunninghame was the best possible man. I am sure that half the enjoyment of my trip would have been lost if I had not had such a man, and it might have bothered me seriously in more ways than one. It is fine that Mr. Leakey should give you the few medicines necessary. I will take a small medicine chest myself.67 With hearty thanks, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Patterson, the lion [killer], has been staying with me; Sir Harry Johnson was here, too. Mr. F.C. Selous, Heatherside, Worplesdon, Surrey, England. Enclosure68 November 21, 1908. My dear Newberry: I enclose you telegrams from Mr. Taft and Gov. Smith. In view of the statements in Gov. Smith’s telegram I consider it absolutely unwarranted to refuse to allow the crews to land. Tell the Admiral to take all possible precautions; but as Admiral Harber’s men have been enjoying full shore leave, and as the American men, women, and children are taking the risks, the Admiral is to give the shore leave without question. Let him take every precaution, but have him grant the shore leave; have a procession &c. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Truman H. Newberry, Acting Secretary of the Navy. Enclosure69 November 21, 1908. Dear Seth: I have your letter of the 20th instant. My present feeling is that I should not support a measure simply inserting the word "unreasonable" and putting in an amnesty clause. The one point upon which I want to insist most urgently is that we shall not leave this law to be construed every which way by the courts, as they would construe the word "unreasonable." What I want is more power for the Government to decide by executive action what is and what is not proper. My present judgement is that such a law as that proposed, which, your friends say, is all that could be obtained at the present session, would represent no real improvement and might represent a step backward. I would, however, cordially support a provision putting common carriers under the Interstate Commerce Commission, increasing the power of this commission over them, and allowing them to approve to traffic agreement and consolidations. My message has been printed, and I can only answer your tentatively and should like to consult with other people before giving you a final answer, but my present judgement is that the bill you propose might represent a step backward, and in any event would mean the abandonment of all effort to accomplish progress. You say that the lawyers present were opposed as a matter of principle to the establishment of70 2 Government control of private business. I gather from the context that this means that they are opposed to the effort to supervise and regulate interstate business by the National Government so as to prevent the gross abuses that have existed and that exist. I utterly disagree with them, and from what you say I am afraid my difference with these gentlemen is fundamental. I do not intend, as far as I am concerned, to take my backward step in the movement for supervision and control of these great corporations. I intend to fight any effort to take such a backward step. It may be that the proposition you make could be combined with other propositions in a way that would not make it a backward step. My present impression - subject of course to change if good reason can be shown me - is that it would be better to do nothing than merely to take the action proposed. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Seth Low, 30 East 64th Street, New York. 71 November 21, 1908. My dear Mr. Bachert: I am in receipt of your letter of the 20th instant with the accompanying book and much appreciate your courtesy in sending it to me. With thanks, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Max Bachert, 611 West 137th Street, New York, N.Y. 72 November 20, 1908. My dear Baron Kapherr: I have just received “Das Elchwild,” and I look forward with genuine interest to reading it. It was kind of you to send me the copy. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Egan Baron Von Kapherr, Daiben, Livland, Russia. 73 November 21, 1908. Sir Wilfred Laurier, The Holland House, New York City. If you are to pass through Washington on either Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday of next week will you not give me the great pleasure of having you to dine and spend the night at the White House. If so, will you let me know on which one of the four days you can come? Theodore Roosevelt. Paid, (Official)74 November 21, 1908. Dear Mr. Justice: I have your note. I shall have to see you soon to talk over a million or two things we left unsaid. I am very glad you approved of the promotion of Einstein; that was my special case of interference with the State Department. I have a great regard for Einstein’s literary work, as well as for his diplomatic work. You perhaps know that he did not make a very fortunate marriage. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. C.W. Holmes, Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court. 75 November 21, 1908. My dear Mr. Armstrong: I am very much pleased with your letter. It makes the whole matter entirely clear, and nothing more is necessary to be said. Wishing you all good fortune, I am Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. R. B. Armstrong, Consolidated Casualty Company. Chicago, Ill.76 November 21, 1908. Dear Will: I have directed that Sperry’s fleet stop. I think he is an old jack to get misled about it. Let me warn you emphatically against a horrid female creature named the Marquise de Wentworth. Father Doyle brought her in here some years ago and in a moment of weakness I allowed her to sit in the room and make believe to paint my portrait. She was only here an hour or two and then away she went and painted the portrait from memory or a photograph, produced a Marquis-of-Granby sign board kind of painting which she proceeded to try to hang in the Paris Salon and made the life of the wretched American Ambassador a burden by insisting that he should inform the French people that it was disrespect to me not to have this awful daub hung in some good place. Don’t let her paint you. She will make you a ridiculous77 picture and then she will bedevil your representatives abroad to make them bully foreign governments in hanging the picture in some place where it ought not to be. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Wm. H. Taft, Hot Springs, Va.78 November 21, 1908. My dear Mr. Post: Some of the stories in “The Corrector of Destinies” I have already read and have enjoyed to the full, so I can say with entire sincerity that I genuinely look forward to reading the book. I shall take it up to-night and probably you will have on your conscience the fact that for an evening I have scandalously neglected my duties. With many thanks, and regards, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Melville D. Post, The Homestead, Hot Springs, Va.79 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Brooks: It was a pleasure to hear from you and I was greatly amused with parts of your letter. I enclose you a copy of a letter I sent Lodge a week before the election by which you will see that I expected just about the overwhelming victory that we won. I much enjoyed your account of the grave disapproval of the strict constitutionalists in England about my part in the contest. The entire Wall Street crowd felt the same way here. As a matter of fact by the end of September I saw clearly that it was an absolute necessity for me to go into the campaign just as hard as I know how. We should have carried New York, New Jersey, New England and the like anyhow, but west of the Alleghenies, where the decisive battle was fought, it was absolutely essential that the voters should understand that Taft stood for the policies that I stand for and that his victory meant the continuance of those policies. Personally I never am able so much as to consider a question of following a formal precedent in such a matter, and above all of being hypocritical about it. As President my position is more like that of the British Prime Minister than that of the President of the French Republic. My business is to govern. I am primarily the head of the nation, but I am the head of my party too, and I only belong to that party because with all my heart and strength I believe it best able to serve the nation. I wish to see Taft elected as my successor so that my policies could be continued. I fought hard and80 2 openly for him. I did not use an office, or any underhand influence of any kind, in his behalf. I was able to be of help because the people at large stood behind me. I am also much amused at what you tell me over the puzzled feeling about my use of the word "frazzle." That bewilderment, much to my amusement, also existed in the northern states here. I am half southern, and "frazzle" has been a word I have always known. It is, as you say, a fine old English word which has persevered in the South, where it is unjustly lookt upon as a provincialism. I appreciate what you say in compliment of the sturdy good sense of the American electorate in standing consistently for the last twelve years for one policy. Indeed, this is the eighth consecutive Congress which we have won for the Republican party. But do not forget that prior to 1896 it had lookt for years as if we were moraly oscillating violently without much idea of whither we were drifting. I enclose you a copy of the letter Rhodes, the historian, recently wrote a friend who sent it to me. I do this because of your allusion to McKinley and Hanna. In 1896 and again in 1900 we won a victory which was really a victory for ultra-conservatism against wild radicalism. If things had been allowed to continue in our party just as they were, we should have been upset with a smash soon afterwards. My business was to take hold of the conservative party and turn it into what it had been under Lincoln, that is, a party of progressive conservatism, or conservative radicalism; for of course really wise radicalism and wise conservatism go hand in hand. I also appreciate your kindly allusion to my joining the Outlook. The very fact that I so abhor the inanity and sentationalism of the yellow press,81 3 and the moral obliquity of the purchased press; not to speak of the odious hypocrisy of the professional mugwump press, makes me glad to be associated with a paper like the Outlook. I can not too warmly express my appreciation of what the Colonial Office and my English big game friends have done for me in the matter of the African trip. It has simply been fine. I look forward eagerly to coming to Oxford but I am a little uncertain as to making the address on "democracy" or the "problems of democracy" as you suggest. I had expected to make something that would be in part at least more academic. I shall take the liberty of speaking of your suggestion with Bryce who has himself delivered the lesson lecture. I am also to speak at the Sorbonne in France. I am by no means sure that I could compress such a subject as democracy into any reasonable limits; and I would not like to speak on your democratic problems; it is the kind of subject upon which the most friendly foreigner might easily make mistakes. Now as to what you say about India. I did not realize that any considerable number of our papers had been attacking England on the subject of India , and I am sorry to learn it. Taft in that matter feels precisely as I do, that English rule in India and Egypt like rule of France in Algiers or of Russia in Turkestan means a great advance for humanity. English rule in India has been one of the mighty feats of civilization , one of the mighty feats to the credit of the white race during the past four centuries, the time of its extraordinary expansion and dominance. That you have committee faults I have not the slightest doubt, tho I do not know them - my business being to know the faults we have committed in the Philippines ourselves, of which I am well aware, and as to which I am steadily trying to advance and perfect remedies. I do not want to force[*82*] 4 speech on the subject, but if I get the chance I shall certainly speak very strongly. I could not lay my hands on the allusions at the moment but I am certain that since I have been President I have, on several occasions, spoken with the heartiest praise of England's work in Egypt and I think in India. I happened to have my attention called chiefly to Egypt. Some of your writers, by the way, in Blackwoods, the Saturday Review, and the like, and in some books have been very foolish in the effort to be caustic about our work in the Philippines. With high regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt This is the first time in our history that the administration in power during a financial panic has been [sustained] at the following election. Mr. Sydney Brooks, 80 Addison Road, Kensington, W. London, England. Enclosures.83 November 22, 1908. Dear Elihu: Straus has asked to give the final Cabinet dinner composed only of members of the Cabinet; so you see, if you had done it, it would have been impossible to prevent Strauss from doing it, and in all probability one or two other members of the Cabinet would then have felt impelled to do the same thing, and we should have been back in just the position from which we broke away. I have told Straus that had already explained that I did not want any deviation from the rule under which we were working. I am concerned about your leg. I do hope it is all right. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of State. 84 November 22, 1908. Dear Lawrence: Cannot you and Mrs. Lowell come down on Monday, December 7th, in time for dinner and stay until Wednesday morning, the 9th? Ferrero, the Italian historian, is to be with us, and I should so like to have you and Mrs. Lowell here at the same time Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. A. Lawrence Lowell, 171 Marlboro Street, Boston, Massachusetts. 85 November 23, 1908. Dear Doane: It is a pleasure to hear from you, and I have sent your note at once to our classmate, Bacon. I do not know anything about the case myself as these appointments are handled entirely by the State Department. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. John Doane, Greely, Colo.86 November 22, 1908. Dearest Archie: I handed your note and the two-dollar bill to Quentin, and he was perfectly delighted. It came in very handy, because poor Quentin has been in bed with his leg in a plaster cast, and the two dollars I think went to make up a fund with which he purchased a fascinating little steam engine, which has been a great source of amusement to him. He is out to-day visiting some friends, altho with his leg still in the cast. He has a great turn for mechanics. The rector has just sent me on your last report, with the comment that he does not think you have been doing quite as well in your studies as you could and ought to. I agree with him; I think you should [stand] high in your class; remember [this] is your second year in it. Senator Lodge has just come, and he and I are going out for a ride this afternoon. Poor Mother has had a headache, and she cannot go. Did I tell you that Quentin has been playing tennis a good deal at school? Yesterday, Mr. Garfield and I were playing tennis against Mr. Bacon and the French Ambassador.87 In the middle of the series, Mr. Loeb told us that Harvard had won the football match, and I was as pleased as possible. Your loving father, T.R. Master Archibald B. Roosevelt Groton School, Groton, Mass. 88 November 22, 1908. Dearest Kermit: Three cheers for the football match! It must have been simply fine seeing it. How I wish I could have been there! I have never yet seen Harvard win against Yale at football, altho I saw one draw. Col. Patterson, the man who killed the man-eating lions of Tsavo, spent Friday night with us, and was most interesting. Next day I had Carl Akeley, the Chicago man who has also hunted elephant & rhinos in Africa, at lunch, and it was interesting to hear the two. I think I got some valuable advice from both. There is no question that you and I must be extremely careful in dealing with lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino; they are dangerous game. Both of us must be extremely cautious, and of course I shall want some first-class man with you until you grow accustomed to what is being done. All our arrangements are made; the stores have been sent to Africa, etc., etc. Both Patterson and Akeley were very much pleased at my having engaged Cunningham, and said that with a caravan the size of ours I would have been unable to have done much hunting if I had been obliged to manage the caravan myself. It is not in the least like Buxton's trips, which are merely for a few days at a time away from the railroad. You and I want to go up into the really wild country such as Patterson described in that letter of his, if it is a possible thing. The Kaiser has come an awful cropper. He has been a perfect89 2 fool, and the German people after standing his folly and bumptiousness for years finally exploded over something which was of course bad, but was no worse than sources of similar things he had done before. I have finished both my Romanes lecture and my Sorbonne address. I wanted to get them off my hands before the Congress met, as I shall have in all probability a good deal of irritating work while Congress is in session, for the outgoing President hasn't very much power. They tell me Foraker is preparing a violent attack on me. I can imagine nothing to which I should be more indifferent. Your loving father, T.R. This morning when mother and I walked round the grounds as usual, she was still able to pick a rose for my buttonhole, from the rose beds in the garden. It was a windy morning; and the trees with their leafless branches, and the movement were very beautiful. Mr. Kermit Roosevelt, Claverly Hall, Cambridge, Mass.90 [*59] November 23, 1908. My dear Dr. Abbott: I enclose my article on socialism, with all the suggestions you made adopted; and also the article that is to appear in The Outlook immediately after I leave the Presidency. I have changed the title and made some other changes. I suppose I will see these in proof. I would like all the articles I have written to appear in the Outlook within six months of my leaving America. I do not like to run the risk of having an article, perfectly innocent in itself, appear when an accidental circumstance may seem to give it a flavor that may make it appear entirely improper. For instance, I shall give you a short article on Tolstoi, but if Tolstoi should die just about the time the article appeared it would not look gracious. So my article91 on socialism ought to appear within a reasonable time of my leaving America, because you can not tell what changes may occur that might make it advisable to have changes in the article. However, I need not argue the matter, as I am sure you will agree with me. With great regard, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott, The Outlook, 287 Fourth Avenue, New York. Enclosures92 November 23, 1908. My dear Sir. Matthew: Your very kind letter has just come. I wish it were to be my good fortune to visit South Africa; not for purpose of sport but to watch the growth of your great self-governing commonwealths, which I trust you will not think it presumptuous in me to say I hope some day to see divisions of one great self-governing commonwealth. I take the greatest possible interest in what you are all doing in South Africa. I hope to see the men of Dutch and English blood blended into one people, exactly as here in American the different strains are blended; and I feel that you have a great future before you. Your problems are in some ways different from those in the United States, in Canada, and in Australia; but after all, in the essentials, the different peoples are93 doing the same work. I shall gladly give your regards to Mrs. Longworth. With real regret that I am not able to come to South Africa, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Lieutenant Colonel Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G., Governor of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Natal.94 Private November 23, 1908 Dear Arthur: I had written you an exceedingly confidential letter which was to be put in your hands by Harry White and which you were then to destroy. But recent publications have rendered it unnecessary for me to send you the letter, and I have directed White himself to destroy it. I had seen what has now been published, last August, and since then have been on the alert to find out if there was any need of warning you. But I found that there was no real need at the moment. I shall have some exceedingly amusing things to tell you when we meet. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Arthur Lee, M.P., 10 Chesterfield Street, London, W., England. 95 November 23, 1908 My dear President Eliot: In all our history I do not know another university president, or another man connected with institution of learning, who has played the great national part that you have played for the last thirty-five years; and I can imagine nothing in which a man could feel greater or more legitimate satisfaction than to have worked with the fullest vigor right up to the end of an active career carried well past the allotted three score and ten years, and then to retired while every faculty is still unimpaired and every power still undimmed. Here I am leaving my task a quarter of a century earlier in life than you leave yours! It has been a great career, my dear President Eliot, and as an American and as a Harvard man I congratulate you with all my heart. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt President Charles W. Eliot, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Over) 96 P.S. Cannot you and Mrs. Eliot come down to the Judiciary dinner on January 28th and spend the night with us? This dinner is one of the three big State dinners, and all the Justices of the Supreme Court will be present. 97 November 23, 1908. Gentlemen: The French Ambassador has shown me a letter from Mr. Hachette, of Paris, who, he says, wishes to apply for the right to translate my African book. I have referred them to you. The French Ambassador says they are the best firm in Paris, and the one above all others fit for this work. Sincerely yours Theodore Roosevelt Messrs. Charles Scribner’s Sons, 153 Fifth Avenue, New York. 98 November 23, 1908. My dear Dr. Gladden: I have your letter of the 21st. I am particularly pleased to find that young Loring is your nephew. I had already decided that he was the right man to take, and now I am absolutely sure of it. With hearty regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Washington, Gladden, Columbus, Ohio. 99 November 23, 1908. My dear Senator Frye: Your letter of the 21st instant has been received. I will take no action on the matter of the Internal Revenue Collectorship until I see you. I hear very well of the present man and do not know whether he ought to be displaced in any event. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Wm. P. Frye Lewiston, Maine. 100 Personal November 22, 1908. Dear George: Tame to a man going to Africa! Why I do not know whether to be most thankful for the geese and ducks you sent me – and I very thankful indeed – or meanly envious of your bag. Fifty ducks and fifteen geese in two days is about as good as a rhinocerous. Wasn’t it fine that we won at football yesterday? Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. G. v L. Meyer, Postmaster General.101 November 23, 1908. My Dear General: I wish it were possible for me to accept, but there simply is not a chance. I shall have to go straight to the ceremony and straight back to Washington. I sincerely regret not being able to visit you in your own home. It was such a pleasure to have dear Mrs. Buckner and you at lunch the other day. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Gen. S B. Buckner, R. F. D. No. 1, Munfordfille, Ky.102 November 23, 1908. Dear Foulke: If it were worth while feeling indignant with the Civil Service Reform Association over some of their acts I should do so. But they amuse me. If they make an attack in connection with the use of the offices to nominate Taft, all I wish is that you or Swift would give me the opportunity to furnish a few words, not in the way of answer but of comment on my accusers. The attack on Taft's nomination by the"allies" was corrupt and infamous; and it was backed by most of the [?]. I dictated to the office-holders just one thing and that was that they should not be for my renomination. The only use I made of my position I my control over them was to prevent many of them doing what they earnestly desired to do, insisting upon my renomination. Outside of that they followed my lead simply that the great majority of the Republicans followed my lead in their several committees; and literally the only difference was that in Ohio a good many of them went against Taft. In the favorite son States they reluctantly went for the favorite sons to much greater103 extent than the non-officeholding population did. I have seen Greene of the Civil Service Commission and he tells me the Commission investigated every instance of alleged political activity in the classified service. Outside of the classified service, from the Cabinet officers to postmasters, the Civil Service law does not apply save in certain narrowly limited cases, as to which it was strictly enforced. Never before in a political campaign has there been, as there has been in this campaign, a number of removals for violations of the Civil Service law during the heat of the campaign contest. Do you want to write me a letter closing any statesmen made by the News about the Panama Canal since election, for me to write you a perfectly colorless statement of facts in return, which can be used or not at your discretion? Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Wm. Dudley Foulke, Richmond, Ind.104 30 November 23, 1908. My dear Mr. Secretary: There is one matter as to which I am more interested in connection with this question of the ships than anything else. This man Archer, who is evidently an absolute scoundrel is representing to outsiders that he and he alone can get ships taken. As it has turned out, it was most unfortunate that he was over employed to purchase anything for the government, but no blame attaches to anyone for employing him when we were ignorant of his character. I wish orders publicly issued to the Commission and to all the subordinates of the War Department, that in view of the exposure of Archer's character, he is never again to be employed as principal or intermediary in any fashion, direct or indirect, by the War Department, the Isthmian Canal Commission, or any of their subordinates in connection with any purchase of any kind whatever. Moreover, I wish every member of the Commission and every important subordinate employee of the Commission and the Panama Railroad and Canal dealing with these matters in the War Department to be asked specifically if they are now in any communication with Arthur, or if they have had any communication with him of any kind during the past nine months. Ask these questions before the order is issued, and require a detailed statement of all dealings by anyone with105 2 Archer, if such should prove to have existed. Find out in connection with the investigation as to the alleged excessive price paid in 1906 for the two Cromwell ships and the failure to allow for depreciation, whether the members of the Commission and Mr. Rodgers had any knowledge of the purchases at that time, and if so why they did not make a similar protest in that case to the protest they have made now; also whether Archer had anything to do with this purchase. