Beazell, B. F.



                                                December 19th, 1911.

My dear Mr. Beazell:
                     I thank you for your kind an interesting
letter, but at present there is nothing for me to say
on the subject.
                            Sincerely yours,








Mr. B. F. Beazell.
           Chillicothe, Mo.

[4077]991



                                                              December 19th, 1911.

My dear Mr. Church:
                   I wish I could do as you desire, but, my dear sir, if
I did it in one case i should have to do it in literally countless
other cases.    I most earnestly believe in such social settlement
work, and again and again I have said that I think Jacob Riis
about the most useful citizen in New York.    But I cannot single
out any movements of this kind in one city without seeming
invidious if I failed to do the same thing for other movements
in other cities and thus would make a literally endless chain.
All I can do is to wish you well.
                                           Sincerely yours,







Mr. E. S. Church,
         Akron, Ohio.







7932December 19th, 1911.
My dear Admiral Chadwick:
I cannot deny myself the pleasure of writing to you
to congratulate you upon and thank you for writing your admirable
book upon the Spanish War. It seems to me to be exactly the book
that was needed, written as it is with serene impartiality and
after exhaustive study of the subject by a man who was an actual
participant in the War, and who in addition to the naval - that is,
in the broad sense of he word, military - training of the practical
kind necessary to enable him to do his part well in the actual work
of the campaign, also possessed the kind of military knowledge
which is indispensible if a valuable military work is to be
written which does not at all times accompany military ability.
Your book is written along novel line, but it is the kind of
novelty that is of permanent use. I have read it with the utmost
interest, and I am now re-reading it and studying it. Really it
seems to me that very little more remains to be written from the
purely narrative side of the campaign - although of course there
will always be an opportunity for a man like Mahan to draw deductions
from the narrative.
Heartily congratulating you, I am,
Sincerely yours,

Admiral F. E. Chadwick.

16655December 19th, 1911.
Dear Warrington:
It is good to hear from you! I shall read those extracts 
with the utmost interest, and I am especially
struck with the boldness of your father's denunciation of
lynching a quarter of a century ago, and in that part of
the country where lynching was most common. Kermit and I
often talk of you.
Always yours,

Warrington Dawson Esq.

16656December 19th, 1911.
Dear Mr. Edwards:
That is a very pitiful case. Gracious me! it makes
me feel melancholy because it is evident that the man did not have
a living wage. Surely the city ought to pay a living wage. I do
not quite gather from your letter what has happened in this
particular case. I only hope the poor devil has been given his
chance again. I most heartily thank you for your courtesy.
Sincerely yours,



Mr. William H. Edwards,
Commissioner of Street Cleaning,
New York City.


16657December 19th, 1911.
Dear Jim:
I was very glad to hear from you. Now there is one
matter which I would like you to mention to Nat Wright, although
I do not want it to go any further with me as the informant. The
Taft people are asserting that Brown, oh behalf of Hanna, recently
offered I think to Hilles to come out for Taft if the indictment
against Hanna were dropped. Of course I do not for one moment
believe the statement, but I think Brown and Hanna should be on their
guard in the matter. It is not a thing that should be talked of
in any public way. Do let me see you when you come here again.
Sincerely yours,


Hon. James R. Garfield,
931 Garfield Building,
Cleveland, Ohio.

16658December 19th, 1911.
My dear Judge:
I am really obliged to you for sending me that case.
It seemed to me that the lines you underscored put the whole
matter in a nut shell. It comes in the nick of time for me to
insert it in an article I have been writing about the New York
State Court. My dear judge, I chuckled heartily over your
allusion to the probable thoughts of the world-be dictator !
Seriously, these decision please me so immensely, not merely
because of the cases themselves, but because they represent the
kind of attitude which if regularly taken means that any effort
to assault the Federal Judiciary will be abandoned; and therefore
we shall preserve what is of inestimable value, the power
of the Court on great occasions to steady our governmental
structure by declaring that the Legislature or Executive can do
and what it or he can not.
Sincerely yours,

Judge Learned Hand.

16659December 19th, 1911.
My dear Mr. J Keeley:
Will you not give me a chance to see 
you sometime when you are in New York? I am really
anxious to do so. There is much that I have to 
talk over with you.
Faithfully yours,

16660December 19th, 1911.
Dear Knox:
Your statement was absolutely right, and put the
matter just as it ought to have been put. It was fine
having you out here the other day.
Good luck !
Sincerely yours,

Frank Knox, Esq.
16661December 19th, 1911.
Dear Grant:
I do not know when I have enjoyed a story more than
yours. The description of that great northern wilderness is
fascinating. I do not remember ever reading any description
of it that appealed to me as much. In the story itself I
think you have succeeded to an extraordinary degree, although
the theme you handle was most difficult. I may add that Edith
and Kermit are as delighted with the story as I am.
Ever yours,

Mr. C. Grant La Farge,
124 East 22nd Street,
New York City.
16662December 19th, 1911.
My dear Mrs Larned:
I wish I could accept, but it is a simple 
impossibility. I have received literally thousands of 
similar requests and with the best wishes in the world 
it has proved impossible for me to accept one in a 
hundred of these invitations. I deeply appreciate the
courtesy and kindness of those who ask me to speak, but 
you have no conception of the drain it is upon me even 
to accept the very limited proportion that I am physically 
able to accept and I could not greatly increase this proportion
or accept more of the invitations that come to 
me without absolutely abandoning all thought of any other 
work.
Very sincerely yours,


Mrs Charles P. Larned,
435 Woodward Street,
Detroit, Mich.

16663December 19th, 1911.

My dear Mr. Linderman:

That is mighty nice of you, and I deeply apprecia[te]
it.  It was fine for you to have thought of me.

          Wishing you a merry Christmas, I am
                           Sincerely yours,

Mr. F. B. Linderman,
      Helena, Mont.



16664December 19th, 1911.

My dear Sir:

       I thank you for your letter, which shall have
my careful consideration.
             Sincerely yours,


Mr. G.G. Luthy,
        Peoria, Ill.

16665December 19th, 1911.
Dear Dan:
That will be fine! Now I will take you at your word,
for I was just about to write you to ask for a change, which can
be met however on your proposal. We will have Taylor and Creswell,
and also Bridges, and if you don't mind we will have Hapgood with
Bridges, and possibly Connolly, whom Bridges may want to meet.
My article on Progress and Scholarship will be out about the first
week or second week in January, and I will wait until it comes out
and then make the arrangements. Acton's History of Freedom is a
notable book, of which I have always been fond. I particularly
liked your Christmas piece. I read it last night and so did Mrs
Roosevelt. By the way, I liked Bob Grant's piece in the Scribners
that is just coming out. At first I thought it was written by
you.
With a merry Christmas to Mrs Martin and the boy, and
the other children, and to you,
Ever yours,

Edward S. Martin Esq.,
178 East 64th Street,
New York City.
16666December 19th, 1911.
Gentlemen:
On Sunday last I sent for an automobile from your place
to take me round during the afternoon. I sent for it because Mrs
Roosevelt had assured me that with your automobiles I could count
on having good service. I went to the Labor Temple, leaving the
automobile outside. I was an hour inside, so there was ample time
and opportunity if anything happened to the automobile for the 
driver to telephone up and have it replaced with another. When I
get out the automobile had left, and I had an unpleasant experience
as the enclosed clipping will show. If any lady had been with
me, the experience would of course have been very much more unpleasant.
I am unable to imagine any excuse for the occurrence.
Very truly yours,


The Mason-Seamen Transportation Co.,
622 West 57th Street,
New York City.

16667December 19th, 1911.
My dear Mr. Maynard:
The book for quentin has just come. I am
sure he will like it when he gets back from school. It
was kind of you to think of him.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. L. W. Maynard,
The Woodley,
Washington, D. C.
16668December 19th, 1911.
Dear Merriam:
Could you not come sometime to New York with
Nelson and spend a night with me? I would get out
Sheldon and one or two others and we could talk over
concealing coloration.
Sincerely yours,

C. Hart Merriam Esq.,
Biological Survey,
Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D. C.
16669December 19th, 1911.
Dear Needham:
I was pleased and a little touched and a good deal
amused at your letter my dear fellow. Now don't you get it
into your head that there is a great tide in my favor. These
things go up and go down. For some unknown reason at the
moment there seems to be a revulsion about me. Three months
hence they may be thinking quite as badly as they did a year
ago, and in either event I shall go on just exactly as I have
been going. I owe an immense amount to the American people,
and so far as in me lies I shall try to pay them that debt,
and in the effort to pay it I shall not pay the slightest
attention to how at any given moment the American people
happen to regard me. Remember me to McSweeney.
Sincerely yours,


Henry Beach Needham Esq.,
Cosmos Club,
Washington, D. C.