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Luke E. Wright, Secretary of War.106 November 23, 1908. My dear Mr. Madeira: That is as interesting a photograph or set of photographs as I have ever seen. By George, if in eleven months I am able to do as well as you did in three I shall be more than content! What luck you had and how well you did do! With hearty regards and congratulations, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Percy C. Madeira, North American Building, Philadelphia, Pa.107 15 November 23, 1908. My dear Mr. Sullivan: Do send me any statements that the Association makes in reference to the attack or statement published by the British people and sent out thru the Embassy here. Treat this request as private, if you will. Why don’t you bring on any statement yourself, and take lunch with me? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. James E. Sullivan, 21 Warren Street, New York, N.Y.108 76 November 23, 1908. Dear Will: We are in rather a scrape over those ships which Congress authorized to have purchased for the Panama Canal. The ship owners insist that the War Department approved the passage of the bill and the purchase of the ships with full knowledge that Goethals and the other officials protested against it, on the ground that the ships were not fitted for the work and were not needed. There is, however, nothing on record to show that this was the case, and Secretary Wright is properly reluctant to carry out, not a direction but a promise of Congress, by purchasing ships which Goethals and his people say are not needed and are unsuited for the work. Lodge says that these same statements were made by Goethals and his people before Congress and that Congress and the Department then disregard the protests. When you come to Washington will you see Wright, and if109 necessary me, about the matter and then give us some statement so we shall have on record just what you, when you were Secretary of War, did or how far you committed yourself? I know you and I talked about it, but my recollection as to the details of the talk is hazy. Its general purport was that if the ships were fit for the purpose and if Congress gave the promise we would purchase them, because we all felt that any way we could we would help out American ship owners, who had actually been trying to keep American commerce on the high seas and had failed because of the inaction of Congress as regards a subsidy. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Wm. H. Taft, Hot Springs, Va.110 November 23, 1908. My dear Lord Cromer: This is to introduce Mr. W. Cameron Forbes. He is a Harvard man and an old friend of mine. Incidentally he is a grand-son of Emerson, but the reason I am giving him this note to you is that at present he is Vice- Governor of the Philippines and will ultimately undoubtedly be Governor. He has been four years a member of the Commission in the Philippines, and has been a particularly valuable man there. I do hope you will be in England in May, 1910, when I shall be there to deliver the Romanes Lecture at Oxford. As I have not been fortunate enough to get you to visit America while I have been President, at least I hope to see you while I am in England. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Earl Cromer, Foreign Office, London, England.111 November 23, 1908. My dear Mr. Mead: I have your telegram of the 23rd. I sincerely wish I could come, but if I had been able to leave Washington at all now I would surely have been at the game. It is not possible to accept. Give my heartiest good wishes to the team. I wish I could be present to thank and congratulate them in person. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. F.S. Mead, 55 Kilby Street, Boston. 112 November 23, 1908. Malcolm Donald, Care Gaston, Snow and Saltonstall, Boston, Massachusetts. Wish to see you on important matter. Can you lunch with me here Wednesday at one-thirty? Theodore Roosevelt. (Official) 113 69 November 24, 1908. My dear Mr. Low: I have gone over with the Attorney General your letter and my answer thereto. He feels at least as strongly as I do in the matter. I have now considered the matter carefully and I feel that I ought to tell you, and thru you the gentlemen whom you mention as having been present at the conference, that I could not sign such a bill as they advocate even if it were passed by Congress. I should consider it a retrograde action. The Department of Justice, I find, believe that the Standard’s Oil’s fight for delay in these suits has been in the hope of getting thru some measures as this. I have sent a copy of our correspondence to Mr. Taft, so that he shall have it before him to attach to it whatever weight he deems proper if the question comes up in114 his administration. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Seth Low, 30 East 64th Street, New York. 115 Personal November 24, 1908. My dear Mr. Harris: I remember you very well and it is a pleasure to receive the book. But I doubt if I would be willing to write any statement of my views of it. I look forward to reading it with real interest. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Frank Harris, Vanity Fair, 33 Strand, W.C., London. 116 November 23, 1906. My dear Mr. Morse I have received your note handed to me by the boys of the Y .M .C . A , who made the run between New York and Washington . I can not give you the address you desire but I herewith send a message to be used on any day you wish . The French Ambassador was with me in the office when the last of the runners handed me your message and he spoke of the medal struck in Paris almost [more than] two centuries ago , when it was visited by Peter the Great , the first Russian sovereign to try bring his country into touch with the civilized world. He suggested that with a slight change it would apply to those who bore this message -- vires acquirunt eundo. I think it can apply also to the boys in after life . They have gained strength as they ran . Let them in after [life] gain strength as they do their work . I am a thoro believer in athletics as long as we remember that athletic exercises are a means to an end and not an end, and that damage comes if we mistake the means for an end. We can not afford to do without hard and vigorous bodies , but we must make these hardy and vigorous bodies our servants and not our masters when we come to the serious work of the world. The bodies grow hardier and more vigorous by the exercise they take . Just so these boys in after life will grow constantly fitter to do their work by the very fact of 117 2 doing it . They will gain strength in going ! selves by work the better able they will be to do that work . With all good wishes for them and for you , Sincerely yours , Theodore Roosevelt (signed ) Mr. Richard C. Morse , General Secretary , Young Men's Christian Association 124 East 28th Street , New York , N. Y . 118 Personal November 24, 1908. My dear Mr. Jones: I am sincerely obliged to your for writing me. Will you read the enclosed, and if you approve send it on to Ver Wiebe? What a fine fellow he must be! Of course I am particularly pleased to see a Harvard man of distinction who has made his way as Ver Wiebe has done and who shows the kind of spirit that Ver Wiebe has shown. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. William Preble Jones, 13 Maple Avenue, Somerville, Massachusetts. Enclosure 119 Personal November 24, 1908. My dear Mr. Ver Wiebe: Like every other good Harvard man I have the heartiest feeling of gratitude to the entire team who won the great victory on Saturday last. But I feel an especial sense of gratitude toward you. You were our star ground-gainer. It was thru you more than thru anyone else that the ball was put in a position to enable Kennard to do the work which he did so admirably and to kick the goal from the field. For the good of the team [your?] individual good was sacrificed, and thru this sacrifice, and thru the admirable work you have already done, and thru Kennard’s fine kick, the victory was won. It was a first-rate example of an individual being subordinated to the good of the team – there can not be any better lesson for our national life then to teach that good of the individual must be120 Geo. K. subordinated to the good of our people. Now, I have the heartiest admiration for Kennard’s feat. He kicked the goal, and he did a service that no one else could have done, and too much praise cannot be given him; but you are entitled to every whit as much, and every man I have met here feels just the way that I do. With heartiest good wishes and congratulations, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Ernest Ver Wiebe, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. P.S. I wish I could thank personally [every one on the team, from [? down ? and Haughton, and Graver, and every body who has done anything ? the ?, ? ?...?]121 November 24, 1908. My dear Mr. Garle: That is a very nice offer of yours, which I accept with pleasure. The model of the White House shall be put in the White House at once. I sincerely appreciate the trouble that you have taken With thanks, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Frank Garle, 336 Congress Street, Boston. 122 November 24, 1908. My dear Mrs. Thompson: Indeed I am only too glad from you at any time and to do anything I can for you. You know what pleasure I took in appointing your grandson to West Point; but I do not understand what Hugh wants. I could not write for a promotion for him [if ???] and I do not know of any vacancy in the Government service. Will you have him write me just what he wants, so I can see if there is any [chance?] to help him? With all good wishes, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mrs. Hugh S. Thompson, 306 West 23rd Street, New York.123 November 24, 1908. My dear Mr. Brown: On the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the Independent let me write you a few words of congratulation. Thruout these sixty years the Independent has stood for sane and progressive policies in our national life. It was started to represent the anti-slavery principles of the churches. It was a chief supporter of the Liberty and of the Free Soil parties. It supported the Republican party, which succeeded them. It was a staunch champion of Abraham Lincoln. It helped fire the people to maintain the Union. It strengthened the ??? of the President as he moved for the abolition of slavery. It is a record of which to be genuinely proud. With all good wishes, believe me Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Clarence W. Bowen, The Independent, 130 Fulton Street, New York.124 [*113] November 24, 1908. Dear Seth: Just after mailing my letter of this morning I received your letter of November 23rd. I hasten to say that in your last letter you exactly express my views. I think national incorporation is the proper solution. But Judge Noyes’ suggestion also seemed to me a good one. Of course it would have to be worked out very carefully. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Seth Low, 30 East 64th Street, New York.125 November 24, 1908. My dear Mr. Loomis: I should prefer the pig skin if it does not weigh any more than the cloth, but I would make everything subordinate to weight. I return you the three volumes. I wonder if you could not get me a better set of selections from Poe. I do not care for the notes or the introduction; still less for the pictures. The poems are all right, but the choice of tales is not good. I also return you the “La Chanson De Roland,” as you will want to [bi??] that, and also the Nibelungenlied. Can’t you get me the three Shakespeares such as I send you and have them bound in pigskin? Will you let me know the total weight? Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Can I also get Browning's "Selections" picked of his "Men and Women? Mr. John T. Loomis W. H. Lowdermilk & Co., 1424 F Street. Enclosures126 November 25, 1908. My dear Nick: I want to write you personally about Mr. A.L. Faulkner, President of the National Window Glass Workers, of Cleveland Ohio. You will recall the courage and disinterestedness with which against great pressure, he came forward and stood for us in the last campaign. I regard him as high-minded man of excellent judgement. He wishes impress upon the committee the urgent need, from the standpoint of the workingman, of not reducing the tariff on window glass, see section 101, so as to make any cut on the wages of our own people. As a matter of fact he says that the tariff should be increased in order to protect our own working men. Of course I should not for one moment venture to give any information on the matter, which is purely for the decision of the committee; but I127 wish to give to Mr. Faulkner privately this letter to you, so that you shall know who he is, his responsibility, and pay all attention you can to what he says. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Nicholas Longworth, House of Representatives 128 Private November 24, 1908. My dear Mr. Eames [Eamas]: Dr. Merriam went over that matter with me. Those are state officials and not Federal, and unfortunately I have nothing to do with the matter. By the way, when you ask adequate punishment for the game protector, you must remember that he was himself killed. It appears to me as if he was guilty of foul murder, but of course I know nothing of the facts, and it is as purely a State matter as anything concerning the enforcement of your local laws in Buffalo. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Edward A. Eames, 507 White Building, Buffalo, N.Y.129 November 25, 1908. Dear Austin: Ethel and Kermit had a heavenly time. I think it would have been gilding refined gold if the weather had been more conducive to good sport. Pinchot, of course, will be around to that dinner, and I think both Root and Lodge will, but I hope you will write them yourself urging them to come. Won’t you stay at the White House while you are here. Wasn’t the [?] great? I wish I had been with Greene and Winty and you and the other Harvard men [?] celebrate it. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major W. A. Wadsworth, The Homestead, Genesco, N.Y.130 Personal November 24, 1908. My dear Mr. von Kaltenborn Many thanks for your note and the amusing article I wish I could have written you more at length. By the way, I have written Ver Wiebe, a note of congratulate. He did admirably, and of course it must have bee rather hard for him when he was right at his best and doing such splendid work to be taken out of the game and be sacrificed for the interests of the team. Of course this was emphatically the right thing to do. All I mean is that I want to congratulate them on the sporting way in which he accepted it. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Hans von Kaltenborn, Graye Hall 13, Cambridge, Massachusetts.131 [*See Official Letter Book] November 25, 1908. My dear Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your recent favor and in the President’s behalf to thank you for sending the accompanying photograph. Will you be good enough to convey to Mr. White the President’s congratulations and good wishes? Very truly yours, Wm. Loeb, Jr., Secretary to the President Dr. F.B. Cullen, Ozark, Alabama.132 November 25, 1908. My dear Madeira: I re-enclose Jackson’s letter; it was most kind of you to send it. What a trump he is? I am seriously concerned about the reporters. It looks as if it were possible that some blackguard of a newspaper would try to get up a caravan to follow me. If such is the case, wouldn’t it be possible for Jackson or the British authorities to refuse to allow the permits that would permit the men to travel? I think the plan which Jackson has mapped out is the ideal one for me to follow, excepting that ???. I shall make short loop to take in Patterson’s hunting ground. I am interested in what Jackson says of rifles, and am really touched to find that he is one of those who have given the elephant gun. I hope to use mainly my133 405 Winchester; and I shall also have a 333 magazine gun, which Bob Bacon has found very good. Heartily thanking you, Sincerely yours Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Percy C. Madeira, North American Building, Philadelphia. Enclosure 134 66 November 25, 1908. My dear Selous : An American who hunted in British East Africa last year sends me a letter from Governor Jackson which runs in part as follows, speaking of my trip : I have suggested and recommended the following: That he should commence operations at Sir Alfred Pease's place, Kapiti plains. This is Buxton's suggestion, and I concur. I am a great believer in "jumping off" somewhere near Nairobi in case anything is forgotten or anything else goes wrong. From Pease's place work towards Donye Sabuk and Macmillan's place, and then on the Embu and the Tana. Then on to Laikipia via Niwein (?) or Nysai (?), down the Guase Nyiro, and return to Nairobi via Baringo and the Rift Valley. After refitting, proceed to the basin Giahu (?) plateau -- a few days in the Nyambo Valley -- and then on to Southern Solite (?), and the German frontier. The only game that I can think of that will not be met with on such a trip is the lesser kudu, oryx collectis, and Peter's gazelle, but a short trip down the line could be made for them, if desired. I have advised the President to employ Newland and Tarlton as agents, and to take [the] latter to- run the caravan. Cu[???]ams has just come out, but I [und]erstand will not be available. [?] is engaged by one of your countrymen for a trip in Uganda [and down] the Nile, after shooting in this country. Judd and Hoey are both first class men in their own spheres, but have not the general knowledge of the country that Tarlton has, and I believe are not in a position to obtain a good class of servants, gunbearers, and porters, or to lay down food supplies in out-of-the-way places. They are also well in the know regarding horses and mules, and will keep them on hand. 135 2 This itinerary seems to me first class. I can add to it a loop of Colonel Patterson‘s, and I should suppose another loop to cover the ground mentioned in the enclosed copy of a letter Mr. Akeley. I notice that Jackson speaks as if Cunninghams were engaged, but I gather he must be mistaken, from the letter he sent you and from the fact that you have now written engaging him. I am seriously concerned about one thing, and that is whether it will be possible to prevent the reporters from organizing a caravan and trying to accompany me. This would be literally an intolerable nuisance. Do you think I could get the Governor to prevent their going? Isn't there some way that he could refuse to issue licenses that will permit them to travel? How genuinely relieved you will be when I am fairly embarked for Africa and can no longer write you clamorous letters! Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. F. C. Selous, Heatherside, Worplesdon, Surrey, England. 136 83 November 25, 1908. Dear Elihu: The coon is obviously mediating coming down! The enclosed postscript from a letter of Woodruff to Loeb explains the meaning of the above [ob??] allusion. Of course say nothing about it to anybody until you see me. Ever yours, T. R. [I can ? ? the ? ? ? ? ? one.] Hon. Elihu Root, Care of Mrs. S. Grant, Jr., Brookline, Massachusetts. Enclosure137 Private 107 November 25, 1908. My dear Sullivan: I have your letter of the 24th. I can only repeat that I am exceedingly sorry that there should be any further discussion whatever in the public prints of this matter. In any event, let me again impress upon you that I must not be brought in any way into the affair. This letter to you, like its predecessors, is purely personal. When you can come on, and take lunch with me, I will speak to you at some length about the affair, but purely for your private information. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. James E. Sullivan, President, Amateur Athletic Union, New York, N.Y.138 68 November 25, 1908. My dear Mr. Newberry : I am puzzled what to do about the papers that you submit. I call your attention to the statement of Mr. Alger at the foot of page 4 where he says "to go to a larger caliber now is therefore to acknowledge that our former action was an error. " This single sentence gives me a hearty distrust of Mr. Alger 's whole judgement in this matter and of Admiral Mason 's judgement so far as it is based on Alger's. If there is one thing more than any other which our bureau chiefs and technical experts need to learn it is that they must never for a moment consider the question of acknowledgement of error in the past as a factor in doing what is best possible in the present. There, [is no] to the habit of mind more destructive to efficiency in the navy, you find [than] the habit of refusing to accept [any] new suggestion because to accept it may give rise to the belief that an error has been committed in the past. With such a development in naval matters as has occurred in the last fifty years, progress is conditioned upon a sufficient boldness to mean the occasional commission of errors and the frankest readiness to acknowledge that [is not] they have been committed. The same reason that is contained in this sentence would apply against our building a 20,000-ton battleship now because we have built 10,000-ton battle- 139 2 ships in the past. To refuse to accept any change until its advantages have been demonstrated by actual experience seems that we must always be behind the times. Moreover, Mr. Alger's paper shows that he is content to follow the example of other nations. I want to see us lead other nations. Now this statement of mine has nothing whatever to do with the merits of the case, but it has to do with my willingness to accept the statements of Admiral Mason and Mr. Alger as to the merits of the case. The Newport Conference recommended that we should proceed with the development of the 14-inch gun. Every effort should be made to proceed with this development. I do not believe that the attitude of mind shown in the papers you have submitted to me is one that is conducive [to] the successful development of these guns. I should like to have [you] them find out from these men, definitely [deliberately], whether they can or [they?] cannot build these 14-inch guns. If they [apt may?]cannot then I shall want to consider their statement together with the statement of the Conference and see whether it is not to the advantage of the service that we shall make a change in the offices. I want you to find out at once from the Bethlehem people what they think as to their ability to build these guns. I am not satisfied, as you know, as to the present buress organization of the navy, but while it exists I intend that the bureaus shall do the best possible work, and if in any given bureau140 3 we cannot get the work done we will change the head and try and see if the new head cannot do it . Sincerely yours , Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Truman H . Newberry , Acting Secretary of the Navy . Enclosures.141 November 25 , 1908. My dear Mr. Ambassador : Please treat this note as informal and unofficial . I greatly regret that your government thought that their Embassy in Washington ought to put forth such a statement as that which was put forth on behalf of the British officials in the Olympic Games . I should most emphatically have refused any request from the corresponding American officials to secure the publication of any similar statement in England thru the American Embassy. Absolutely no good whatever comes , or can come , from any action by any official of either the British or American Government in this matter. On the contrary harm has come already from the publication made by the British Embassy , and further harm will come if either the American or the British Government takes any part whatsoever in this exceedingly unfortunate affair . Moreover , such action gives it an entirely unwarranted importance . I thoroly believe in athletics , but it is absurd to attach to them such portentous importance as would warrant the interference of the governments of the two countries to settle whether an American fouled an Englishman in the four hundred metre race , or whether the British officials behaved unfairly in the Marathon race . It is even more preposterous for the officials of the two governments to allow themselves to be made the solemn instruments of calling the attention of the public to a bitter controversy . 142 2 versy as to which given set of officials has or has not behaved badly ; as to whether certain American or certain British papers have or have not published slanderous articles. The quarrel has been most regrettable, most unfortunate. Not the slightest good can come, in my judgment, from what would in any event be the rather absurd course of getting the two governments embroiled in the effort to nicely apportion the rights and wrongs of the various controversies. Such being the case, it seems to me exceedingly unwise to take any action which amounts to a provocation to continue the quarrel, and gives it an immense advertisement. We have received various inquires from the American Amateur Athletic Union as to the action of the British Embassy, and I have just been informed that they intend to make an answer to this article because it comes from the British Embassy, altho they would not have done so under other circumstances. Some of their number are certain to ask, and, indeed, have already asked this government to take some action in response to what they regard as the official action of the British Embassy. My present intention is to positively refuse to be drawn in any way into the controversy or to say anything about it one way or the other, because I am convinced that the surest way to cause friction is to keep alive the discussion, and that from the point of view of international good relations the wisest possible thing to do for those in power in the two countries, is to say nothing whatever. For either government directly or indirectly to become responsible for anything said in the matter can by no 143 3 possibility do any good, and may finally result in an amount of irritation and damage ludicrously disproportionate to the original cause. I have seen these athletic rows again and again and when they have once started, time and silence are the only sure remedies. About the year 1895 I saw the Harvard-Yale football game which resulted in the complete breakup of all athletic relations between Harvard and Yale for two or three years. Each team firmly believed that it's opponents had been guilty of every form of misdemeanor, including attempted mayhem. The graduates felt quite as violently as the undergraduates. I shall never forget my astonishment when I discovered that old and intimate Yale friends of mine believed that young fellows whom I knew on the Harvard team, young men of the highest stamp, were brutal creatures with a slightly homicidal cast of mind. Of course I am not writing quite seriously - but if you glance at the papers of that day you will see that there is very little exaggeration. In my turn I was equally astonished that certain Yale men who I quite sincerely thought bore characters of almost unblemished ruffianism were, according to my friends view, singularly high minded and blameless people - and since then by the way some of those same individuals have been among my most ardent political supporters. I found that any attempt to get Yale and Harvard men to agree as to what had been done merely resulted in an acrid discussion of the comparative iniquities of the teams. The two colleges never did get together until some time had elapsed and until there had been absolute silence and a refusal to reopen the discussion. Do let me point the moral144 4 by saying that any utterance of any kind by or on behalf of the Government of either country or by one of its officials, would simply lead to just such an acrid discussion of the iniquities committed on [both] sides and would leave each side as convinced as ever that the other was all wrong, and would also have very unhealthy public effect. The less there is said about the matter the better and the most effective way to keep the subject alive [would be to take any] government action of any kind whatsoever. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Right Honorable James Bryce, O.M., The British Ambassador.145 November 26, 1908. My dear Mr. Loomis: We will leave out the Gregorovius. Will you then let me know how much the books [? together] will weigh? I will then put in some extra books, including the Bible, with the Apocrypha, to make up the remaining weight. Will you substitute the volume of tales of Poe and the poems, for that little volume which I sent you and which I will not return? Will you send me to two or three of those Brownings to inspect? Please rebind all the books in pigskin, including the Shakespeare. There will be a good deal of wear and tear on that journey. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Just got [?] a set, and [? ? ?, he'll take it to read ? the steamer.?] Mr. John T. Loomis, W. H. Lowdermik and Co., 1424 F. Street, Enclosures146 November 26, 1908. My dear Mr. Crampton: Your letter of the 25th instant has been received. I never divide the bearskin until the bear is dead! Wait until I come back from my African trip before asking me to make any answer to your very kind letter. Probably it will not be possible for me to grant the request for I shall be shooting simply for the National Museum. The difficulty of transport will be very great and it is unlikely that I can bring home anything save specimens for the National Museum. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. C. Ward Crampton, Secretary, Public Schools Athletic League, New York, N.Y. 147 November 26, 1908 My dear Grinnell: I have received your letter of the 25th instant. I wish I could do as you desire but it is a simple impossibility. As I have explained to several people I never divide a bearskin until it is shot so I won’t write about Africa until I get there and find out if I am able to kill even a gazelle. I shall be very busy from now on and I simply have not the time to write anything worth writing on such a subject as you mention. With real regard, believe me Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell, 127 Franklin Street, New York, N.Y.148 November 26, 1908. My dear Senator du Pont: I have again and again recommended citizenship for Porto Rico. You do not have to talk with me; talk with your colleagues! I look forward to seeing you when you come here. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. H. A. du Pont, U.S.S., Winterthur, Delaware.149 November 26, 1908. My dear Mr. Leech: I am in receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, tendering your resignation as Public Printer, and accept the same to take effect on December 1st proximo. I understand you are to return to your old position in the Philippines which you left to take up the duties of Public Printer. If you will present this letter to the Secretary of War he will arrange for such extension of your leave of absence as he deems proper. Thanking you for the service you have rendered as Public Printer, and with all good wishes for your future, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John S. Leech, Public Printer.150 November 26, 1908. My dear Mr. Cross: I thank you for your letter of the 24th. That is very interesting about those bullets but on the big, tough African game I should be afraid to use them. Do let me see when you come thru Washington. Present this letter when you call. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. W.R. Cross, 33 Pine Street, New York, N.Y. 151 November 26, 1908. My dear Dr. Lindley: Indeed I remember your committee well and what a delightful time I had at Los Angeles. I thank you for your very kind letter, but I do not think it would be necessary for the Doctor to stop. I shall not be in gorilla land and will have small chance for elephant hunting. With many thanks for your kindness, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. Walter Lindley, 1414 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, Cal.152 November 26, 1908. My dear Sir: I wish I could be present to join with you in the dinner given in honor of Mr. Hitchcock, Mr. Sheldon, and Mr. Ward. As I cannot, will you allow me, thru you, to extend my heartiest congratulations and thanks to the three men who did so much to bring about the successful result at the recent election. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt The President of the Republican Club of the City of New York, 54-56 West 40th, Street, New York, N.Y. 153 November 26, 1908. My dear Mr. Shaw: I have your letter of the 21st and it is mighty kind of you. But alas, I am afraid I am not going to get down to Pine Knot soon. I have been extremely busy. Do thank Mr. Gilfort. I was very much interested in what you tell me of his Inn and of his trophies, but I shall hardly have the chance to see them. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Richard E. Shaw, Esmont, Va. 154 November 26, 1908 My dear Mr. Wilcox, Many thanks for your letter. Don’t you think that the present arrangement about covers all that can be done? I would not know what else to suggest. With hearty regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Ansley Wilcox, 684 Ellicott Square, Buffalo, N.Y, 155 November 26, 1908 My dear Haughton: Just a line to congratulate you on your great success. Will you give my congratulations to Graves also and if you see them, to every man on the team – Burr, Kenhard, and everyone? I do wish I could be at the dinner, but it is not possible. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Percy Haughton, City Trust Company, Boston.156 138 November 26, 1908 The Secretary of the Navy: Please issue an order specially to every one of the members of the Newport Conference and to ever other officer who think stands in the slightest need therefor to the effect that under no circumstance in any officer to discuss before the public, or to give any information directly or indirectly concerning it, any question of naval policy without submitting what he wishes to say to the Secretary, or thru Secretary, to the President. State in the order that this issued by my direction, and that any officer disobeying it will be held to account. Theodore Roosevelt157 137 November 26, 1908 Private. My dear Mr. Sullivan: Let me congratulate you upon your appointment as a member of the Board of Education. I believe you can do real and great good in connection with athletics in our public schools – as indeed you have already done such real and great good in connection with them. I want to hear all about it when you come on and take lunch with me. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. James E. Sullivan, President Amateur Athletic Union, 21 Warren Street, New York, N. Y.158 P.S. I have read that article and like it immensely; I am especially imprest by the contrast you draw between Belgium & France. November 26, 1908. My dear Mr. Brooks: I am sincerely obliged to you for the list of books and for your article. I was much impressed with your suggestions about my article and went over them with Dr. Abbott, and have recast it into two sub-articles, the first with the heading, “Where we cannot work with the socialists,” and the second with the heading, “Where we can work with the socialists.” Of course it is folly for us to be the slave of names, and when socialists abandon what is wicked and crazy in their old doctrines and turn the movement into one for social betterment, both sane and fearless, I will heartily go with them without being in the least upset by their calling their movement “socialism.” Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt [P.S. I have read the article and like it ?????] Mr. John Graham Brooks, Colonial Club, Cambridge, Massachusetts.159 November 26, 1908. My dear Senator: Many thanks of the Thanksgiving pig. It was very kind of you to have remembered us. With all good wishes, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Kean, U.S.S., Elizabeth, N.J. 160 November 26, 1908. My dear Doctor Walsh: I will read both pamphlets with real interest. Is there any likelihood of your being in Washington this winter? If so I must have to you to come again to lunch, so that I may have another talk with you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. Jos J. Walsh, 110 West 74th Street, New York, N. Y.161 November 26, 1908. My dear Mr. Abbott: I thank you for your letter and shall read the accompanying article with pleasure. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. E.A. Abbott, 814 Washington Street, Evanston, Ill. [*162*] November 27, 1908. My dear Sir Reginald: Indeed I can not thank you enough for your letter of the 5th of November. In the first place let me hasten to say that as not one in ten of my own countrymen know my correct title, and as I have to wage unceasing war even with the diplomats accredited to Washington to prevent them calling me "Excellency," the only thing I am astounded about in your case is that you should have taken the trouble to find it out. I am greatly pleased to hear of the King's good wishes; and indeed, my dear Sir Reginald, I am more touched than I can say at the way that you and so many other Englishmen, not merely among my personal friends but among officials whom I did not know, have been taking so much trouble and helping me with so much kindness and thoughtfulness. I am utterly ashamed that at the moment when you have so much on hand you should be bothering about my affairs. Pray remember that you have already done far more than the most generous courtesy requires, and more than it had ever entered my head to expect. I know just how you feel in not getting the money you want for developments in the Sudan. There is so much that I would like to do in the Philippines, for instance, that it has not been possible to do because we were not given the money. But you need have no fear as to my[*163*] 2 being disappointed in what you have accomplished. I have a pretty good idea of what it is possible to accomplish [in such work,] and save only in the case of the Panama Canal I have never known any of our own experiments to turn out quite as well as good intelligent men, who were not on the ground, and [who] did not know the difficulties, believed they ought to turn out. Not only in colonial, but in governmental and social matters generally, no man can be a successful optimist who is a mere optimist. Now about the personal part of your letter. I shall write you from Nairobi, and I shall arrange that any letters sent to the Nairobi post office will be forwarded to me. I have already communicated with the Belgian Minister in Washington about the white rhinoceros, and have received from him the statement that the Belgian people will do everything possible for me; but I am very glad that Captain Owen is to call on the Governor of the Lado Enclave, as you have so kindly directed him. That is a most interesting article by Winston Churchill, and you are doing just what I [would not like to have] done when you ask the Uganda authorities to give me just the privileges they gave him when he visited the locality where he got him. Powell Cotton is a first-class man. I have been reading his two books, and have been much struck with what he accomplished. Of course I am no such hunter or explorer as he is, but I ought to be able to do what Churchill did! If I find I am short [as regards ????? ????] I will communicate with you well in advance so as to get the steamer to take up the donkeys so that I can go a little distance away from the river. Otherwise the two donkeys for riding will be all that will be necessary.164 3 As I understand your letter, you mean that ninety days from Gondokoro would include my trip after white rhinoceros, and I shall proceed on that assumption unless you tell me to the contrary. In view of what you say about eland, I do not think I shall go after them. What you tell me about seven steamers and twenty barges being shut up in the marshes, seems pretty ominous, and apparently there is no certainty that [after all the trouble ?????? taken] I could get what I wisht. If it were possible for me to go after Mrs. Grey's waterbuck without getting too [far into the ?????,] I should like to do so; but as I wrote you I care much more for the white rhinoceros than for either the giant eland or for Mrs. Grey's waterbuck. I shall ask Whitelaw Reid to communicate with the British Museum authorities to know if they have or desire a specimen of this Central African white rhinoceros. As you know, I shall have some taxidermists with me, and tho I shall have to get the first pair, if I kill any at all, for the National Museum here, it would give me very real pleasure to get another for the British Museum if they desire it, [and if ?????????????????] That is first-class about the mosquito boots. Will you give my warm regards to Lady Wingate? It is of course everything for Mrs. Roosevelt and my daughter to be her guests. I shall keep you informed from British East Africa of just what my plans are. Really it seems hardly credible that I shall see the great game as you and Lieutenant-Governor Jackson of British East Africa, and others describe it to me.165 I have had a [thoroly good] time as President, and have accomplished a rather unusually large proportion of what I set out to accomplish. I ought to feel melancholy over leaving the Presidency; but I am really not able to, in view of having this trip ahead of me. With renewed and most hearty thanks, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major General Sir Reginald Wingate, K.C.B., Sirdar of Egypt, Cairo.166 November 27, 1908. My dear Dr. Abbott: I have your letter of the 25th instant. That is all right. My only reason for not wishing the letter to be made public was that I did not wish to seem to challenge a word, argument in the matter; and as long as you do not give the name of the lady to whom I wrote and the portions I omitted from the letter no harm can come. Could you send me to keep a duplicate set of proofs of my article on Socialism? It might be that I shall have something to add thereto during the course of the next few months. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. Lyman Abbott, The Outlook, 287 Fourth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 167 November 27, 1908. War Department: I am greatly interested in the report of the Mounted Service School at Fort Riley, Kansas. I wish you would tell Brigadier General Kerr how pleased I am with what he has done. I call your attention to what is said on page 28 as to the need of having the Assistant Instructors all non-commissioned officers. Cannot this be done? Theodore Roosevelt 168 November 27, 1908. My dear Major: I have just received your letter of resignation, which came as a surprise to me; in accepting it I wish to express in the highest terms my appreciation of your long service and of the unfailing loyalty and high integrity with which you have throughout that period served the Government. With all good wishes for your future, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major C.F. Larrabee, Assistant Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior. (Thru the Secretary of the Interior). 169 November 27, 1908. My dear Leonard: While I cannot of course pretend to quote the exact words, the substance of Lord Cromer’s statement was that he felt that your work in Cuba had been in the whole the most striking and most successful of all colonial administration of which he had knowledge during recent years, and this because you had to encounter not merely the ordinary difficulties of colonial administration, but the special difficulty attendant upon governing a people jealousy on the lookout for any disposition to slight them or treat them as inferiors. Of course do not make this public. The statement was naturally entirely private. It was delightful see Mrs. Wood and you’re here. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major General Leonard Wood, Governor’s Island, New York. 170 November 27, 1908. My dear General: Please report to me when the Patterson method of carrying the rifle on horseback has been tried. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Brigadier General William Crozier, U.S.A., Chief of Ordnance. 171 November 27, 1908. The Secretary of the Navy: It seems to me that physical tests are peculiarly needed for the higher officers, alike in the navy and the army. Cannot these tests be thus applied? Theodore Roosevelt November 27, 1908. The Secretary of the War: It seems to me that physical tests are peculiarly needed for higher officers, alike in the army and the navy. Cannot these tests be thus applied? Theodore Roosevelt 173 November 27, 1908. My dear Mr. Ambassador: Would one of the evenings of Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday next suit you to come to the White House, say at 9:30 o’clock, and suffer the wholly unwarrantable torment which I design to inflict upon you by going over my Romanes Lecture with you? Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Right Honorable James Bryce, O.M., The British Ambassador. 174 November 27, 1908. My dear Bridges: I have arranged with the Abbotts, and all that I have written for the Outlook will be published within six months of my leaving the country. If I am fortunate I shall have two, or three, or four articles sent to you within from one or three or my landing. But of course I dare not make any positive promise. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Robert Bridges, 153 Fifth Avenue, New York. 175 November 27, 1908. Dear Bob: I cannot say how concerned I have been over the news about you. If it had been possible for me to get away form here I should have run straight on to New York to see you and dearer Isabella. You ought not to write, and Isabella has for too many burdens to bear for me to bother her; but if she has any spare time do ask her to write me a line of two so that I may now what the plans of both of you are if there is any possible in way in which I can be service. I have liveliest and deepest sense of gratitude toward you two, not only for your genuine friendship to our family, but because of all that you have done for my children. I believe that the influence of both of you has been one of the finest and best things in Kermit’s life and that I will be felt by him just as he lives. Naturally, therefore, my dear friends, any sorrow to either of your affects me very keenly, and I am very earnestly 176 desire to do anything in my power that will be of the slightest aid. [Ea?] Faithfully your old friend and companion, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. R. H. M. Ferguson, 135 East Sixty-ninth Street, New York.177 November 27, 1908. Dear Billy: That is a most interesting letter and I am greatly taken with what you tell me about Dr. Campbell of the Royal College for the Blind. But is simply would not be possible for me to make another engagement to speak while I am in England beyond those I am really committed to. You have no idea of he deluge of requests I have received. Bob is to play tennis with me today and I will give him your message. I hope you will have a delightful winter abroad. Mr. William Hooper, The Berkeley Hotel, Piccadilly W., London, England. 178 Personal November 26, 1908. My dear Mr. Ambassador: I have just finished reading Winston Churchill's account of his white rhinoceros hunt, and this suggests to me that there is something very real in the way of aid which Lord Crewe and the Uganda authorities could do for us. The officials who were with Churchill were able to take him to a place where there were plenty of elephants and plenty of white rhinoceros. Now I should consider my entire African trip a success if I could get to that country and find the game as Churchill describes it. Would Lord Crewe specifically write to the Uganda people telling them that I will communicate with them, and that he would like me to be furnished with guides and information which would enable me to go to the same country as that in which Winston Churchill got his elephant and white rhinoceros, or to similar country? The white rhinoceros is the animal I care most to get -- even more than the elephant. The Belgian authorities have promised me all the information and aid they can give, if I get into the Lado Enclave; but it is evident from Churchill's article that the Uganda people may themselves be able to put me on the path of obtaining what I desire. I am concerned about what I see as to the unrest in India. Have you much information about it? I think that for some time to come the Kaiser will not be a source of serious danger as regards international 179 Complications. I do not like what I hear about India. It looks to me as if a very ugly feelings we growing up there. Now do the British authorities feel about it? Are they confident that they can hold down any revolt? Britain has anti-imperialists even were foolish than ours. I see Hell Caine has started a novel in which the hero seems to be a new Mahdi who is to turn the English out of Egypt ; and Caine speaking thru the lips of the English sub-hero of the tale, is evidently inclined to believe that such a wild, unspeakably cruel fanatic as a Mahdi must certainly be would stand for moral uplift: Here there isn't much that is exciting to tell you. Teft and Mrs. Taft will come to the White House on the 3d of March and spend the night, and this will come to the White House on the 3d of March and spend the Night, and this will save them the bother of moving in on inauguration Day itself. I shall leave Taft at the Capitol and not drive back to the White House with him which always struck me as peculiarly senseless performance on the part of the man who had been President and was no longer, The British Embassy here, I am afraid by direction of the Government at home, did a very foolish thing in publishing, an getting the papers to circulate, the protest of the British Olympic officials against the American officials and athletes. It of course immensely advertise the quarrel, and gives precisely the opportunity which I had hoped would not to be given for the anti-British people to write bitter articles. It is utterly hopeless by any argument to try to bring the two sides of the quarrel into agreement. As a matter of fact there were features in the conduct of each side which were discreditable, and each side is blind to its own misdeeds and clamorously unjust about the misdeeds of the other. I saw Bryce and told him that I thought it was a mistake to have published the article; that I thought it was a mistake to have published the article; that we certainly would never have published such an article coming from the American athlete and that I thought far and away the best course to follow for the officials of both countries was not, directly or indirectly, to say anything further of both countries was not, directly, to say anything of both the matter , and that the sooner the noise was allowed to die out, the better it would be all around. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hen. Whitelaw Reid The American Ambassador, London, P.S Since writing the above your letter has come, and I am amused to find how exactly your view of the course to follow in the matter of the athletic squabble coincides with what I had already written above. I saw Bryce last night and found that the Government had not communicated with the British Embassy, and I think the publication from it was due to a bit of slack management on their part. I was careful to impress upon him the fact the fact that under no circumstance would you permit similar pro-test from the American athletes here to receive what might be regarded as official sanction from your Embassy, and what was most necessary was to keep just as quiet possible about the matter. Of course when the British athletes sent over , as they did , a statement that they would forever hereafter disqualify Carpenter, they invited recriminations. As you my, I think both sides have both sides have been to blame, and it is a case for the application of the of my favorite anecdotes that of the New Bedford whaling captain who told one of his men that all he wisht from him was "silence, and damn little of that." In the same mail with your letter came an extremely nice letter from the Sirdar enclosing an article of Winston Churchill's and saying that he would do everything in his power to get me a white the Uganda people anyhow, if I may bother you to take the trouble. The Sirdar tells me the king sent me his good wishes for the African trip. Would it be wise or proper for me to write him a personal note saying that I had heard of his kindly interest and wisht to thank him do it? Would you be willing to find out from the British Museum people whether they would like a specimen of the white rhinoceros of Central Africa? I shall have, as you know, some field taxidermists with me. My first pair, male and female, would have to go to the National Museum here, but I should like to show my appreciation of the way the British authorities are treating me, and if they would care for a specimen, and I was able to secure a third specimen, I should be very glad to send it to them. 182 November 27, 1908. My dear Quesada: How would it be possible to present a gift in a more graceful and kindly way? I prize your letter, and I prize the hunting knife the Canary Islands. Will you present to the former cower my very kind regards, if you ever write to him? I put the inscription in the album of the young ladies as you desired. With heartiest thanks, and all regard, and above all with the most earnest wishes for the welfare for Cuba, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Senor Don Gonzalo de Quesada, The Cuban Minister. Enclosure 183 November 28, 1908. My dear Strachey: I have your letter of the 17th instant. In the first place let me say how interested I was in your article on American ex-Presidents. I am not sure, however, that I altogether agree with you. (When people have spoken to me as to what America should do with its ex-Presidents, I have always answered that there was one ex-President as to whom they need not concern themselves in the least, because I wouldd do for myself. It would be to me personally an unpleasant thing to be pensioned and given some honorary position. I emphatically do not desire to clutch at the fringe of departing greatness. Indeed, to me there is something rather attractive, something in the way of living up to a proper democratic ideal, in having a President go out of office just as I shall go, and become absolutely and without reservation a private man, and do any honorable work which he finds to do. My first work will be to go to Africa for the National Museum. I am fifty, I have led a very sedentary life for ten years, and I feel that this is my last chance for something in the nature of a "great adventure." If a war should occur while I am still physically fit, I should certainly try to raise a brigade, and if possible a division, of cavalry, mounted riflemen, such as those in my regiment ten years184 2 ago. But if, as I most earnestly hope, there is peace, then, after my return from Africa, and in view of the fact that I am not fit any longer for really arduous exploration, the work open to me which is best worth doing is fighting for political, social and industrial reform, just as I have been fighting for it for the twenty-eight years that I have been in politics. Now, the money consideration, except as an entirely subordinate way, does not enter into the matter at all. For my connection with The Outlook I will receive less than a fourth of what I have been offered to go on other publications, and less than an eighth of what I have been requested to consider if I would go into business. I feel very strongly that one great lesson to be taught here in America is that while the first duty of every man is to earn enough for his wife and children, that when once this has been accomplished no man should treat money as the primary consideration. He is very foolish unless he makes it the first consideration, up to the point of supporting his family; but normally, thereafter it should come secondary. Now, I feel that I can still for some years command a certain amount of attention from the American public, and during those years and before my influence totally vanishes I want to use it so far as possible to help onward certain movements for the betterment of our people. The character of the men associated with The Outlook makes The Outlook the best instrument with which I can work. My agreement is simply that whever I have to say shall be said thru[*185*] 3 their columns. It may be a good deal and it may be a very little. In any event, it won't interfere with anything else that I am doing, as is sufficiently shown by the fact that during my first year I go to Africa. All this is true; and yet I entirely agree with you that as regards the average President he should not be thrown out where he may have to earn his livelihood in ways not quite advisable for an ex-President. The subject is far from being without its difficulties. Indeed I do hope we can [see] you and Mrs. Strachey. Aren't you near Selous? There is nothing I should like so much as to see Cromer, Selous and you all at the same time. But do not ask me to make a definite engagement now. I do not know enough of what my plans will be. But whoever else in England I see or do not see, Mrs. Strachey and you I certainly shall see. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. J. St. Loe Strachey, The Spectator, 1 Wellington Street, Strand, London, W.C., England.186 November 27, 1908. My dear Mr. Monin: I have your letter of the 25th instant. As late in my term as this I would not venture to go into any new plan. It is out of the question for me to take up anything like that you outline when there is no opportunity for my putting it thru. With thanks, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dean Louis C. Monin, Armour Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois. 187 November 27, 1908. My dear Garland: I have your letter of the 26th, and look forward to seeing Seton, and I am delighted to learn about his book. Of recent years he has done very valuable and trustworthy work, but some of his earlier work did very emphatically confound fact and fiction. He has lived this down, and his modern work is first rate. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Hamlin Garland, The Players, 16 Gramercy Park, New York. 188 November 27, 1908. Private My dear Mr. Hawkes: I have your letter of the 24th. You have upset me too much on the matter of the moose galloping for me to be willing to have you quote me! That book was written man years ago, and have since been a middling busy man in many other directions, so it is out of the question for me to say exactly what it was upon which I based my statement. It must have been on hearsay evidence, and on that one set of footprints, which certainly indicated the galloping of a yearling moose; but the young of animals often perform actions that the adults never do. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Clarence Hawkes, Hadley, Massachusetts.189 November 27, 1908. My dear Sir: I am in receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, and am very much pleased at the exchange of university professors between the United States and Denmark. I feel that his exchange will be of value because of the close relationship between the United States and the Scandinavian nations, from the whom come so many of the men who stand high in the qualities of good citizenship here. I am confident that the American people will feel a strong and growing interest in this movement, and I earnestly hope for its continuance. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. George S. Strandvold, Editor, Nordlyset, 562 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 190 November 28, 1908. Secretary of War: I understand that the Engineers are making a report upon the fourteen-foot-deep-waterways project from St. Louis to the Gulf. As you know, I wish to concentrate all this work under the Waterways Commission. Please direct the Engineers not to make any such report public until it has been submitted to the Waterways Commission and then only upon my authorization. Theodore Roosevelt 191 November 27, 1908. My dear Lane: I have your letter of the 24th instant with enclosed clipping. I believe you should have absolute power over the railroads in raising and lowering rates; that it should be summary, and that no action should be taken without your [?] consent. What I can do about it now I do not know. I wish, by the way, that some case came up where your Commission would raise a rate. I have been told that his has never been done. Is this so? I should like to see you get absolute power to keep rates down and to lower them if necessary; but with as little hesitation you should raise them if necessary. The Commission should also have the right to prescribe the method of cooperation between the railroads and the systems of waterways transportation. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Franklin K. Lane, Interstate Commerce Commission.192 November 27, 1908. To the Civil Service Commission: I think this is a case of “exceptional merit.” Perl served two enlistments in the regular army, part of which service was in the Philippines. Between the two enlistments he had three years’ service as civilian clerk in the Philippines. Then followed over two years’ service at Panama. I regard this service as brining his case within the order of August 12, 1908. It is the kind of service upon which we ought to put a premium. Accordingly he will be classified by the Department, with the approval of the Civil Service Commission, under the order of August 12, 1908, as a case of exceptional merit. Please notify Perl and return his original discharge and others papers to him. Theodore Roosevelt Enclosures193 November 27, 1908. My dear Judge: I have your letter of the 24th instant in behalf of Collector Dowe. I have not a doubt that most improper motives are behind the charges made against certain of our Texas officials. But, my dear Judge, as you know from your own experience, if charges prove true we cannot pay heed to the motives of the those making them. All I can ask is a full and fair investigation of this case by the Treasury Department, and that I have asked. With high regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. W. T. Burns, United States District Judge, Houston, Texas.194 192 November 27, 1908. The Civil Service Commission: I desire that deaf people be admitted to examination for places they can fill. Please see Dr. Gallaudet and Secretary Garfield, and have prepared within ten days a rule for me to sign. Theodore Roosevelt195 November 27, 1908. Dear Fitz: I was delighted with your letter; it was most interesting. I read it all thru to myself, and then I took it over and read it aloud at lunch to my family. You tell me all the news I wanted to know. Indeed, Fitz, as you know, we are just as fond of you as if you were one of the family. I am very fond of you; I believe in you absolutely; and I know you have a long and honorable career ahead of you in the army, and if there should come a war I firmly believe that you will distinguish yourself. All that you tell me about the cavalry school is most interesting. I am much amused at the characteristic attitude of the two Englishmen declining to learn the French methods. It is just as I have seen Englishmen come out to the ranches and insist upon riding their own saddles instead of the cow saddles. I am also interested in what you tell me of the young French officers; first, from the point of view of their military qualities, how well they do until something happens to disconcert them, and then how they go to pieces, next, as to their absolute lack of decent morals. I can not help thinking that one of their great troubles as a nation is the fact that the young men seem to have no more sense of morality and self-restraint than if they were animals. I do not want to be too much of a Fourth of July196 2 buncombe patriot, but with all our faults I do not think Americans stand pretty high when we compare them with most foreigners in these matters. I know just how you feel about trying not to show openly your sentiments. I have often been in the same position, where I felt utterly disgusted, but where there was not use whatever in showing it, because it would [accomplish nothing,] and would simply cause friction. We have had first-class riding this fall. I celebrated my fiftieth birthday by taking old Roswell over all the jumps - the five-foot-seven hurdle and water-jump, and all the rest. He went like a dandy. I am now trying to sell him. Archie Butt has just sold Audrey for us. Archie is a perfect trump, and we are greatly attached to him. Last night he was at our Thanksgiving dinner. Kermit and Ethel have been hunting at Geneseo, and had great fun. Kermit is doing well at Harvard. Ted has buckled down to work with a will. I am really proud at the way he is handling himself at the carpet mills. Archie is as happy as a king at Groton, and Quentin has become a most devoted member of the Episcopal High School [at Alexandria]. Mrs. Roosevelt and I went out to see the sports there, and it was very nice to see that Quentin had now his own small niche in the school, and was accepted by all of the boys as one of themselves. It is a mighty nice school. Naturally I was as pleased as possible over the election. I announced beforehand that we would beat Bryan to a frazzle, and we did. It takes a great load off me to feel that [when] I leave office, [I] leave in my place a man who will carry out the policies in which I believe.197 3 Under Bryan the army and navy would have been let go to rack and ruin, but Taft will do everything he can to keep them up; and so it is with many, many other things. Always your friend, T. R. [I took fifty members of the War College and the General Staff for a scramble down] Captain Fitzhugh Lee, U.S.A. 46 Rue Beaurepaire, Saumur, France. I took fifty members of the War College and the General Staff for a scramble down Rock Creek the other day, with Archie to ride herd on them, so to speak; I wish you had been there; we didn't go fast, but we did all the stunts - and about a dozen of them had to give yp up on one thing or another.[*198*] [*86*] November 27, 1908. Blessed Archie: It is fine to hear from you and to know you are having a good time. Quentin, I am happy to say, is now thoroly devoted to his school. He feels he is a real Episcopal High School boy and takes the keenest interest in everything. Yesterday, Thanksgiving Day, he had various friends [here.] His leg was out of plaster and there was nothing he did not do. He roller-skated; he practiced at football; he had engineering work and electrical work; he went all around the city; he [??????ed all over] the White House; and went to the slaughter house and got a pig for Thanksgiving dinner. At Thanksgiving dinner, by the way, we had Captain Archie Butt and Mr. Willard Straight and it was really very pleasant. Ethel is perfectly devoted to Ace, who adores her. The other day he was lost for a little while; he had gone off on a side street and unfortunately saw a cat in a stable and rushed in and killed it, and they had him tied up there when one of our men found him. In a way I know that Mother misses Scamp, but in another way she does not for now all the squirrels are very tame and cunning and are hopping about the lawn and down on the paths all the time.[*199*] 2 so that we see them whenever we walk, and they are not in the least afraid of us. Your loving father, T. R Master Archibald B. Roosevelt, Groton School, Groton, Mass.[*200*] [*88*] November 27, 1908. Dear Kermit: Your letter to Mother came this morning, and we were both of us as much pleased to hear from you about dear Bob and Isabella and to learn what you had done. It was just fine your going down at once to them. I wrote to Bob immediately. It is a dreadful tragedy, and I am more concerned than I can say. Of course anything that I can do will be done. It is wonderful weather now, so mild that today after lunch Mother and I went down and sat for half an hour on the stone seat by the fountain, and she picked up for my buttonhole the very last rose that was left in either garden. Yesterday, Thanksgiving Day, she and I and Ethel and Senator Lodge had a fine two-hours' ride. I have sold Audrey, thanks to Archie Butt, and we are trying to sell Roswell. They have been two most satisfactory horses, very good for me and very good for you also, and to a certain extent for Ted. Mother and I have had delightful times riding this fall. I am so glad that our last spring and last fall at the White House should have been so lovely in every way. My African friends are coming up to time in the most wonderful fashion. The Sirdar in especial is evidently going to do all in his power for us. He is actually sending out a ranger to hunt up where we can get white rhinoceros. Sir Alfred Pease has written me that he thinks we can shoot at the [???????] hartebeest and gazelle on the morning that we [????][*201*] out from the train to his ranch. Do you want me to write a letter to the Dean about your cutting any recitations the time you want down to Bob and Isabella? Ever your loving father, T. R. Mr. Kermit Roosevelt, Claverly Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.202 45 November 27, 1908. Dear Ted: Your letter to Mother was fine, and I particularly enjoyed your description of the club. Perhaps [P?] will prove a companion for you; you'll enjoy [?] [enlisted friend.] Quentin is a funny mite. He takes with the utmost philosophy alternations of grandeur and of the life of a small street mucker. [To day] [b?] to school and a [carrange] as [flair]. Yesterday it became his duty to provide a pig for Thanksgiving dinner; accordingly he started off early in the morning to the slaughter house, scraped an acquaintance with a negro who was driving a brick wagon, and rode over on the brick wagon, with two other negros who were on their way to the station to beat a ride on a freight train to Richmond. He had a date with an elderly sporting friend - a funny old fellow who hunts rabbits, and fishes, with whom Quentin has an acquaintance. He got his pig all right and brought it home in triumph. The rest of the day he passed with various small boy friends, doing everything imaginable, and was so dirty by nightfall that good Ethel had herself to see that he was thoroly washt. When his head was washt she said that it yielded a thick stream of muddy water. Bryce, the British Ambassador, was in last night, and he and I were speaking about sport, agreeing that it is a first-class thing as an amusement, but that it was simply dreadful when a young fellow made203 2 At the serious business of his life; and Bryce spoke with such admiration of the way you have gone in to work in the mill, and what a fine thing it was to have you doing that instead of leading a perfectly silly and vacuous life around the club or in sporting fields. Every now and then solemn jacks com to me to tell me that our country must face the problem of what it will do with its ex-Presidents; and I always answer them that there will be one ex-President about whom they need not give themselves the slightest concern, for he will do for himself without any outside assistance; and I add that they need waste no sympathy on me - that I have had the best time of any man of my age in all the world, that I have enjoyed myself in the White House more than I have ever know any other President, and that I am going to enjoy myself thoroughly when I leave the White House, and what is more, continue just as long as I possibly can to do some kind of work that will count. Ever your loving father, Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Thompsonville, Connecticut.204 November 28, 1908. My dear Mr. Pringle: I am greatly interested in that book and thank you for having sent it to me. With hearty regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John D. Pringle, The Labor World, 218 Third Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.205 November 28, 1908. My dear Mr. Justice: It is always a pleasure to hear from you. As at present informed I agree with you in the point you raise, altho I think a single-headed commission would do better work than triple-headed one. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Henry B. Brown, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States (retired). 2720 Sixteenth Street.206 November 28, 1908. My dear Father Boyle: That is a nice letter of yours and I thank you for it. You may be sure that the abuse you speak of has no effect whatever upon me, except to further convince me that I was right in sending the letter in question. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. James Boyle, St. Joseph's Rectory, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.207 November 28, 1908. My dear Mr. Wanamaker: You raise so many interesting questions that I wish you would come on here some time and give me a chance to talk over these matters with you. I hardly dare to comment upon them in a letter, with the little time I have at my disposal. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Rodman Wanamaker, 1722 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. 208 169 November 28, 1908. Dear Leonard: I have your letter of the 26th. You are quite welcome to quote me in that matter. I think the marines should be incorporated with the army. It is an excellent corps and it would be of great benefit to both services that the incorporation should take place. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major General Leonard Wood, U.S.A., Commanding Department of the Atlantic, Governor’s Island, N.Y.209 January 28, 1908. My dear Mr. Grosvenor: I much regret that I am able to be present in person at the dinner that your society gives to Admiral Evans. It was Admiral Evans who conducted with signal success the battle fleet on the first and therefore most important stage of its progress around the world. I do not believe that in the history of our navy anything has occurred of greater and more fortunate significance to the country than this voyage of the fleet around the world, and I am exceedingly pleased that your society should, in honoring Admiral Evans, recognize the significance of the voyage. With all good wishes for the success of the dinner, and cordial greetings to your guest of honor, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Gilbert H. Grosvenor, National Geographical Society, Washington, D.C.210 129 November 28, 1908. Dear Austin: I have your letter of the 27th. Come from the 9th to the 14th inclusive. You shall go to the Carabao sinner, stay any time you wish; and nobody in the White House but the night ushers will be any wiser. I am very glad you can come. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major W. A. Wadsworth, The Homestead, Genesee, N.Y.211 108 November 28, 1908. Dear Will: Tawney came in to see me today, very anxious to have an interview arranged between you and the Speaker. I think it extremely important that you should have this interview with him, but I won't bother you with the details on paper. As soon as you get to Washington, however, I should like to have a chance to see you and give you a full statement of the facts as they seem to me. With love to Mrs. Taft, Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. William H. Taft, Hot Springs, Virginia. 212 November 28, 1908. My dear Dean: I enclose the letter, and I only wish you had asked me something of consequence. If I had had any thought of your keeping the letter for so much as five minutes after answering it, still less of your wanting to show it to your boys, I should have made it longer, and should have said what I am now about to say. I have long thought that in the event of need - that is, in the event of a war between this country and some other country, in which there was heavy land fighting - I would raise a brigade, or if I was permitted, a division, of horse riflemen such as our regiment was composed of. I would, however, desire so far as possible to choose the chief officers. For example, I would wish to put John Greenway in as colonel of one regiment; Fitzhugh Lee as colonel of another; John McIlhenny as colonel of another, and so forth, and so forth. I have always intended, if ever such need arose, at once to communicate with you and to put you in as an officer in one of the regiments, assigning213 you to some region to raise at once your quota of men who could both [?i??] and shoot. I would wish to have you under me because in point of courage, hardihood, energy, resourcefulness, and administrative ability, I believe you to be equal to the requirements of such a situation - and I should certainly endeavor to keep the standard high. Now, according to my own way of looking at things, I can pay no man a higher compliment than this, which in my own mind, and wholly without your knowledge, I have paid to you. I have kept you in mind just as I have kept in mind that Princeton man, Channing, who was in our regiment, and whom I should use in a similar way if the emergency came. Give my warm regards to Mrs. Dean. I wish I could see the two small boys. Your old colonel, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Dudley S. Dean, Treasurer, The Keweenaw Association, Ltd. 87 Milk Street, Boston, Massachusetts.214 November 28, 1908. My dear Shiras: I have your letter of the 27th. That is first-class. I am looking forward to the receipt of the venison. Soon I must see you and talk over a variety of things, including the question of how your book is getting along. Now, can not you and Mrs. Shiras come to dinner on Tuesday evening, December 8th? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Geo. Shiras 3d., Stoneleigh Court, Washington, D. C.215 November 29, 1908. My dear Senator: I have offered the place of Assistant Secretary of the Navy to Hebert L. Satterlee, of New York, who has not yet notified me that he can accept; but he can only hold it until the 4th of march next in any event. It is a place for which I must have a man with peculiar qualifications, and of intimate association with and knowledge of the needs of the navy, so I cannot consider a man for the place from the ordinary standpoint. Herbert L. Satterlee fills these requirements, and I know of no other man in New York who does. If he cannot take it I shall have to go out of the State. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, U.S.S., New York, N.Y.216 November 29, 1908. My dear Parsons I have offered the place of Assistant Secretary of the Navy to Hebert L. Satterlee, of New York, who has not yet notified me that he can accept; but he can only hold it until the 4th of March next in any event. It is a place for which I must have a man with peculiar qualifications, and of intimate association with and knowledge of the needs of the navy, so I cannot consider a man for the place from the ordinary standpoint. Herbert L. Satterlee fills these requirements, and I know of no other man in New York who does. If he can not take it I shall have to go out of the State. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Herbert Parsons, M.C., 52 William Street, New York.217 November 29, 1908. My dear Senator Platt I have offered the place of Assistant Secretary of the Navy to Hebert L. Satterlee, of New York, who has not yet notified me that he can accept; but he can only hold it until the 4th of March next in any event. It is a place for which I must have a man with peculiar qualifications, and of intimate association with and knowledge of the needs of the navy, so I can not consider a man for the place from the ordinary standpoint. Herbert L. Satterlee fills these requirements, and I know of no other man in New York who does. If he can not take it I shall have to go out of the State. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. T. C. Platt, 2 Rector Street, New York.218 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Simpson: Your letter is of real use to me and I thank you for sending it. I wish I could visit South Africa, but it is not possible. I shall take much such a battery as you advise, excepting that instead of the of the double 577 I shall have a double 450 cordite by Holland. I have already made up my mind that I shall always carry my 405 Winchester myself. I have a Springfield 1905 model .30 caliber, and I shall take a little rook rifle and a shotgun. I never could do anything with the three barreled combinations. I am mighty glad to get over your advice about the hat and the like, and I shall adopt what you say about the [double?] rifle as regards the safety; also about the 3 [pint bottle?]. With hearty thanks, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Leslie Simson, Care Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa.219 November 30, 1908. My dear Chancellor: Your letter gives me real concern. I am awfully sorry to hear what you say. I hope I shall see you in person, not too long hence. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Chancellor John Allison, Nashville, Tennessee.220 190 November 29, 1908. To the Secretary of War: In the matter of the purchase of those ships, I have been shown the following letters written by the then Secretary of War on April 30th last: My dear Senator: I am just leaving for Panama and write this note to say that I approve of your amendment to the Sundry Civil Bill in regard to the purchase of two ships for the Panama trade and for the preference for American bottoms. Very sincerely yours, W. H. TAFT. My dear Senator Hale: I am leaving tomorrow for the Isthmus to be gone for some days. I wish in my absence that there be no doubt as to my views on Senator Lodge's amendment to the Sundry Civil bill. Regarding the matter from all points of view I believe it to be good public policy and economy to purchase two large ships for the Isthmian Canal Commission and I favor the proposition to give preference to American ships. Very truly yours, W. H. TAFT. Hon. Eugene Hale, United States Senate. I think this settles the question. It appears that all the objections that since the passage of the bill have been made to purchasing instead of hiring or building ships were made before the committees of Congress, and that after hearing them Congress disregarded them. The Secretary of War clearly approve the policy on which the Senate acted, which policy was to purchase two American-built ships. All that there221 2 is to decide therefore is whether there is need of using ships, and whether the price of the ships offered is exorbitant. As I understand the naval and other boards have reported that the ships are suited for the purpose, and it appears that the Panama people must have ships to use as soon as possible. The question of policy - that is, as to whether ships shall be hired, built or purchased and as to whether they shall be American or foreign - was settled by Congress and is no longer debatable. The reports on file, as I am informed, show that the two ships for which negotiations have been going on are suitable. The question therefore simply is as to the price. Please have the negotiations closed at the earliest possible moment, as thru no fault of either yours or mine there has already been a much longer delay than there ought to have been. Theodore Roosevelt222 171 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Newberry: Your resignation as Assistant Secretary of the Navy is hereby accepted to take effect on December 1st, proximo, the day you assume the office of Secretary of the Navy. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Truman H. Newberry, Assistant Secretary of the Navy.223 Personal November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Swadener: I have your letter of the 29th. I am both touched and pleased at your having published that little letter in permanent form. I feel every word I wrote with the deepest conviction, and I am particularly glad to have it put in the form in which you have put it. I am glad to publish my picture, and I send you one. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Edward E. Swadener, Secretary F.A. Hardy, & Co., Wholesale Opticians, Chicago. Enclosure 224 November 30, 1908. My dear Dr. Scherck: I thank you for your interesting letter and appreciate your writing me. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. Henry Joseph Scherck, Century Building, Saint Louis, Missouri,225 November 30, 1908. My dear Dr. Milner: Yes, you are entirely right. But I had no idea that what I said was being reported. Great-Heart is my favorite character in allegory (which is, of course, a branch of fiction, as you say), just as Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is to my mind one of the greatest books that was ever written; and I think that Abraham Lincoln is the ideal Great-Heart of public life. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Dr. Duncan C. Milner, 1400 North Sawyer Avenue, Chicago.226 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Sledge: Indeed, I thank you for the horn, and much appreciate your sending it. It was most kind of you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. L. L. Sledge, Sr., Demopolis, Alabama.227 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Cherry: I thank you for your very interesting letter. I should like to get one full-grown tusker, and that is the limit of my ambition, which will seem very mild indeed to a hunter like yourself. My elephant hunting will have to be in Uganda and British East Africa. I thank you greatly for the talisman of hair from an elephant’s tail, and I feel as if it will take off the curse of being a tenderfoot at once. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. William Stamps Cherry, 756 Orange Avenue, Santa Ana, California.228 Personal November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Crockett: This is not for publication; but privately I must tell you that I have really enjoyed your poems. You write about our own birds and trees. You write with genuine feeling. I particularly like “The New Song.” by the way. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Ingram Crockett, Post Office Box 296, Henderson, Kentucky.229 Personal November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Day: It was a particular pleasure to have you here, and it is a particular pleasure to have from “King Spruce” the volume “Up in Maine” with the dedication. Thanking you heartily, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Holman Day, Auburn, Maine.230 November 30, 1908. Dear Paul: That is very interesting and I thank you for it. We will elect Root all right, however. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Paul Morton, President, Equitable Life Assurance Society, 120 Broadway, New York.231 211 November 29, 1908. Dear Will: Lodge showed me the two letters from you which I have quoted in the accompanying letter to Luke Wright. Of course under the circumstances it is a matter of honorable obligation to follow out the course I have outlined in the letter to Luke Wright. I have told Lodge that my own feeling is, and I believe your feeling will be equally strongly, that hereafter there shall be no understanding from the Executive Department with Congress that in the event of merely permissive legislation we will purchase certain ships, or anything else. If Congress wishes us to follow a certain course, let it direct by law that this course be followed; but if it does not absolutely direct that this course shall be followed, I am clear that it is to the public interest that the Executive should have an absolutely free hand, should be unhampered232 by anything that can be even construed into a promise, and should consider nothing whatever but what is best for the Government within the limit set down by law, and without regard to anything but what the law on its face expressly sets forth. I was cognizant of, and approved of, all you did in this matter, and what I am writing now represents no regret at what we did; for in view of all the circumstances, and of the advice of Chamberlain, the shipping commissioner, especially, we had every reason to believe that what we said and did was demanded by the public interest. But the experience I have had during the last six months has convinced me that this kind of arrangement is not an advisable one to make. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. William H. Taft, Hot Springs, Virginia. Enclosure233 November 30, 1908. My dear Major Darwin: Many thanks for your note. Now you rather frighten me when you speak of my giving a “lecture.” I had thought of something more informal, because my present feeling is that I should like it simply as a talk an informal address, to the members present; not to be published, as I would not have time to put it in complete form for publication. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Major Leonard Darwin, President, Royal Geographical Society, 1 Savile Row, Burlington Gardens, London, W.234 November 30, 1908. My dear Sir: The United States Government, thru the Geological Survey and the Forest Service, is engaged in investigating the properties and best methods of use of the building materials and fuels of the United States and in increased safety in mining operations thru better methods of timbering, the prevention of mine explorations, etc. These investigations are so intimately connected with the industries and welfare of the nation that they should be carried forward as rapidly as possible and should have the advantage of the best advice and cooperation which it is possible to secure. Accordingly, I have invited selected members of the national engineering societies and allied organizations to form, with representatives of such Government bureaus as are carrying on actual construction or other engineering work, an Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials, and I appoint you a member of this Board as representing on it the Bureau of Steam Engineering of the Navy. The times and places of meetings of the Board and other details will be arranged thru the Director of the Geological Survey and the Chief of the Forest Service, or by the Board itself. Once each year, during the remainder of the present administration, the Board should report to the President its suggestions and recommendations, and from time to time each year I should be glad for each member of the Board to give to the Director of the Geological Survey or the Chief of the Forest Service, or to those who are directly charged.[*235*] 2 with the investigations, such suggestions as will best forward the objects of the work. At the beginning of each year the plans proposed for investigations will be be submitted to the members of the Board for their consideration, suggestions and advice. I have asked the members of the Advisory Board to consider and recommend plans looking to such a consolidation and cooperation in work of this kind under the different Departments of the Government as will avoid all unnecessary duplication, and bring about the best results in the most economic way; and these investigations should be conducted and the results published in such manner as to make them of the greatest value to the industries of the country. The investigation of fuels and materials of construction is of so much importance to the Navy that there can be no question as to the appropriateness of having the Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering of the Navy Department a member of this Board. I enclose a list of those who have been appointed members of the Board. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rear Admiral John K. Barton, Chief, Bureau of Steam Engineering, Navy Department, Washington, D. C.[*236*] November 30, 1908. My dear Sir: The United States Government, thru the Geological Survey and the Forest Service, is engaged in investigating the properties and best methods of use of the building materials and fuels of the United States and in increased safety in mining operations thru better methods of timbering, the prevention of mine explosions, etc. These investigations are so intimately connected with the industries and welfare of the nation that they should be carried forward as rapidly as possible and should have the advantage of the best advice and cooperation which it is possible to secure. Accordingly I have invited selected members of the national engineering societies and allied organizations to form, with representatives of such Government bureaus as are carrying on actual construction or other engineering work, an Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials, and I appoint you a member of that Board. The time and places of meetings of the Board and other details will be arranged thru the Director of the Geological Survey and the Chief of the Forest Service, or by the Board itself. Once each year, during the remainder of the present administration, the Board should report to the President its suggestions and recommendations, and from time to time each year I should be glad for each member of the Board to give to the Director of the Geological Survey or the Chief of the Forest Service, or to those who are237 2 directly charged with the investigations, such suggestions as will best forward the objects of the work. At the beginning of each year the plans proposed for investigations will be submitted to the members of the Board for their consideration, suggestions, and advice. Your large expert experience renders it eminently appropriate that you should become a member of this National Advisory Board. I enclose a list of those who have been appointed and who are now acting as members of this Board. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Professor W. K. Hatt, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana.[*238*] November 30, 1908. The United States Government, thru the Geological Survey and the Forest Service, is engaged in investigating the properties and best methods of use of the building materials and fuels of the United States and in increased safety in mining operations thru better methods of timbering, the prevention of mine explosions, etc. These investigations are so intimately connected with the industries and welfare of the nation that they should be carried forward as rapidly as possible and should have the advantage of the best advice and cooperation which it is possible to secure. Accordingly I have invited selected members of the national engineering societies and allied organizations to form, with representatives of such Government bureaus as are carrying on actual construction or other engineering work, an Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials, and I appoint you a member of this Board as representing on it the United Mine Workers of America. The time and places of meetings of the Board and other details will be arranged thru the Director of the Geological Survey and the Chief of the Forest Service, or by the Board itself. Once each year, during the remainder of the present administration, the Board should report to the President its suggestions and recommendations, and from time to time each year I should be glad for each member of the Board to give to the Director239 2 of the Geological Survey or the Chief of the Forest Service, or to those who are directly charged with the investigations, such suggestions as will best forward the objects of the work. At the beginning of each year the plans proposed for investigations will be submitted to the members of the Board for their consideration, suggestions, and advice. I have asked the members of the Advisory Board to consider and recommend plans looking to such a consolidation of the Government investigations relative to this work as will avoid all unnecessary duplication. Inasmuch as certain of these investigations have to do directly with questions involving the safety of miners, it is eminently appropriate that the United Mine Workers of America as an organization should be represented on this Board thru its President. I enclose a list of those who have been appointed and who are now acting as members of this Board. Very truly yours, Mr. T. L. Lewis, President, United Mine Workers of America, Indianapolis, Indiana.[*240*] November 30, 1908. My dear Sir: The United States Government, thru the Geological Survey and the Forest Service, is engaged in investigating the properties and best methods of use of the building materials and fuels of the United States and in increased safety in mining operations thru better methods of timbering, the prevention of mine explosions, etc. These investigations are so intimately connected with the industries and welfare of the nation that they should be carried forward as rapidly as possible and should have the advantage of the best advice and cooperation which it is possible to secure. Accordingly I have invited selected members of the national engineering societies and allied organizations to form, with representatives of such Government bureaus as are carrying on actual construction or other engineering work, an Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural Materials, and I appoint you a member of this Board as representing on it the Bureau of Ordnance of the Navy. The time and places of meetings of the Board and other details will be arranged thru the Director of the Geological Survey and the Chief of the Forest Service, or by the Board itself. Once each year, during the remainder of the present administration, the Board should report to the President its suggestions and recommendations, and from time to time each year I should be glad for each member of the Board to give to the Director of the Geological Survey or the Chief of the Forest Service, or to those[*241*] 2 who are directly charged with the investigations, such suggestions as will best forward the objects of the work. At the beginning of each year the plans proposed for investigations will be submitted to the members of the Board for their consideration, suggestions, and advice. I have asked the members of the Advisory Board to consider and recommend plans looking to such a consolidation and cooperate in work of this kind under the different Departments of the Government as will avoid all unnecessary duplication, and bring about the best results in the most economic way; and these investigations should be conducted and the results published in such manner as to make them of the greatest value to the industries of the country. The investigation of structural materials and fuels is of so much importance to the Navy that there can be no question as to the appropriateness of having the Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance of the Navy Department a member of this Board. I enclose a list of those who have been appointed members of the Board. Very truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rear Admiral N. E. Mason, Chief, Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department, Washington, D. C.242 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. George: I do not like to express my opinion of portraits of myself. It seems to me a man cannot tell about a portrait of himself. I have the funniest instances about contrary opinions being exprest by the man and his friends in such cases. With regard, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Edwin Stanton George, 355 Madison Avenue, New York.243 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Stone: I have just read Beach’s account of that trip. Upon my word it is first class. I heartily congratulate you, and I thank you with equal heartiness for the gun which you sent me. It is more than kind of you. I only hope I have one-half as good luck in Africa as you had in Alaska. Again thanking you, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Fred A. Stone, 1402 Broadway, New York.244 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Wiley: You letter of the 28th instant has been received. If I remember, this is the young man who used the obscene and abusive language to an enlisted man. I regret to state that I do not think I could approve a bill reinstating him in the service. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. O. C. Wiley, Troy, Ala.245 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Terry: I wish I could be present at your anniversary dinner. As I can not, I wish to send you just these few words of hearty greeting and good will. I have a peculiar feeling for Troop A, of the New York Volunteer Cavalry. I saw much of it while Governor, and it has furnished again and again the guard of honor for me – when I was inaugurated as Governor, when I was inaugurated as Vice President, and inaugurated as President. I have also felt a peculiar pride in what the troop did in the Spanish War. As soon as the war broke out the three troops of the squadron volunteered for service in the field without making any stipulations as to the length of service or as to officers. As only one troop was called out, it was formed by volunteers from the three troops. You actually went to Porto Rico, and from all the officers I knew in Porto246 Rico I heard nothing but praise of what you had done. If ever there should be a war in which this country was engaged, and I was still in physical trim, I should certainly try to raise either a brigade, or, if I was permitted, a division, of cavalry, composed of regiments such as that I commanded at Santiago. In that event I should instantly endeavor to get all of your men that I could possibly get. From my own standpoint I can pay you no more practical compliment. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. James T. Terry, 60 Wall Street, New York.247 November 29, 1908. My dear Von Briesen: I am going to see your boy and his wife to-morrow, and I shall see Bryce on Tuesday and tell him all about you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt. Mr. Arthur von. Briesen, 25 Broad Street, New York.248 November 30, 1908. Dear Bay: I have read “Herakles” half thru already. You have the touch of the purple, all right! I am immensely imprest by the poem. Now, can you and Bessie lunch with me on Tuesday, December 8th, at half past one? Ferrero, the Italian historian, will be present. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. George Cabot Lodge, 2346 Massachusetts Avenue.249 December 1, 1908. My dear Colonel: Have you found a thoroly good, nervy man, free from Vann’s limitations but with his good qualities, in view of the peculiar situation? If so, recommend him to me at once by wire. Now about Vann himself. He was a poor administrator, but I have no question that he was a mighty good citizen from the standpoint of the needs to the particular community where he dwelt. Would he take a position of deputy marshal or of special agent under the Department of Justice? We would fix his salary as to come as nearly as we could he received as collector of customs. I want this decided at once. Please wire me on the receipt of this letter. I will put him at once on the case that250 McDaniel is about to try against that outfit of assassins down there who killed Duffy. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Colonel Cecil A. Lyon, Sherman, Texas. 251-252 November 30, 1908. My dear Governor: This will present to you Mr. John L. Sullivan, who has long been a friend of mine. He desires to lay before you the case of one Edward Wise, who is confined to Sing Sing, and whom he wants to paroled or pardoned. I know nothing of the case beyond what Mr. Sullivan tells me, but Mr. Sullivan feels very deeply that a hardship has been done. All I ask is that you listen to Mr. Sullivan and then take whatever steps, if any, you in your judgment may deem wise. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Charles E. Hughes, Governor of New York, Albany.253 November 30, 1908. Dear John: Will you present the enclosed to Governor Hughes? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. John L. Sullivan, Davenport, Iowa. Enclosure254 December 1, 1908. Chief Tom: Miss Scove has told me of the progress the Kake Indians are making and thru you I congratulate them most heartily. With all good wishes, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt255 December 1, 1908. My dear Miss Scove: The President received your letter of the 16th instant and sends you the enclosed, which he will be glad to have you present to Chief Tom. With all good wishes, believe me, Sincerely yours, Wm. Loeb, Jr., Secretary to the President Miss Anna Russell-Scove, Alaska School Service, Kake, Alaska. Enclosure.256 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Northcott: Thru you I wish to thank the Committee of the Old ??? Society for their kind and cordial congratulates, which I assure them I genuinely value. I wish I could accept the offer to great me at a dinner when I come to London, but unfortunately my engagements are such that it is not possible for me to do so. I look forward to seeing your member, Mr. Logan, the Town Magistrate of Nairobi. With hearty thanks and all good wishes, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Richard Northcott, 20 Upper Hamilton Terrace, N.W., London.257 171 November 30, 1908. My dear Mr. Ambassador: The President directs me to acknowledge the receipts of your letter of the 20th instant, with enclosure from Mr. Northcott. If you consider it satisfactory, the president wishes you would forward the enclosed reply to Mr. Northcott. Sincerely yours, Wm. Loeb, Jr., Secretary to the President. Hon. Whitelaw Reid, The American Ambassador, London. Enclosure258 December 1, 1908. My dear Mr. Sheldon: I am in receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo. I have a high regard for Major Scott; but the Military Committee of the Senate have had a definite understanding with me that they will be asked to report for confirmation no one below the rank of colonel for promotion to Brigadier general. This bars out from the consideration a number of very good men. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. George R. Sheldon, 4 Wall Street, New York, N.Y.259 December 1, 1908. My dear General McCook: I am in receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo. I have a high regard for Major Scott; but the Military Committee of the Senate have had a definite understanding with me that they will be asked to report for confirmation no one below the rank of colonel for promotion to a brigadier general. This bars out from consideration a number of very good men. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Geo. Anson G. McCook, 33 West 54th Street, New York, N.Y.260 December 1, 1908. My dear Mr. Bliss: I am in receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo. I have a high regard for Major Scott; but the Military Committee of the Senate have had a definite understanding with me that they will be asked to report for confirmation no one below the rank of colonel for promotion to a brigadier general. This bars out from consideration a number of very good men. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Cornelius N. Bliss, 29 East 37th Street, New York, N.Y.261 Personal November 30, 1908. Dear Moody: After looking thru the clipping and letter enclosed will you send them back to me? I do wish I could somewhere get a chance to say what ought to be said about Grosscup and his crowd. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. William H. Moody, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States. Enclosures262 Personal November 30, 1908. Dear White: I am really extremely pleased with your letter about my message. I had originally written what I had to say about the judges in far stronger form. It is an outrage that a creature like Grosscup should be permitted to stay on the bench. Of course there are very few judges that are actually corrupt, as I believe Grosscup to be; but there are many who are entirely unfit to occupy the position; they do, Brewer being a striking example of this kind. There is altogether too much power in the bench. I have taken the liberty of sending your letter to Mr. Justice Moody, who is entirely our kind of a judge. If they were all like him we would have no trouble. Meanwhile I do wish that you would write in the most emphatic manner to Taft. It could only do good. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. W. A. White, The Gazette, Emporia, Kansas.263 174 December 1, 1908. Dear Bridges: As a motto for that African hunt of mine, when the book comes out, what do you think of “He loved the big game as if he were their father,” from the Anglo-Saxon chronicle? I write you thus early so that we may have a memorandum to refer to if I forget about it. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Robert Bridges, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 153 Fifth Avenue, New York.264 December 1, 1908. My dear Sir Ronnell: I have just been reading “The Crusaders in the East,” which you so kindly sent me, and am delighted with it. It was most kind of you to remember me. I hope I need not say how we are enjoyed the glimpse of Lady Rodd and yourself. It was a very real regret to us that it was but a glimpse. By the way, Harry Johnston was here afterwards, and I found him delightful. As I think I told you, he shares all kinds of fads of mine, varying from simplified spelling, and ??? popular and scientific ??? terminology, to very big questions indeed, notably concerning the ??? of the white and colored races. With renewed thanks, and warm regards to your most charming wife, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Sir. Rennell Rodd, Care Foreign Office, London.265 December 1, 1908. My dear Doctor: During these last three months of my administration, and especially when I am trying to make a shift, as in this case, between the Department of Agriculture the Department of the Interior, it may not be possible to do as you request. I hate not to answer you in the affirmative at once. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. G. Lloyd, Magruder, Stoneleigh Court, Washington, D.C. 266 December 1, 1908. His Majesty Wilhelm II. Berlin, Many thanks for courteous inquiry. Much appreciate it. Theodore Roosevelt. (Official) 267 December 1, 1908. My dear Sir George: I send you a copy of my message to Congress; yet to inflict on you the wanton outrage of asking you to read it, but to refer you to the point I have marked on page I know that your legislation and administrative soul will go out in sympathy to me when I mention my pride in the fact that at the close of my administration, in spite of a panic, in spite of the purchase of Panama and of the beginning of the construction of the canal, in spite of having embarked on various schemes that need money. I yet leave the finances a good deal better off than when I found them. We have slightly reduced taxation. We have reduced the interest-bearing debt. We have reduced the amount of interest to be paid on the debt. We have a net surplus of ninety millions of receipts over expenditures for the seven and a half years. I am especially pleased, because the average reformer is apt to embark on all kinds of expenditures for all kinds of things, good in themselves, but which the nation simply can not afford to pay for. It was delightful to get your two letters. I congratulate your boy with all my heart. I look forward to seeing him and all of your family when I am in England; and we shall love to visit you at Stratford-on-Avon,, tho I confess I should have particularly liked to use your Northumberland [????] in the fall, when there was some shooting.268 2 The speech is simply delightful; so good that last night I took it to the Lodges, we were dining, for I knew that both Senator and Mrs. Lodge would enjoy it as much as Mrs. Roosevelt and I did. Curiously enough, in my Romanes lecture (I have been unable to refrain from [?????????] [?????????] two of my King Charles the First's heads), [I have put in a paragraph or two emphatically insisting upon the duty of applying the moral test in our judgment of public men, and also insisting that no great history will ever be written unless it is a great piece of literature also. I quite agree with you about versified translations of a poet that one can't read in the original. Unless the new man is himself a real poet, and adapts rather than translates, as Fitzgerald did, the result is apt to be pretty poor. But I like Gilbert Murray's recent translations. Still, I prefer prose as a rule. I was interested to find that you loved Dante in Carlyle's prose translation as much as I do. It is one of the limited number of books which I shall take with me on [???] African trip. The prose translation can be read on one page, and then, even a very poor Italian scholar, as I am, can turn to the other page and get the sweep of the mighty original. In the same way I like the Chanson de Roland with translations into modern French interleaved just as the Carlyle Dante. I have always felt that Scott's and Macaulay's poetry contained passages that gave one a better idea of Homer than any mere translation. The Nibelungenlied I am able to read without a translation simply because I am so familiar with it in modern German that I can guess at the archaic terms.269 3 I was greatly interested to hear about Lady Trevelyan being a Unitarian. The other day there were at lunch at the White House General and Mrs. Buckner of Kentucky. The General is a very fine old fellow; he was a gallant Confederate soldier. He was captured by Grant at Fort Donaldson, and Grant treated him very well; and when Grant, after leaving the Presidency, lost all his money at the hands of some Wall Street swindlers, Buckner instantly came forward and put his own small fortune at Grant's disposal. He is over eighty years old, and last summer there came to visit him a negro, also over eighty, who had been a slave on his father's plantation, and whom he had not seen for some fifty years; and the tottering ex-slave went back at once to the habit of his youth and spoke of the eighty-year-old ex-Confederate General as nothing but "young master" - this to distinguish him from the old master, who had been buried for half a century. Buckner, by the way, rejoices in the given names, Simon Bolivar; he is of that generation which was named sometimes after the fathers of the Republic, sometimes after every imaginable foreign hero of contemporary or classical times. Cleveland's Minister of the Interior was Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, and his Minister to Spain rejoiced in the name Jabez Mirabeau Lamar Curry. They were both very good men, by the way. A noted Kentucky statesman was named Titus Pomponius Atticus Bibb; and a father and son who were big politicians in early Iowa showed great ingenuity in differentiating their names, the father being Caesar Augustus Dodge and the son Augustus Caesar Dodge. Tom Reed's predecessor270 4 in Congress was named Lorenzo De Medici Sweat - a name on which it is impossible to improve, so with it I shall close the list. Mrs. Buckner, who is as delightful as her husband, has a descent that will appeal to you. She is not only a great grandaughter of Washington's sister, and of Mrs. Washington's sister too, but she is also descended from the [??????] Bishop Burnet - he whose History your uncle put so high. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Sir George Otto Trevelyan, Wellington, Cambo, Northumberland, England. Enclosure.271 December 1, 1908. My dear Lord Morley: Last night I was reading the fourth volume of your Miscellanies - with the delight that whatever you write must of course always give. Two or three of the matters you deal with touch me rather closely. Take Comte's encyclopedia of great men. It always made me so indignant that I could not enjoy it. To exclude Calvin and Luther, while including Dominick and Loyola, is always preposterous. To give Frederick the Great the rank he does for the reasons he assigns, is equally bad. Frederik was a great king and a great general, he was among the greatest in history; he comes second to Napoleon, of course, and from point of view he, like Napoleon, should be upsparingly condemned from the moral standpoint when compared with the Timoleon, Hampden, Washington type of public servant. I despise the virtue which springs simply from inefficiency and timidity; but I abhor as base the great power which are used without reference to moral considerations, and this whether in public or private life. The exclusion of the great men of the Byzantine Empire (Byzantine is a term that certainly out to be used if merely for the reason that only some clumsy paraphrase can replace) reminds me of a curious slip of Frederick Harrison which I suppose proceeded from the same cause, an instinctive tendency to think of Europe merely as Latin Europe. In[*272*] 2 Harrison's essay on the Thirteenth Century, in which he sketches in outline the wonderful events of the century, he omits all reference to, and shows that he had no thought of, what was the most wonderful, and also the most harmful and terrible, event for almost the entire civilized world in that century, including the eastern half of Europe; namely, the rise of that fearsome and hideous phenomenon, the Mongol Empire. It was a phenomenon of mere destruction, for the Mongols made, so far as I know, not one single addition, moral or material, to the welfare of mankind. But they were the mightiest conquerors that the world had yet sen. They submerged Russia as a city is submerged by mud from a volcano. They struck Hungary and Poland prostrate. Europe was utterly helpless before them, the mail-clad chivalry of the age being impotent to make even a respectable fight against the Mongol armies. Yet there is not a hint of all this in Frederick Harrison's chapter. I ought to be ashamed to mention this, by the way, for I have a profound admiration for Frederick Harrison, and admire him much, and such a slip is a mere matter of amusement. I was delighted with your review of Lecky. It was Lecky's history of the Eighteenth Century which made me a Home-ruler. But he was one of that large class of men who can see things truly only in the far perspective, the perspective; as the far-right [?] [?] [?] its clearest [f?] [?] [?] I think if Carlyle had been caught in the Commune of '71, his comments would have been in strong contrast to what he wrote about the revolution of 1789. As for Lecky, when he spoke of democracy his utterances did not arise to the level of a bad pamphlet. His comments on American affairs were ludicrous. This was partly because they were largely derived from Godkin and The [Nation]; and Godkin established his claims to mental273 3 superiority by as thoroly conscienceless and incessant exercise of slander and mendacity as any exemplar of the yellow press. I have been twenty- eight years more or less closely connected with American public life, and for all that time there is not one statement of The Nation or The Evening Post, under Godkin or Godkin's successors, which I would feel safe in accepting as even presumptively true unless corroborated by outside evidence. Godkin, like Lecky, became so embittered and sour that toward the last he regarded the nation as having insulted him by not going to the dogs. He would not bear to live here. It hurt him not to see disaster come upon the land of which he was an adopted citizen. Macaulay's prophecy as to what would happen in the State of New York on some [?] occasion was in its essence curiously falsified by the great election thru which we have just passed. I am an immense admirer of Macaulay; but he was not interested in America, had no knowledge of it, and did not inform himself as to the facts before he wrote [the letter in question]. As a matter of fact, the American Constitution possesses any amount of anchor. In no other country have the courts such extraordinary power. I think they sometimes abuse their power, but it is always abused in the interest of conservation and against radicalism --which, as I am personally a radical, may account for some of my feeling that the courts [?] abuse their power! This last election took place very much under the conditions that Macaulay foretold. We [?] had a panic. There was great want and suffering among large masses of people. The Republican candidate had fifteen years before, during another panic, resolutely and fearlessly used his274 4 power as a judge to check, control, and severely punish working men, poor men suffering from hunger and feeling that they were wronged, who had most unwisely and improperly embarked on a career of violence against rich men. Many of these rich men had doubtless themselves been originally the chief offenders, and Taft, owing to the circumstances of the case, was obliged in most instances to use the powers of the courts against the poor men and for the rich man. Opposed to Taft was a kingly? demagog, who, together with his friends, made every kind of promise and appeal to the multitude; sought in every way to inflame them against Taft because of his labor decisions while on the bench; and appealed, just as Macauley said they would appeal, to the people who were suffering to vote "against the wealthy man who drank champagne and rode in carriages." But we made the fight perfectly straight-out, not making a [........?.......] flattering [...........?..............] and we won an overwhelming victory because we convinced the mass of the people, including the mass of the working men, of two things: first and most important, that what Bryan wisht them to do was morally wrong, and that justice and truth and righteousness were on the side of Taft; second, and almost equally important, were able to appeal to the good sense and intelligence of the working men, and to show them that the effort to remedy their condition by bringing disaster upon men of means, was in the end certain to bring greater disaster to everybody. The result was a mighty satisfactory thing from the standpoint of those who believe in the perpetuity of free government, of democratic institutions. I have again and again seen State after State on some one issue follow a demagog, and even for some years act a little on the principle which Macauley foretold. But in each case the democracy has finally righted itself, the people have275 5 come back to sober sense; and in no case has the infection spread over a sufficient area to endanger the nation as a whole. I have scant sympathy with the people who talk about the failure of the Democratic movement to justify the rosy hopes of those who hailed its advent. In any movement of progress and reform there are always a large number of well-meaning enthusiasts who prophesy the impossible. To compare actual achievement with the impossible hipes of these visionaries, is not to act in good faith. There were a few people who firmly believe that when slavery was abolished the negro, the descendant of the savage who for untold generations had dwelt in African savagery, would in a few years become something between a Periclean Greek and indealized New Englander. Inasmuch as such antisipations were not in the smallest degree realized, many of the little faith have ever since been muttering that no advance came from abolishing slavery -- a position even more absurd and untruthful than that of the wildest abolitionist doctrinaires. Foolish optimism is a stumbling block in the path of sane optimism. I firmly believe that we have good ground for hope for the future. I believe that we have gone forward and not back. This is certainly true of my own country during the last thirty-five years, and, as I believe, for the last hundred and thirty-five years. I think it is true of England. I think it is true of the world. Of course there are times when all humanity drops back. But I do not think that we are in one of the times of recession and I know that the great progress of mankind has been made in countries like England and the United States, where the democratic move-276 6 most of the kind that we believe in has been strongest, and not in countris like Russia and Spain, countries which really have escaped from the triumph of these forces which our critics assure us are so deleterious in our own cases. I shall be in England in the spring of 1910, and I hope I shall then see you. I also want to see John Burns. I grow concerned now and then at what I hear about the unrest in India. I know very little about it save that I realize the immensity of the burden which England has to bear in India; a burden that is now on your shoulders. I feel that on the whole the English rule in India marked one of the signal triumphs of civilization. I do not suppose that there is any serious menace to it, and I am sure that you will be able gradually to work reform where reform is needed, without permitting yourselfs to be overwhelmed by any reform movement gone crazy. If you feel at liberty, do tell me simply for my private information, what the situation in India really is. You will be telling it to a well- wisher. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt As I am now ending ten years of much political activity in which I have held high place, and had been elated with extraordinary confidence and support by the people, I take a satisfaction that you can readily understand in its feeling that during the whole time I have done nothing and said nothing in which I did not heartily believe, and which for instance, I would ? you to believe, as we called ? over; this is just ? as important to ? or regards namely myself but it is important, to us of the democracy, the ? decade has been empty, and have it empty would ?277 Sevelt As I am now ending ten years of much political activity, in which I have held high place, and have been treated with extraordinary confidence and support by the people, I take a satisfaction that you can readily understand in the feeling that during the whole time I have done nothing in which I did not heartily believe, and which, for instance, I would expect you to believe, as we talked things over; this is not especially important as regards merely myself; but it is important, to us of the democracy, that throughout a decade this attitude should have been amply, and more than amply, rewarded by the mass of the people.278 December 2, 1908. To Whom it My Concern: Charles Lee has been steward on the Sylph throughout my term as President. Ha has also been frequently employed about The White House. He is an admirable steward, but he is much more than that. He is an extremely trustworthy and capable man, and I should unhesitatingly employ him in a position of responsibility if the opportunity arose to do so. I can unqualifiedly recommend him to whomever desire his services. Theodore Roosevelt 279 December 2, 1908. My dear Bishop: I heartily thank you for your letter. Few things have given my more pleasure than this agreement with Japan. With high regard, believe me Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Bishop M.C. Harris, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 280 122 December 2, 1908. My dear Mr. Thompson: Indeed it would be a real pleasure to help your father’s son – your mother’s son. But I am sure you will understand that there is nothing I can do with as vague a statement as you make. I have no possible means of finding out what general positions are open. As you know, most of the positions in the Government service been put under the civil service law largely thru your father’s action. I have no means of finding out anything about private service. In New York I do not know a vacancy that is likely to exist in the Government service, and unless you know of such a vacancy there is no chance for me to do anything. As your dear father could have told you if he were alive, our very success in putting thru the civil service law mans that the openings which occur to which I can make outside ap-281 December 2, 1908. appointments become steadily fewer. I am very sorry to have to write you so unsatisfactorily. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Hugh S. Thompson, 306 West 93rd Street, New York, N.Y. 282 December 2, 1908. My dear Judge: I heartily thank you for your letter and appreciate it. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. William H. Osborne, Judge Third District Court, Plymouth, Massachusetts. 283 December 1, 1908. Dear Buxton: It was good to hear from you. I can not say how pleased I am at the great victory we won at the elections. I can go abroad now with a clear conscience and an easy heart. I look forward to meeting you when I am in London. You are a member of the Royal Geographical Society and the Alpine Club both, are you not? From what Sir Martin Conway writes, I gather that they are to join in having some kind of celebration I am to attend. Now, as usual, I intend to bother you. The enclosed copy of a letter from an American seems to me interesting. He recommends a double-barreled 577 instead of the 450 which I am to have, and he also recommends a three-barreled gun, which I do not like. Otherwise he recommends just the battery I am taking. I would be very reluctant to try one of the very heavy guns he speaks of, [the 450 to the ????????????????????????????] What do you think about his advice not to have an automatic safety for the double-barreled Holland? It seems to me to be sound. I would rather run the risk of the native carrier firing it off than of getting into a jackpot myself thru not being able to fire it off. What do you think of his remarks about the "drop of the stock"! Ought we to have more of a drop than I have made allowance for? If you think that I ought to see the gun here, send it right over. I have been reluctant284 2 to have it sent over, largely because I would have to pay a heavy duty on it, whereas if it is sent to Africa it would come in as second-hand when I come home, after having used it. But if the makers think, and you think, that I ought to try it, especially on account of the stock, why send it over without any regard to the duty. Are there two differently loaded types of cartridge for it? I rather hope not. I don't like to have to be allowing for difference of sight when one gets into a tight place; and apparently the 450 cordite is of especial use in a tight place. Do ask the makers to look especially at what my correspondent says about the "drop" of the rifle [stock]. You wouldn't bother about the sights. There is another point. Could you send out for me [to Mowbrasa] the three-pint felt-covered aluminum water-bottle, and small shoulder-bag with two compartments which he describes? I don't know what the "Plasmon lunch" is, and don't much care unless you think I ought to have it. Ought I to take the knee-pads? I have had the knees of my trousers faced with leather. What do you think about the Carl Zeiss glass my correspondent speaks of? I think Selous has [ordered] the acetylene lamps, and if necessary I suppose I could get those things at Nairobi. What do you think about the electric torch and refills of which he speaks? Did you wear a pith helmet? I would much prefer the felt hat if I find I can stand it. What do you think of the sterilizing tablets of which he speaks? There is another point I would like to ask you, and that is as to the cases for my guns. Should they be canvas or leather? What did you[*285*] 3 use? Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt E. N. Buxton, Esq., Buckhurst Hill, Knighton, Essex County, England. Enclosure Enclosure is from Leslie Simpson, Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa.286 263 December 2, 1908. My dear Bridges: I have your letter of the 1st instant. I would not want Hemment. I want a native American, and this man is an Englishman; and moreover he was extremely objectionable to the McKinley people when they took him along on the President's trip to the Pacific Coast. I do not remember him at Santiago. Before deciding on Heller or any one else, you ought to see the man and I ought to see him. He ought to understand entirely just what we propose doing; that he will not go on the remote trips with me [us], but will be used to photograph scenery, and if possible to photograph game on the reserves; and that after three months he will come home. It would not be possible for me to take him on the long trips. My party is quite cumbersome enough as it is. He ought to secure a series of really good pictures during those three months, and then we could fill out with the pictures that Kermit gets. You will of course make an excellent agreement with him, if you decide that he shall go, that he is to give you the pictures, and that he is not to publish any pictures or to write anything until after our articles and book have appeared. Indeed, I hope you can get a man who won't write anything at all. If you pay the man, say Keller, or whoever it is, his salary of $200 a month and the allowance for supplies, and also his passage there and return, I will take him with me on the trip for the three months or whatever the time is he is there, paying his 287 2 expenses for carriers, food, &c. He must of course bring his own clothes, bedding and personal kit, and he ought to have a small tent. I made the suggestion more for your benefit than for mine, because I know that the articles will be much helped by good photographs. On the other hand, the more I see of photographs in books, the less I like them, and in the volume itself I want to suggest very strongly to you that we put in very few photographs indeed. I would far rather simply have half a dozen or a dozen good pictures modeled on good photographs, but not photographs. In my judgment it would be in every way better. I am no friend to the photographic book of travels which consists merely of photographs and of descriptions which are no better than photographs. We want pictures and not photographs, and we want to have the writing consist of pictures in writing and not of photographs in writing. But I quite agree with you that photographs would be of the utmost importance for the magazine. I hope you understand why I made the suggestion to you about employing a photographer. It was chiefly for your sake; it was not for [mine?] I did not feel that I was warranted in undertaking the extra expense. My trip will be expensive anyhow. Of course, when I refused the Colliers' offer I refused fifty thousand dollars clear profit. I was glad to do so. I am glad to do the work for Scribner's and be associated with Scribner's. But I do not feel that I can undertake any extra expense beyond that to which in my own mind I definetely committed myself when I accepted your proposition. I wouldn't mind in the least your deciding not to said a photograph Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Robert Bridges Charles Scribners & Sons 153 Fifth Avenue, New York.288 December 2, 1908. My dear Mr. Goodwin: I have your letter of the 1st instant. It is all right. Foulke explained the matter throly. I was delighted to act in the matter of the fourth class post offices. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Elliot H. Goodwin, Secretary, National Civil Service Reform League, 79 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 289 December 2, 1908. Personal. My dear Collier: I am very much obliged to you for your letter, and I shall be very glad to be your guest at the lunch you propose. But please it a lunch instead of a dinner. I shall be out in the country with Mrs. Roosevelt. It will be our last time together before I leave for the African trip, and I do not want to spend a night away from home. Could not we have it a lunch or breakfast at, say, 12:00 o’clock at the Harvard Club? There is one point only upon which I have any doubt and that is about having Harvey present. He has past the limit as far as I cam concerned. I shall never personally have anything to do with him beyond exchanging entirely formal courtesies, because I know he is a liar and I firmly believe that he is a purchased crook. Still, it would be foolish for me 290 to decline to meet him, or Croker, or anyone else, in ordinary, conventional, official intercourses, and as long as I am not in any way responsible for meeting him I do not care. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Robert J. Collier, 416 West 13th Street, New York, N.Y. 291 December 2, 1908. Dear Cotty: It is all right about Archie. He can stay until the holidays. I am very much obliged to you for writing me. Love to Fanny, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Rev. Dr. Endicott Peabody, Groton School, Gorton, Massachusetts. 292 December 2, 1908. My dear Chapman: The beautiful book has just come. It is more kind of you to have thought of me. I am glad to see that the frontispiece is the same picture that we already have and prize. Not only shall I enjoy the book, but what is more important, I feel the keenest pride in your having written it, for I like to have an American do a piece of work really worth doing. Kermit told me he enjoyed so much having you at the football game. With hearty thanks, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Frank M. Chapman, American Museum of Natural History, New York, N.Y. 293 December 2, 1908. Dear Douglas: Many thanks for your letter. I think Bob ought to be paid something. Whatever you do will suit me, but my preference would be to pay him as well. I should be delighted to have your Teddy appointed as trustee. Tell George Lee that I would be very glad to have Lee, Higginson and Company arrange for my financial matters abroad. Ted wrote to me his delight at seeing you at Farmington, and also – the scoundrel! – that he had touched you for a coming-of-age birthday present. But I was dreadfully concerned to hear about Corrine’s asthma. I do wish I could see you both. Ever yours, T. R. Pay Bob all you think we can get him to take. Mr. Douglas Robinson, 145 Broadway, New York, N.Y.294 December 2, 1908. My dear Mr. Bennett: I wish I could be present at your dinner. As I cannot, let me extend my heartiest personal congratulations thru you to Mr. Powers. No man knowns better than I the admirable work he did. Wishing you a most pleasant evening, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. March G. Bennett, 141 Milk Street, Boston, Massachusetts. 295 December 2, 1908. My dear Mr. Irvine: I have your letter of the 1st instant. I think very well of Cubberly, but the present incumbent of that positions has done admirable work. My thought had been to keep the present man. You do not know how hard it is to find just the right place with which to reward efficient service. I am all the while being reminded of the Russian proverb: “Once in ten years you can help a man.” The chance does not seem to come much more often. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Alexander F. Irvine, The Church of the Ascension, Fifth Avenue and 10th Street, New York, N.Y. 296 102 December 2, 1908. My dear Foulke: I have received Goodwin’s letter which you forwarded ton to me. It is all right and I have nothing to suggest. I return it herewith. I have also just received [???'s] letter. What a trump he is! I have announced the classification of all the fourth class post office in the eastern and north central States from the Mississippi to the Atlantic coast. I thought that we had better get the thing done as soon as possible and then hurry up the rules. I enclose the letter about Delavan Smith, and I think it is in pretty good shape now. My addition of Laffan merely strengthens it. I would like, however, that you would publish it ??? until a day or two after my message has gone to Congress, which will be on the 8th of December. ??? Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Wm. D. Foulke, The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia, Enclosure[*297*] December 1, 1908. My dear Mr. Foulke: I have received your letter of the 29th ultimo and have read it in connection with your previous letters enclosing quotations from the Indianapolis News, a paper edited by Mr. Delavan Smith. As Mr. Smith certainly knew that all the statements he made were false, both as to this Panama matter and as to the other matters of which you enclosed me clippings, and inasmuch, therefore, as the exposure of the falsity will not affect his future statements, I am not very clear what good will result from such exposure. But inasmuch as you evidently earnestly desire some answer to be made, and inasmuch as you say that some reputable people appear to believe the falsehoods of the News and Mr. Smith, and inasmuch as you seem to think that his falsehoods as regards the Panama matter are the most prominent, I will answer them. The News states in one of its issues that probably some of the documents dealing with the matter have been destroyed. This is false. Not one has been destroyed. It states that the last documents were sent over in June of this year, the object of this particular falsehood being, apparently, to connect the matter in some way with the nomination of Mr. Taft. As a matter of fact, the last papers that we have received298 2 of any kind were sent over to us in May, 1904, and they have been accessible to every human being who cared to look at them ever since, and are accessible now. Any reputable man within or without Congress, Republican or Democrat, has now and always has had the opportunity to examine any of these documents. You quote the News as stating that "the people have no official knowledge concerning the Panama Canal deal." The fact is that the people have had the most minute official knowledge; that every important step in the transaction and every important document have been made public in communications to Congress and thru the daily press, and the whole matter has been threshed over in all its details again and again and again. The News gives currency to the charge that "the United States bought from American citizens for forty million dollars property that cost these citizens only twelve million dollars." The statement is false. The United States did not pay a cent of the forty million dollars to any American citizen. The News says that there is no doubt that the Government paid forty million dollars for the property, and continues - "But who got the money? We are not to know. The administration and Mr. Taft do not think it right that the people should know." Really, this is so ludicrous as to make one feel a little impatient at having to answer it. The fact has been officially published again and again that the Government paid forty million dollars, and that it paid this forty million dollars direct to the French Government, getting the receipt of the liquidator appointed by the French Government to receive the same. The United States Government has not the slightest knowledge as to the particular individuals among whom the French Government distributed the sum. This was the business of the French Government. The mere299 supposition that any American received from the French Government a "rake-off" is too absurd to be discust. It is an abominable falsehood, and it is a slander not against the American Government but against the French Government. The News continues, saying that "The president's brother-in-law is involved in the scandal, but he has nothing to say." The president's brother-in-law is involved in no scandal. Mr. Delavan Smith and the other people who repeated this falsehood lied about the President's brother-in-law; but why the fact that Mr. Smith lied should be held to involve Mr. Robinson in a "scandal" is difficult to understand. The scandal affects no one but Mr. Smith; and his conduct had been not merely scandalous but infamous. Mr. Robinson had not the slightest connection of any kind, sort or description at any time or under any circumstances, with the Panama matter. Neither did Mr. Charles Taft. The News says that Mr. Taft was a member of the "syndicate." So far as I know there was no syndicate; there certainly was no syndicate in the United States to my knowledge that had any dealings with the Government, directly or indirectly; and inasmuch as there was no syndicate, Mr. Taft naturally could not belong to it. The News demands that Mr. Taft "appeal to the evidence," by which it means what it calls "the records" -- that is, the mass of papers, which are stored in the War Department, save such as, because of their tecnhnical character and their usefulness in the current work of the canal, it has been found advisable to send to the Isthmus. All of these documents that possest any importance as illustrating any feature of the transaction have already been made public. There remains a great mass of documents of little or no importance which the administration is entirely willing to have published, but which because of their mass and pointlessness, nobody300 4 has ever cared to publish. Any reputable man can have full access to these documents. If you or Mr. Swift, or Mr. Booth Tarkington, or Mr. George Ade -- in short, if any reputable man -- will come on here, he shall have free access to the documents and look over everything for himself. Congress can have them all printed if it wishes; but no Congressman has ever so far intimated any desire that this should be done ; I suppose because to print such a mass of documents would be a great expense, and moreover, an entirely useless expense, unless, which is not the case, there was some object in printing them. Now, my dear Mr. Foulke, I have answered in detail your questions and the statements of the News. You are quite welcome to print my answer; but I must frankly add that I don't think any good will come from doing so. Mr. Delavan Smith is a conspicuous offender against the laws of honesty and truthfulness; but he does not stand alone. He occupies, for instance, the same evil eminence with such men as Mr. Laffan of the New York Sun, editorials of whose paper you or others have from time to time called to my attention, just as you have called to my attention these editorials of the Indianapolis News. I never see an editorial in any one of these or similar papers unless for some reason it is sent to me by you or by some one else; and of the editorials thus sent me there is hardly one which does not contain some wilful and deliberate perversion of the truth. For example, I have just made public the following statement concerning a tissue of utterly false statements301 5 which appeared in Mr. Laffen's paper, the Sun: As the New York Sun story entitled "Roosevelt and Prairie Oil" has seemed to deceive a number of people, the following statement is made public about it: As soon as the story was brought to President Roosevelt's attention he not only called for reports concerning the statements from the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior, but also communicated with ex-Secretary Hitchcock so as to be sure that the President's recollection was not at fault. The story is false in every particular, from beginning to end. Not only is there no such report in the Department of Justice and never has been, but no such report was ever made. In granting the franchise of the Prairie Oil and Gas Company the President simply approved the recommendation of Secretary Hitchcock, submitted to him precisely as all other recommendations were submitted. Moreover, in every case referring to the granting of franchises or the adoption of regulations as regards oil and gas franchises in Oklahoma and the Indian Territory, the President approved the recommendation of Secretary Hitchcock, with the exception of one small and unimportant grant to a Delaware Indian to whom the Delaware Indians, in recognition of 8 years of service to the tribe, had voted in council a fee of $50,000, which he had declined to accept, and who was given twice the usual amount of land. The statement about the alleged promise to a western Senator is as ridiculous a falsehood as the rest of the story. The fact is that the particular newspapers, habitually and continually and as a matter of business, practice every form of mendacity known to man, from the suppression of the truth and the suggestion of the false, the lie direct. Those who write or procure others to write these articles are engaged in the practice of mendacity for hire; and surely there can be no lower form of gaining a livelihood. Whether they are paid by outsiders to say what is false, or whether their profit comes from the circulation of the falsehoods, is a matter of small consequence. It is utterly impossible to attempt to answer all of their falsehoods. When any given falsehood is exposed, they simply repeat it and circulate another. If they were mistaken in the facts, if they possest in their make-up any shred of honesty, it would be worth while 302 6 to set them right. But there is no question at all as to any "mistake" or "misunderstanding" on their part. They state what they either know to be untrue, or could be the slightest inquiry find out to be untrue. I doubt if they themselves remember their own falsehoods for more than a very brief period; and I doubt still more whether anybody else does. Under these circumstance, it seems hardly worth while to single out for special section one or two given falsehoods or one particular paper, the moral standard of which is as low as, but no lower than, that of certain other papers. Of course now and then I am willing to denounce a given falsehood, as, for instance, as regards this case of the Indianapolis News, or the case I have quoted of the New York Sun, simply because it appears that some worthy people are misled or puzzled by the direct shamelessness of the untruth. But ordinarily I do not and can not pay heed to these falsehoods. If I did, I would not be able to do my work. My plan has been to go ahead, to do the work, and to let these people and those like them yell; and then to trust with abiding confidence to the good sense of the American people in the assured conviction that the yells will die out, the falsehoods be forgotten, and the work remain. Therefore, as far as I am concerned I would rather make no answer whatever in this case. But I have much confidence in your judgment, and if you feel that these men ought to be exposed, why you are welcome to publish this letter. There is no higher and more honorable calling then that of the men connected with an upright, fearless, and truthful newspaper; no calling in which a man can render greater service to his fellow-countrymen 303 - 7 - countrymen. The best and ablest editors and writers in the daily press render a service to the community which can hardly be paralleled by the service rendered by the best and ablest of the men in public life, or of the men in business. But the converse of this proposition is also true. The most corrupt financiers, the most corrupt politicians, are no greater menace to this country than the newspaper men of the type I have above discuss. Whether they belong to the yellow press or to the purchased press, whatever may be the stimulating cause of their slander-ous mendacity, and whatever the cloak it may wear, matters but little. In any event they represent on of the potent forces for evil in the community. Yours very truly, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. William Dudley Foulke, Richmond, Indiana,304 124 December 2, 1908. My dear Seth: All right, I will wait until I receive your next draft and then go over it with the Department of Justice. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Seth Low, 30 East 54th Street, New York.305 December 2, 1908. My dear Mr. Banks: I am very pleased that you like the address. Really, all that I did was to try to point out the very valuable service to your race and to all people that you and your friends and associates have rendered. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Charles Banks, Mound Bayou, Mississippi.306 December 2, 1908. My dear Pritchett: That is a mighty nice letter of yours and I very deeply appreciate it. I will take up the idea and see if I can work it out. I hope you will like the address I am to make on Lincoln this year. Indeed I do hope we ? very often ? in the future. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Henry S. Pritchett, 542 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y.307 December 2, 1908. My dear Mr. MacMonnies: Can’t you come and take lunch with me next Tuesday? I do not like to have you in the country and not have you break bread at the White House. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Frederick W. MacMonnies, The Players, 16 Grammercy Park, New York, N.Y.308 December 2, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Alford W. Cooley, Fort Bayard, N.M. On our wedding day we return the congratulations. THEODORE AND EDITH ROOSEVELT. (President’s private account)309 December 3, 1908. Dear Aleck: That is simply fine. Of course come and stay with us. What time will you turn up at the White House? I am anxious to see that the book about venom. I have ordered the other one. Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. Alexander Lambert, 36 East 31st Street, New York.310 December 3, 1908. My dear Mr. Boke: I sincerely thank you for your letter, not only for the description of Mr. Heney, but for the description you give of the great movement of which Mr. Heney has been the head. With all good wishes, believe me, Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. George H. Boke, 240 Pacific Building, San Francisco, California.311 December 3, 1908. My dear Bishop: I have your letter of the 1st instant. I do not know whether any such arrangement would be practicable or not. I have sent your communication at once to Secretary Root, with a request that he communicate with you directly. It was a pleasure to hear from you. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Bishop David H. Gear, 7 Gramercy Park, New York, N.Y.312 December 2, 1908. My dear Mr. Stone: The other day I was concerned to find from the one of the steamship lines, on which it was erroneously announced that I had taken my passage for Africa, that certain newspaper men, representatives of the press associations and individual newspapers, had also taken passage. Now, my trip is to be an entirely private trip, and I very earnestly hope, and shall very earnestly request, that the press associations and the newspaper of this country will under no circumstances send any representative with me, or try to see me or to have interviews with me or report my doings while I am on the trip. As you know, while I have been President I have done my best to give every proper and reasonable facility to every reputable newspaper man to know about all my public acts. Whenever I have gone on an expedition on the public business I have made every preparation for the newspaper men to accompany me, and have made provision for them on special trains if I was myself on one. Even when I went hunting I took the newspaper men with me, up to the point where I left the railroad for the hunt, doing this because they represented to me that inasmuch as I was President the mass of the people expected to follow what I was doing until I actually got into the woods. But (when I start on this African trip I shall have ceased to be President, and shall be simply a private citizen, like any other private313 - 2 - citizen. Not only do I myself believe, but I am firmly convinced that the great mass of the American people believe, that when the President leaves public office he should become exactly like any other man in private life. He is entitled to no privileges; but on the other hand, he is also entitled to be treated no worse than anyone else. Now, it will be an indefensible wrong, a gross impropriety from every standpoint, for any newspaper to endeavor to have its representatives accompany me on this trip, or to fail to give me the complete privacy to which every citizen who acts decently and behaves himself is entitled.) To send any reporters with me would really be a wanton outrage. It would represent an effort to interfere as far as possible with my individual pleasure and profit [xxxx] in my trip; and moreover, it would result in gaining for the public nothing which would be of the slightest use or profit for the public to know. I have always, as I am sure you know, treated newspaper men with the heartiest good will and cordiality, and many of the friendships I most prize are those with representatives of the press, in all grades. But on this trip from the time I leave America until the time I return, I shall not knowingly speak to any newspaper man. If any men are sent along with me I shall so far as possible avoid them, and I shall hold no conversation whatever with them, that I can possibly avoid because I wish to have it understood in advance that any statement attributed to me during my absence is to be accepted as false on its face and as requiring no answer or denied from me. Any man who sends what purports to be any statement from me is to be considered as having sent it with full knowledge of the fact that I have already announced that I will not talk to any newspaper314 - 3 - man on any subject if I know he is a newspaper man, and that any statement purporting to come from me is to be accepted as false without any need on my part to deny it. Until I actually come to the wilderness my trip will be precisely like any other conventional trip on a steamboat. It will afford nothing to write about, and will give no excuse or warrant for anyone's sending to any newspaper a line in reference thereto. After I reach the wilderness of course no one will be with me, and if anyone pretends to be with me or pretends to write concerning what I do, his statements shall be accepted as, on their face, not merely false but ludicrous. You doubtless remember the absurd falsehoods sent to various sensational newspapers in connection with my mountain lion hunt when I was Vice president, and on my bear hunts in Louisiana and Colorado, and my wolf hunt in Oklahoma, when I was President. In each and every instance the statements purporting to relate what I was doing on my trips were absolutely false. Nobody knew until I came out, and prior thereto all statements made were ludicrous inventions. Any man preventing to send information of my trip from Africa will assuredly be a man of bad character who cares nothing for the truth, for no other man would undertake to perform the job, and no man, whether a bad character or not, will have any opportunity of knowing anything I have done. Have you seen the recent accounts in the newspaper of Mr. Bryan's supposed bear hunt in Mexico and his imaginary conflict with a bear? This account was a pure invention, for it now turns out that Mr. Bryan never went bear hunting and never was near a bear. In just the same way any state-315 - 4 - ments made about my African hunt will have to be accepted as, on their face, sheer inventions. Now it seems to me that I have the right to expect every honorable press association and every honorable newspaper to refuse to enter into any project of having any man accompany me or try to see me during any portion of my trip abroad. As I have said before, I shall then be a private citizen, entitled by every consideration of honorable and fair dealing to enjoy the privacy that should be a private citizen's right. My trip will have no public bearing of any kind, sort or description. It will be undertaken for the National Museum at Washington, and will be simply a collecting trip for the Museum with nothing about it in the way of exploration or adventure. It will be inexpressibly distasteful to me, and of no possible benefit to any human being, to [???] try to report or exploit the trip, or to send anyone with me, or to have anyone try to see me or meet me with a view to such reporting or exploitation. Now don't you think that we can get the newspaper press of this country to acquiesce in this view and leave me alone when I am out of office and have left the country? Cant you make this request of the newspaper[xxxx] [xxxx] or otherwise? Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Melville E. Stone, General Manager, Associated Press, 195 Broadway, New York.316 December 3, 1908. My dear Mr. Eddy: I have your letter of the 30th. What you ask of me is literally an impossibility. Why, my dear sir, I doubt if Abraham Lincoln himself, could give a definition worth giving of the size you want, and if he could it would literally be immortal. I am very sorry that I cannot help you. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Frank M. Eddy, 515 Century Building, Minneapolis, Minn.317 December 3, 1908. My dear Carpenter: I could not offhand express my opinion upon so radical and important a suggestion, but it is one well worth thinking over, and I shall take it up with the Country Life Commission. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Frank O. Carpenter, English High School, Boston.318 [*57*] December 3, 1908. The Attorney General: I think that Judge Gunnison ought to be reappointed. Has the Department information that would make if feel the other way? I haven’t a doubt that sometimes he is slow, but I also have no doubt that the real ground of opposition to him is that he has been closing the dance halls and gambling joints. Several years of experiences of Alaskan officials makes me feel that if we get one who can not be successfully accused of breaking say seven out of the ten commandments, we have done rather well, and if nothing but slowness is alleged against a man, and he is honest, I think we ought to stand by him. Theodore Roosevelt.319 [*2357*] December 3, 1908. Dear Mr. Scott: I have your letter of the 2nd. It is very kind of you, but remember that I told Mr. Johnson that my present belief was that I would not be able to write such a history. I do not now have any particular historical work in mind. I am entering upon the last period of my life, and if I write anything I want it to be the very best there is in me. I may not write anything at all that is intended to be of permanent value (unless my African hunting trip is so considered), but if I do go into anything serious of the kind hereafter it will be after the most careful thought, with the effort to get something to which I can devote my whole time in order to make a life work. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Frank H. Scott, The Century Company, Union Square, New York.320 December 3, 1908. Personal My dear Mr. Graves: Indeed, my dear sir, I was well aware of the position you have so consistently maintained, and I have been more than touched and pleased by it. Now, do give me a chance to see you some time. If you are to be in Washington, let me know in advance so that if may arrange to have you at either dinner or lunch. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. John Temple Graves, Editor, New York American, New York.321 Personal Private not for publication December 3, 1908. My dear Dr. Hale: I have your letter of the 1st instant. One of the disadvantages of needed reforms is that together with the good they do they also now and then work an irritating limitation on the power to do some specific act which would be good in itself, but the performance of which is incompatible with the general scheme. All appointments in the consular service are now made to the lowest grade, and promotions are made on merit. Of this system I know you would approve, but it bars me out from making use of you as I should otherwise be delighted to make use of you. It is possible, but not probable, that in some way we could use you as a special agent for Haiti. The trouble as regards Haiti is not that the Government fails to understand the situation, but that the people, especially the educated people, refuse to understand it. The Times and Evening Post, for instance, represent a large constituency which was lukewarm or hostile to what I did about Santo Domingo - than which nothing so good for Santo Domingo has ever been done. I got it thru [xxxx] by two years' hard work, without a particle of aid from what [xxx] likes to call itself the "educated" conscience of the people of the country. Now, in Haiti, what we need is something that will show our people that this Government, in the name of humanity, morality, and civilization,322 - 2 - ought to exercise some kind of supervision over the island; but this should be done as a part of our general scheme of dealing with the countries around the Caribbean. In Cuba, Santo Domingo and Panama we have interfered in various different ways, and in each case for the immeasurable betterment of the people. I would have interfered [ineligible] similar [ineligible] in Venezuela, in at least one Central American State, and in Haiti already, simply in the interest of civilization, if I could have waked up our people so that they would back a reasonable and intelligent foreign policy which should put a stop to crying disorders at our very doors. Such a policy would be a little in our own interest, but much more in the interest of the people in whose affairs we interfered. I think Mexico would have gone in with up on a national policy but in each cases where I have ordinally interfered - Cuba, Santo Domingo and Panama, for instance - I have had to exercise the greatest care in order to keep public opinion here with me so as to make my interference effective, and I have been able to lead it along as it ought to be led only by minimizing my interference and showing the clearest necessity for it. In the other cases I have mentioned, the the need was great, it was not as great as those in which I did take action, and the need could not have been as clearly shown to our people. Our prime necessity is that public opinion should be properly educated. Any time you are here, do not fail to let me see you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Dr. William Bayard Hale, The Times, New York, N. Y.323 December 3, 1908. Hon. Beekman Winthrop, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. In accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the act of Congress to incorporate the American National Red Cross, I hereby appoint you as the representative of the Treasury Department on the Central Committee of the National Red Cross. Theodore Roosevelt324 December 3, 1908. Medical Director John C. Wise, Navy Department. In accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the act of Congress to incorporate the American National Red Cross, I hereby appoint you as the representative of the Navy Department on the Central Committee of the National Red Cross. Theodore Roosevelt325 December 3, 1908. Hon. Henry M. Hoyt, Solicitor-General of the United States. In accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the act of Congress to incorporate the American National Red Cross, I hereby appoint you as the representative of the Justice Department on the Central Committee of the National Red Cross. Theodore Roosevelt326 December 3, 1908. Hon. Robert Bacon, Assistant Secretary of State, In accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the act of Congress to incorporate the American National Red Cross, I hereby appoint you as the representative of the State Department on the Central Committee of the National Red Cross. Theodore Roosevelt327 December 3, 1908. Brigadier General Robert M. O’Reilly, Surgeon General, United States Army In accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the act of Congress to incorporate the American National Red Cross, I hereby appoint you as the representative of the War Department on the Central Committee of the National Red Cross. Theodore Roosevelt 328 December 3, 1908. Major General George W. Davis, U.S.A., retired: In accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the act of Congress to incorporate the American National Red Cross, I hereby appoint you a member of the Central Committee of the National Red Cross and designate you to be Chairman of said Committee. Theodore Roosevelt 329 December 3, 1908. My dear Dana: I have your letter of the 2nd and am very glad you like what was done about the fourth-class postmasters. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Richard H. Dana, Esq., 19 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts. 330 [*154*] December 3, 1908. Dear Wilcox: I have your letter of the 2nd instant. I am trying to arrange with the Civil Service Commission to carry out the suggestion you made in your last letter; I had not thoroly understood it from your first letter; it seems to me excellent. I am very glad you liked what I did about the fourth-class postmasters. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Ansley Wilcox, 684 Ellicott Square, Buffalo, N.Y.331 Personal December 3, 1908. My dear Colonel Johnson: I have suggested to Mr. Edwards, and I now want to suggest to you, that before making recommendations for offices hereafter you confer with the representatives of the Taft clubs. It looks to me as if they had done mighty good work in [that] your State. You all did! Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Colonel William H. Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia.332 December 3, 1908. My dear Mr. Hitchcock: Messrs. W.J. Massie and Clark Grier are to visit you soon. They represent the Taft clubs of Georgia, who were instrumental in getting the remarkable vote we received in Georgia. Every care should be taken to put Georgia on a good basis. I am confident that it would be a mistake to disturb the Taft organizations there, and above all, a mistake to have it supposed that they were upset merely by office-holders. We have a very fine set of men who have come to us in Georgia, and we should encourage and build them up just as we should encourage and build up our people in any part of the North. With hearty regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Frank H. Hitchcock, Chairman Republican National Committee, 1 Madison Avenue, New York.333 [*237*] December 3, 1908. Memorandum for Mr. Taft: In Georgia see Harry Stillwell Edwards, Colonel William H. Johnson, Major Hanson, W.J. Massie and Clark Grier. Back up the Taft clubs, and keep clear of most of the office-holders. Theodore Roosevelt334 [*23?*] December 3, 1908. My dear Mr. Watson: That is a very nice letter of yours. Do come here and see me whenever you can; certainly before I leave the White House. I have taken up the postmastership at Dublin, Georgia, with the Postmaster General and will see what can be done. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Thomas E. Watson, Thomson, Georgia.335 December 2, 1908. To the State Department: I enclose the draft of what I said so far as my memory serves me, It should be carefully gone over to see if anything ought to be left out. I take this opportunity to point out two or three matter as to which I think the Department should pay heed in the future. In the first place, I wish to find our from the Department why it permitted the Chinese Ambassador to-day twice to use the phrase "Your Excellency" in addressing the President. Not only law but wise custom and propriety demand that the president shall be addrest only as "Mr. President" or as "The President." It is wholly improper to permit the use of a silly title like "Excellency" (and incidentally if titles were to be allowed at all, the title entirely unworthy of the position of the President). Any title is silly when given the President. This title is rather unusually silly. But it is not only silly but inexcusable for the State Department, which ought to be above all other Department correct in its usage, to permit foreign representatives to fall into the blunder of using this title. I would like an immediate explanation of why the blunder was permitted and a statement in detail as to what has been done by the Department to[335] 336 [136] December 3, 1908. To the Department of State: I return herewith the proposed remarks of the new Panama Minister, and call attention to the letter I wrote yesterday and to the fact that these remarks of the new Minister of Panama, which have the vise of the State Department, contain four repetitions of the ridiculous title “Your Excellency” with, as an added atrocity, the prefix of “Most Excellent” to my proper title of President. I think the State Department has rather outdone itself in this particular instance. Please take out all these titles, and see to it that never again are they put it in, or permitted to be put in, any communication to the President over which the State Department has control. I will receive the new Panama Minister at two thirty next Monday at the White House. Theodore Roosevelt337 - 2 - prevent the commission of any similar blunder in the future. Now, as to the address itself. I did not deliver it as handed me because it was [xxx] fatuous and [xxx] absurd. I have already had to correct the ridiculous telegram that was drafted for me to send to China on the occasion of the death of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. I do not object to the utter fatuity of the ordinary addresses made to me [xxx] and by me to, the representatives of foreign governments when they come to me to deliver their credentials or to say good-by. The occasion is merely formal and the absurd speeches inter-changed are simply rather elaborate ways of saying good morning and good-by. It would of course be better if they were less absurd and if we had a regular form to be used by the Minister and by the President on all such occasions, the form permitting of the slight variations which would be necessary in any particular case. It seems to me that some such form could be [xxxx], just as we use special forms in the absurd and fatuous letters I write to Emperors, Apostolic Kings, Presidents, and the like - those in which I address them as "Great and Good Friend, "and sign myself "Your good friend." These letters are meaningless: but perhaps on the whole not otherwise objectionable, when formally and [xxxx] announcing that I have sent a minister or ambassador or that I have received one. They strike me as absurd and [xxxx] when I congratulate the sovereigns on the birth of babies with eighteen or twenty names to people of whose very existence I have never heard; or condole with them on the deaths of unknown individuals.338 - 3 - still if trouble would be caused by abandoning this foolish custom, than it would be far more foolish to cause the trouble than it is to keep to the custom. But on a serious occasion, as in the present instance where a stateman of rank has come here o a mission which may possess real importance, then there should be some kind of effort to write a speech that shall be simple; that shall say something, or, if this is deemed inexpedient, that shall at least not be [xxx] a fatuity so great that it is humiliating to read it. It should be reasonably grammatical, and should not be wholly meaningless. In the draft of the letter handed me, for instance. I say of the letter I receive: "I accept it with quite exceptional sentiments as a message of especial friendship." Of course any boy in school who wrote a sentence like that would be severely and properly disciplined. The next sentence goes on: "I receive it with the more profound sentiments in that you bring it now no less from the Emperor." What in Heaven's name did the composer of this epistle mean by "more profound sentiments" and "quite exceptional sentiments"! Can not he write ordinary English? Continuing at the end of the same sentence he speaks of the new Government and what he anticipates from it, in terms that would not be out of place as a prophecy Alexander the Great on the occasion of his accession to the throne of Macedon. Politeness in necessary, but 339 gushing and obviously insincere and untruthful compliments merely make both sides ridiculous and are underbred in addition. Theodore Roosevelt Enclosure. 340 Mr. Ambassador: It is a real pleasure to me to receive the letter you bear, and on behalf of the Government and people of the United States I accept it as a message of especial friendship from your August Sovereign, whose death, and the death of Her Imperial-Majesty, the late Empress Dowager, have caused us grave concern and have aroused our sincere sympathy for your people. In receiving it under these circumstances I accept it also as coming from the Emperor whose accession to the throne is celebrated today and who has our most earnest good wishes for his future. It is our hope and belief, a hope and belief shared by the civilized nations of the world, that his reign will revive and perpetuate all that is best and greatest in the immemorial history of China. Therefore, Mr. Ambassador, I welcome you earnestly and cordially because of my feeling for the great country from which you come. I no less welcome you in your personal capacity. It is a pleasure to recieve as His Imperial Majesty's Special Ambassador so distinguished a statesman as yourself, a man in whose integrity and capacity we have the highest confidence, a man whose reputation is such as to make his coming here a deeply appreciated compliment. I know you have been in the United States before and I hope your present sojourn will be most agreeable. 341 - 342 2 I ask you to express to your August Sovereign and to the Chinese Government the appreciation of the Government and of the people of the United States of the sending of this special embassy. We accept it as a fresh manifestation of the confidence, good-will and friendship existing between the United States and the Chinese Empire. We on our part will do all we can to foster this confidence, good-will and friend- ship. I speak to you in no perfunctory manner. I feel it to be the duty of every powerful civilized nation to use its influence in assuring justice and fair dealing for China. This Nation certainly intends to act justly itself, and it earnestly hopes that all other nations will show a like intention. Above all, our hope is, so far as the opportunity and the power permit, to aid those Chinese citizens who in working for the betterment of conditions in China, in working to bring China abreast of the general movement of civilized mankind, are showing themselves to be the truest friends and supporters of the ancient Chinese Empire. I believe that the [armed?] nations now realize, more than ever before that normally it is to the advantage, and not to the disadvantage, of other nations when any nation becomes stable and prosperous, able to keep the peace within its own borders, and strong enough not343 3 to invite aggression from without. We heartily hope for the progress of China, and so far as by peaceful and legitimate means we are able we will do our part toward furthering that progress.344 [*312*] December 4, 1908. My dear Mr. Stone: I showed to Mr. Frank B. Noyes the letter I wrote you, and on his suggestion, to prevent a possible misapprehension, I wish to explain that when I said I would not knowingly speak to a newspaper man I of course did not mean that I, who would then be a newspaper man myself in a sense, would not speak to my colleagues engaged in a similar business. Of course what I meant was that I would not knowingly speak to a newspaper man for publication or on any subject concerning which I had the slightest idea that he was talking with me with a view of publication. Of course I would treat any newspaper man with the civility with which I would treat anyone else, and naturally if I met friends who happened to be newspaper men, I would greet them as I would friends in any other profession. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Melville E. Stone, General Manager, Associated press, 195 Broadway, New York.345 December 4, 1908. Dear Sir Harry: Just a hasty line so that it may reach you before you leave New Orleans. I do not think we shall intervene in Haiti. Of course we ought to, but this people of ours simply does not understand how things are outside our own boundaries. Of course I do not desire to act unless I can get the bulk of our people to understand the situation and to back up the action; and to do that I have got to get the facts vividly before them, and clearly before them. In Panama, Cuba. Santo Domingo and Porto Rico it needed months or years of preparation before we could get our people to see things straight; and the worst of it is that the educated northeasterners are not merely blind, but often malevolently blind, to what goes on. We ought to have interfered in Venezuela again and again during the past seven years. We ought to have interfered in Central America and Haiti. In all three places we should now be doing something of the same kind that we are doing in Cuba, Santo Domingo or Panama, according to346 the exigencies of the case. But the American people simply were not alive to the situation. I enclose you certain letters which I think will serve your propose. I am immensely interested in what you say of your journey, and agree with every word of it. I am delighted that Harpers is to publish the impressions of New York; and I do hope you will also publish your impressions not only of the woodlands and the industrial centers of the South, but of the people, white and black. I shall send duplicates of these letters care Thomas Cook and Son, 245 Broadway, New York, for fear of this missing you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Sir. Harry H. Johnston, Care Thomas Cook and Son, 245 Broadway, New York. P.S. Governor Magoon expects to be in Havana b the 15th, and if so, looks forward to seeing you. Enclosures347 [*345*] December 4, 1908. To the Diplomatic and Consular Officers of the United States in Cuba and Haiti and all other countries around the Caribbean Sea: This is to introduce my personal friend, Sir Harry Johnston. He is a gentleman of high character, of entire discretion and judgment. I desire that all possible official courtesy be shown him, and that he be given every opportunity to accomplish the purpose he has in view. Theodore Roosevelt348 [*347*] December 4, 1908. To the Naval and Military Officers of the United States in and around Cuba, Haiti, or any of the islands and coast of the Caribbean Sea: This is to introduce my friend, Sir Harry Johnston. The utmost confidence can be placed in him, and I am particularly desirous, and shall take it as a personal courtesy to myself, to have everything done that he asks, so far as it is possible. His discretion and judgment can be absolutely depended upon. Theodore Roosevelt349 [*348*] December 4, 1908. Dear Sir Harry: Just a hasty line so that it may reach you before you leave New Orleans. I do not think we shall intervene in Haiti. Of course we ought to, but this people of ours simply does not understand how things are outside our own boundaries. Of course I do not desire to act unless I can get the bulk of our people to understand the situation and to back up the action; and to do that I have got to get the facts vividly before them, and clearly before them. In Panama, Cuba. Santo Domingo and Porto Rico it needed months or years of preparation before we could get our people to see things straight, and the worst of it is that the educated northeasterners are not merely blind, but often malevolently blind, to what goes on. We ought to have interfered in Venezuela again and again during the past seven years. We ought to have interfered in Central America and Haiti. In all three places we [should] ought now to be doing something of the same kind that we are doing in Cuba, Santo Domingo or Panama, according to350 the exigencies of the case. But the American people simply were not alive to the situation. I enclose you certain letters which I think will serve your propose. I am immensely interested in what you say of your journey, and agree with every word of it. I am delighted that Harpers is to publish the impressions of New York; and I do hope you will also publish your impressions not only of the woodlands and the industrial centers of the South, but of the people, white and black. I shall send duplicates of these letters care Thomas Cook and Son, 245 Broadway, New York, for fear of this missing you. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Sir. Harry H. Johnston, The New St. Charles, New Orleans, Louisiana. P.S. Governor Magoon expects to be in Havana by the 16th, and if so, looks forward to seeing you. Enclosures351 [*349*] December 4, 1908. To the Naval and Military Officers of the United States in and around Cuba, Haiti, or any of the islands and coast of the Caribbean Sea: This is to introduce my friend, Sir Harry Johnston. The utmost confidence can be placed in him, and I am particularly desirous, and shall take it as a personal courtesy to myself, to have everything done that he asks, so far as it is possible. His discretion and judgment can be absolutely depended upon. Theodore Roosevelt352 [*351*] December 4, 1908. To the Diplomatic and Consular Officers of the United States in Cuba and Haiti and all other countries around the Caribbean Sea: This is to introduce my personal friend, Sir Harry Johnston. He is a gentleman of high character, of entire discretion and judgment. I desire that all possible official courtesy be shown him, and that he be given every opportunity to accomplish the purposes he has in view. Theodore Roosevelt353 [*175*] December 4, 1908. Dear Bob: I have just heard from Ethel about you, and it was really a great comfort. I also find that the Goodwins are to be in the Adirondacks near you. I only wish I could go up and visit Isabella and you myself. By the way, I told Douglas that it was my judgment that you should be made to charge something adequate for your service as trustee. This is just a line of affection and good will. Love to dear Isabella and the kiddies, Ever yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. R. H. M. Ferguson, 135 East 89th Street, New York.354 December 4, 1908. My dear Mrs. Curtin: I will gladly write to any publisher you want me to and ask them to read the manuscripts. My experience with the reputable publishers is that they would resent anything in the nature of a request to publish the manuscript and would pay no heed to it; but I think (altho I may be mistaken) that I can get them to read it an decide on what they regard as its merits, and I will gladly try. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mrs. Jeremiah Curtis, Bristol, Vermont.355 [*216*] December 4, 1908. Dear Parsons: I have your letter of the 3rd instant. If there should be such a vacancy Billy Phillips is entitled to fill it unless he takes a ministership. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Hebert Parsons, M.C., 52 William Street, New York.356 December 4, 1908. My dear Bishop Brent: I have your letter of November 3rd. It is very undesirable to appoint a man as surgeon general who has less than four years to serve before this retirement. Now if I waived that requirement in Hoff’s case I should doubtless have to waive it for at least two men who are ahead of Hoff, who would have much shorter terms to serve, and who in point of record and capacity are at least as good as Hoff. I should therefore find myself embarked on this course of having a series of chiefs of Bureaus each with only a year or two to serve, and the result I am sure would be bad for the army. With regret that I cannot answer you more favorably, believe me Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Bishop C. H. Brent, Manila, P.I.357 December 4, 1908. Dear Winty: It is awfully good of you to have sent me that sash and I am very much obliged. I will see you on the 12th anyhow. I wish you could have come to the big game dinner. Willy was there and as delightful as ever. Give my love to your sporting wife and and serious daughter when you write! Ever yours, T.R. Mr. Winthrop Chanler, Knickerbocker Club, New York, N.Y.358 December 4, 1908. My dear Mr. Rowell: May thanks for your letter. Neither of the Senators nor anyone else so much as mentioned the subject matter of which you write to me. As you have written to Mr. Taft I do not send your letter to him. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Chester H. Rowell, Fresno, California. 359 [*13*] December 4, 1908. My dear Mr. Heller: I am pleased with your letter and I have sent it to Dr. Mearns. Whenever you come on here I should like to see you, just to talk over the general features of the trip. I had a very pleasant visit form Mr. Akeley the other day. With regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Mr. Edmund Heller, University of California, Berkeley, California.360 December 4, 1908. My dear Mr. Maxim: I am very much pleased by your more than kind offer, but I hardly know what to say in response. My rifles have already been chosen. Would it be possible to fix the silencer, as you call it, on the end of the barrel of a gun I already have? How long is it? Can it be unfixed if it does not work? I do not know anything about the plan so I have to ask rather elementary questions. The two rifles I expect to use most of the time are a 30-40 Government 1903 model, and a .405 Winchester, but I shall also carry a 45-70 Winchester. With many thanks for your courtesy, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Hiram Percy Maxim, Hartford, Connecticut.361 December 4, 1908. Dear Professor Seligman: I recently appointed an Interdepartmental Statistical Committee, in accordance with the recommendation made in the report of the Committee on the Statistical Reorganization of the Department of Commerce and Labor, my purpose being, as you will observe from the enclosed copy of the order, to inquire into the present methods of preparing statistics in all the Departments of the Government with a view to emanating duplications, and making other improvements. I see from the report of the Committee on Statistical Reorganization of the Department of Commerce and Labor that you were kind enough to act with that Committee, and I am advised that they found your suggestions most helpful in every way. May I therefore ask the favor of your assistance, in an advisory capacity, in the work of the this Interdepartmental362 Statistical Committee? If you can find it convenient to comply with this request, it will be greatly appreciated by me as well as by all the members of the Committee. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Prof. Edwin R. A. Seligman, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. Enclosure.363 December 4, 1908. Dear Professor Jenks: I recently appointed an Interdepartmental Statistical Committee, in accordance with the recommendation made in the report of the Committee on the Statistical Reorganization of the Department of Commerce and Labor, my purpose being, as you will observe from the enclosed copy of the order, to inquire into the present methods of preparing statistics in all the Departments of the Government with a view to emanating duplications, and making other improvements. I see from the report of the Committee on Statistical Reorganization of the Department of Commerce and Labor that you were kind enough to act with that Committee, and I am advised that they found your suggestions most helpful in every way. May I therefore ask the favor of your assistance, in an advisory capacity, in the work of the this Interdepartmental 364 Statistical Committee? If you can find it convenient to comply with this request, it will be greatly appreciated by me as well as by all the members of the Committee. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Prof. J.W. Jenks, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. Enclosure. 365 December 4, 1908. Dear Professor Willis: I recently appointed an Interdepartmental Statistical Committee, in accordance with the recommendation made in the report of the Committee on the Statistical Reorganization of the Department of Commerce and Labor, my purpose being, as you will observe from the enclosed copy of the order, to inquire into the present methods of preparing statistics in all the Departments of the Government with a view to emanating duplications, and making other improvements. I see from the report of the Committee on Statistical Reorganization of the Department of Commerce and Labor that you were kind enough to act with that Committee, and I am advised that they found your suggestions most helpful in every way. May I therefore ask the favor of your assistance, in an advisory capacity, in the work of the this Interdepartmental 366 Statistical Committee? If you can find it convenient to comply with this request, it will be greatly appreciated by me as well as by all the members of the Committee. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Prof. Parker Willis, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. Enclosure. 367 December 4, 1908. My dear Judge: I have your letter of the 3rd instant. I wish I could be present at the meeting, but it is out of the question; and, my dear Judge, it is out of the question on the eve of the meeting of Congress to prepare any message that I would be willing to have delivered on the occasion to which you refer. You have no conception of the number of requests I receive for messages to be delivered on different occasions. Of course the centenary and other anniversaries of the births and deaths of great men naturally afford many occasions for much requests. I am sure that you will understand that it would be a simple impossibility for me offhand, in the midst of very busy days, to write anything worth reading on such a subject as Milton. Nobody has any business to write about him 368 at all unless he devotes days, and possibly weeks, to nothing else. With high regard, believe me, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Hon. Henry E. Howland, 35 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 369 December 4, 1908. My dear Emerson: I wish I could be present at that dinner, but it is out of the question. Give my warmest regards to all present. The flag that we carried is, I think, in Arizona. Personally I should deem it very unwise to keep sending it around to the different reunions. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Edwin Emerson, 60 Washington Square, New York, N.Y. 370 December 4, 1908. Private. My dear Sir: I sincerely thank you for your kind letter and am pleased by what you write. No one could help being pleased at learning that any book of his is of help in the classrooms of the universities of the great Empire of Japan. To be, as you say I am, a power in the centers of Japanese learning in something which I never hoped to be, and I am pleased indeed if such be the fact. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Frank Alanson Lombard, Doshisha College, Kyoto, Japan. 371 December 4, 1908. My dear Mr. Head: Indeed it will give me great pleasure to accept honorary membership in the Chicago Historical Society. I know it works well, and in the past have again and again been thrown into intimate associations with various [?] its members. I assure you I appreciate the compliment paid me. With regards, I am, Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt. Mr. Franklin H. Head, President, Chicago Historical Society, Dearborn Avenue and Ontario Street, Chicago.372 Personal December 4, 1908. My dear Mr. Rideing: I could not possibly undertake any such article now. You have no conception of the multitude of requests that I have to refuse. I appreciate your kindness, and am sorry I can not do as you desire. Sincerely yours, Theodore Roosevelt Mr. William H. Rideing Youth's Companion, Boston, Massachusetts.