16670December 19th, 1911.

My dear Mr. Nelson:

It is not possible for me to appear before any
Congressional Committee on any subject, as I am sure you
will realize, for if I did it in one case I should have to
do it in literally hundreds of cases.  I am much interested
to learn that Dr. McCarthy, who has had such wide experience
in these matters favors your bill.

I thank you for your courtesy.

Sincerely yours,


Hon. John M. Nelson,
Washington, D. C.


16671

December 19th, 1911.
My dear Senator Page:
With your general purpose I need hardly say that I
am in entire accord. I think that nothing is more important than
the industrial training (in agricultural communities, this of
course meaning agricultural training) which will fit the average
man to do the work in the average occupation which in their sum
are infinitely more important than all others of any kind from the
standpoint of the welfare of the Commonwealth. I am not however
sufficiently familiar with the subject to pass judgement upon the
manner of achieving your purpose, that is, upon the way in which 
the Federal Government should act. I am sure that in many of our
old communities, in your own State of Vermont for instance, there
is vital need of aggressive and active work by the community as
a whole to raise conditions in the rural districts under penalty 
of seeing these rural districts, which formerly made the backbone
of our nation, sink not only relatively but absolutely. The
conditions in some of the rural districts throughout the old
States including New England are really alarming, but I should
have to get more information before I could say just what parts
the Nation and the States should respectively play in the process.
166722
Regretting that I cannot write you more fully, I am,
Sincerely yours,

The Hon. Carroll S. Page,
United States Senate,
Washington, D.C.

16673December 19th, 1911.
My dear Madam:
I am sorry to say that it is not possible for me
to go into any case of that kind. The fact that I know Mr.
Stimson personally would make it all the more impossible for
me to interfere in what is purely his matter. It would be
a grave impropriety for me to do so, and moreover he would
pay no heed whatever to my interference, and it would not
in any way benefit your case. The only person to lay the
matter before is Mr. Stimson himself. I am confident that
he will do whatever is just. I regret that I am unable to
be of help to you.
Sincerely yours,


Mrs A. E. Peck,
251 Lincoln Avenue,
Palto Alto, Cal.

16674December 19th 1911.

My dear Mr. Rathbun:

I appreciate your letter and thank you
for it.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. S. W. Rathbun,
The Marion Register.


16675

December 19th, 1911.

Dear Mr. Robinson:

Here are some further bills which Mr. 
Roosevelt has received from Mr. Jaconsen and which
he would like you to pay at your early convenience.

Sincerely yours,


Secretary


Douglas Robinson Esq.,
146 Broadway,
New York City.


16676

December 19th, 1911.
Dear Nick:
Before getting your letter Kermit had told me you are
in the Sphinx, and I am so pleased. Now Oliver simply must get
a grip on himself and not mind. He is getting everything in
false perspective and putting altogether too much importance
on those different clubs. The point is, each man should go
where his friends are and where he is wanted. It would be absurd
for Oliver to give another thought to the matter now, and above
all to think of it when he comes back as a graduate. I will
see him again these holidays. I am so glad that Kermit was
able to be of a little help.
With hearty congratulations,
Always yours,


Nicholas Roosevelt Esq.,
c/o Mrs J. West Roosevelt,
110 East 31st Street,
New York City.
 
16677December 19th, 1911.
Dear Mr. Russell:
 That is a most interesting letter of yours.  I shall
not try to comment upon it at length now.  Suffice it to say that
I agree with you absolutely on your main thesis that there must
be no hesitation in denouncing the thug of the McNamara type,
but the true way to get at the causes which produce him is to
make what you and I mean by insurgency the active dominating
principle in the National and State Government; in other words,
to do complete justice as well as to demand it.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. Isaac Russell.

16678

December 19th, 1911.

Dear Friend Sewall:

It was good to hear from you.  Those are good photographs.
I tell you I should hate to try to follow "Old Bill Sewall" up
Katahdin.  Indeed I should hate to go up Katahdin at all, no matter
how slowly, unless I had had a month in the Maine woods first to 
try to get back into some condition.  You are very good to take
such trouble about the maple sugar, and we look forward to receiving
it.

Well, I keep hoping that sometime I shall be able to
get to ?? County again, but I am bound to say that in
this direction my hopes are a little less bright than formerly.
It becomes increasingly evident that it is almost impossible for
me to get away from my home, and that the only place where I can
really be at ease and have a holiday is in my own home.  With the
best intentions people outside make it almost impossible for me
to get any rest when I go away.  Give my warm regards to all.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. W. W. Sewall,
Meek Point Camps,
Island Falls, Maine.


16679

December 19th 1911.

Dear Mr. Sheldon:                                                 
I thank you for your letter, and I am glad that it was written.
There is little for me to add to what you have said.  I never directly or
indirectly in any shape, way, or form asked Dr. Harriman or anybody else to 
contribute a dollar to aid in my election.  Moreover, on the only occasion 
on which Dr Harriman ever spoke to me on the subject at all, he did so of 
his own initiative; and so far from there being any request from me to him, 
he made to me the request that I would aid him in getting the National 
Committee to contribute some of its funds for the campaign expenses of Mr 
Higgins, the Candidate for Governor in New York State.  He at the time 
stated to me that my own election was assured, that the election of Mr 
Higgins, in which he was especially interested, was doubtful, and that he 
earnestly hoped that the National Committee would divert some of its funds
from the National to the State campaign, where the need was great and 
where he believed the election of Mr Higgins to be in jeopardy.  As shown 
in your letter, this was precisely what the National Committee did.

Very truly yours,


Mr. George R. Sheldon,
52 Cedar Street, New York.


16680COPY

THE OUTLOOK
287 Fourth Avenue
New York.

Office of 
Theodore Roosevelt.

December 19th, 1911.

Dear Mr. Sheldon:
I thank you for your letter, and I am glad that it was
written.  There is little for me to add to what you have said.  I never
directly or indirectly in any shape, way or form asked Mr. Harriman
or anybody else to  contribute a dollar to aid in my election.  Moreover,
on the only occasion on which Mr. Harriman ever spoke to me on
the subject at all, he did so of his own initiative; and so far from
there being any request from me to him, he made to me the request that
I would aid him in getting the National Committee to contribute some
of its funds for the campaign expenses of Mr. Higgins, the candidate
for Governor in New York State.  He at the time stated to me that my
own election was assured, that the election of Mr. Higgins, in which
he was specially interested, was doubtful, and that he earnestly hoped
that the National Committee would divert some of its funds from the
National to the State campaign, where the need was great and where
he believed the election of Mr. Higgins to be in jeopardy.  As
shown in your letter, this was precisely what the National Committee
did.

Very truly yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

Mr. George R. Sheldon,
62 CedarStreet, New York.

16681December 19th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your letter
and to say that he will not trouble you to send him a further
copy of that letter.  He was very pleased to receive the
former copy and thanks you for your kindness in sending it
to him.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Mr. Philip G. Straus,
Baltimore, Md.

16682December 19th, 1911.
Dear Mr. Walker:
I shall be interested in that bill, but I
do not want to give opinions-I want to get them-at
the present time.  I thank you for writing.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. Albert H. Walker,
Park Row Building,
New York City.

16683December 19th, 1911.
Dear White:
I think the name of that baby unquestionably fixed
the names for the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates
to be nominated by the People's Party next June.  As
for the ark business, at the moment I am feeling a warm
sympathy for those friends of Noah who assured him that it
would not be much of a shower.
Very sincerely yours,

Mr. William Allen White,
The Emporia Gazette,
Emporia, Kansas.

16684
December 19th, 1911.
Dear Mrs Wolcott:
The Outlook very much wishes to get you and Mrs
Deland and if possible some women who would know the feelings
and the needs of wage-working women, to meet with us at lunch on
either Tuesday the 9th or the 16th to discuss woman suffrage. 
Dr. Abbott and I do not entirely agree. We will send you the
rough drafts of our articles. After talking with you and Mrs
Deland we hope we will be able to come to an agreement. Which
day would be most convenient for you and Mrs Deland, and can
you suggest the name of a working woman whom it would be worth
while having attend?
Very sincerely yours,

Mrs Roger Wolcott,
173 Commonwealth Avenue,
Boston, Mass.
16685December 19th, 1911.
Dear Mr. Woods:
I thank you for your kind letter, which
I appreciate. At present there is no need for me
to say anything on the subject.
Give my warm regards to Waring.
Again thanking you for your courtesy, I am,
Sincerely yours,

Mr. Rufus Woods,
Wenatchee Daily World,
Wenatchee, Wash.
16686December 19th, 1911.

My dear Doctor:
             
 I am so touched and pleased by your letter that I
must send you a line of thanks.    My dear fellow, I appreciate
immensely your writing and value your words more than I can 
well express; but do let me say what a lesson you have been 
to me by the courage and cheerfulness with which you have fa
the trouble with your eyes. I hope and I believe that every
thing will go well with you.
              
With most hearty thanks, 
                                                 
Faithfully yours,


16687[*Benninghoven, E*]
December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
I think the best answer that can be made to your
letter to Mr. Roosevelt is by sending you a copy of the
article which he wrote and which appeared in The Outlook
last May.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. E. Benninghoven,
108 West Adams Street,
Chicago, Ill.
1677Blacklock

December 20th, 1911.
My dear Mr. Blacklock:
I wish I could accept, but it is a simple 
impossibility. I have received literally thousands of 
similar requests and with the best wishes in the world 
it has proved impossible for me to accept one in a 
hundred of these invitations. I deeply appreciate the
courtesy and kindness of those who ask me to speak, but 
you have no conception of the drain it is upon me even 
to accept the very limited proportion that I am physically 
able to accept and I could not greatly increase this proportion
or accept more of the invitations that come to 
me without absolutely abandoning all thought of any other 
work.
Very sincerely yours,


Mr. Henry Blacklock,
The Mens Club,
Providence, R. I.


[4132]Bernard S. Brown

December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt has asked me to acknowledge receipt of 
your letter and to say that since he left the White House he 
has not spoken on behalf of a single person with regard to 
securing an official position or promotion of any kind or sort.
If he were to do so in one case he would be compelled in common
fairness to do the same thing in hundreds of similar cases 
about which he is approached. He feels sure on thinking it over
you will see how impossible it is for him to help you.
He is very sorry.
Faithfully yours,


Secretary

Mr. Bernard S. Brown,
231 West 145th Street,
New York City.

[5282]December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt was much amused by that cartoon
which you very kindly sent to him, and much appreciates
your courtesy.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. H. R. Burton,
Lowes, Delaware.
4354December 20th, 1911.
My dear Mr. Chadwick:
I wish I could accept, but it is a simple 
impossibility. I have received literally thousands of 
similar requests and with the best wishes in the world 
it has proved impossible for me to accept one in a 
hundred of these invitations. I deeply appreciate the
courtesy and kindness of those who ask me to speak, but 
you have no conception of the drain it is upon me even 
to accept the very limited proportion that I am physically 
able to accept and I could not greatly increase this proportion
or accept more of the invitations that come to 
me without absolutely abandoning all thought of any other 
work.
Very sincerely yours,



Mr. George Rowe Chadwick,
Modern Woodmen of America,
Chester, Penna.

8156December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
I wish it were possible for my friends to realize
my position, not for my own sake, but because then they 
would understand just why it is that I cannot accept all 
the invitations that come to me. From now on I wish to 
avoid making any speech that I possibly can avoid, and 
greatly though I appreciate an invitation coming from such 
a body as the one you represent it really is not possible
for me to accept. I cannot undertake anything further of 
any kind or sort now. I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,



Herbert Clark, Esq.,
Harvard Club of Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, Pa.

8151December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
When Mr. Roosevelt made that statement he meant
that he would just as soon discuss what would perhaps be
considered the lightest and most frivolous subject in the
world (calling it a pipe dream) with a person who was utterly
incompetent to discuss anything at all (a patient of Bedlam).
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. B. D. Colclough,
Lamar, S. C. 
7160December 20th 1911.
Dear Mr Collins:
I thank you for your letter and appreciate it, as I do all your
courtesies. I hardly know whether to write to those good people or not.
I suppose we are all apt to take too much for granted of the other
fellow's knowledge of our own working conditions. You, an editor,
especially with your experience in such a matter as reciprocity with, for
instance, the Saturday Evening Post, would understand quite as clearly as
I do the utter impossibility of expecting any publication to take a very
long article which they did not think would interest their readers. Of 
course I assumed when we were having our conversation with those gentlemen
that they could not possibly fail to understand that The Outlook editors
would not put in their article if it was not as written that they thought
their readers would read it - it would not be of any advantage to have it
put in if it was not read. I cannot get anything put into The Outlook by
anyone on any subject unless the editors think that it is so written and of
such a nature that their readers will be interested in it. A moment's
reflection will show that this is the only possible standpoint the
editors can take unless they expect to wind up The Outlook as a going
concern. If they put in articles which people will not read, it means
that they would have to shut up shop, and they themselves must be the
[?943]2
judges on this matter. I present them at times articles and urge the
importance of the articles, but they are the final judges, just as you
are the final judge of your own magazine. The article submitted to us was
one much longer than any I personally have ever ventured to request the
editors to accept from my pen, a much longer article than I have ever
written even on such a subject as the trusts, or the judiciary, or the
McNamara murders. After reading it carefully, the editors unanimously
came to the conclusion, and so informed me, that not only could they not
publish such a long article, but that they did not believe it brought out
the points in a way to which their readers would pay heed. They wished to
be as nice as possible with me, and after a good deal of discussion they
finally said they would endeavor themselves to put out an abstract in
which they would as forcefully as possible present every point made, but
that as they themselves were entirely opposed to the article they felt
that they would have to answer the points. This was all I could get, and
this was all I had a right to ask, and it was considerably more than anyone
else would have gotten from The Outlook. It seems to me that Mr Bacon, as
editor of the Grand Forks Times, could understand this. I am certain
Judge Amidon entirely understands it. If you see Mr Kingman and Mr
Twichell, I wonder if you could read them what I have written. I do not
feel like volunteering to write them myself, simply because it seems to me
79443 

a little absurd for me to be in the attitude of defending myself because 
the editors of The Outlook thought that a certain article was so long that
they did not feel at liberty to put it into their pages, but as a favor to
me did put in an abstract bringing out all the essential points in the
article.  As I am simply a Contributing Editor, with no say-so as to what 
goes into The Outlook, my trying to get the article in at all was merely
an act of special friendship for the gentlemen who wanted it put in.  It
is the kind of thing I have resolutely to refuse to do in literally
hundreds of cases.  In this one case, because I liked the men and wished
to give them a chance to have their case heard, I made the effort, and
frankly, I feel that I am entitled to thanks for having made the effort,
and that it is preposterous to feel resentful because I was not able to
persuade the editors to do something which in their judgment would have
been disadvantageous to the magazine whose interests they were safe-
guarding.

With hearty good wishes,

Sincerely yours,


Mr. P. V. Collins,
523 Seventh Street South,
Minneapolis, Minn.


7945

2
December 20th 1911.

Dear Mr Groly:

I return herewith the papers. Personally, and for my own selfish
gratification, I am sorry that you cannot come down here, but there is
really no need of doing so, for I think I can put what I have to say
clearly in this letter. You can of course use all the letters and the
statement that you already have, and this letter too.

During 1899 and the early part of the year 1900, while I was Governor at
Albany, I came into sharp collision with Senator Platt and the New York
Republican machine over several matters, notably the question of the
handling of the Insurance Department, which I need not now discuss, and
the Franchise Tax Bill. I insisted on the legislature passing the
Franchise Tax Bill in proper shape, and finally had to get a special
session for that purpose. I achieved my object, but only at the cost of
serious trouble with the New York Republican machine or organization,
which was then completely under the control of Senator Platt. The Senator,
I have no question with entire sincerity, disagreed with me utterly and
completely, not only as regards the principle embodied in the Franchise
Tax Bill, but as regards my attitude toward corporations, and indeed
toward men of great wealth and toward the business use of that wealth,
which was made evident by my [position as xxxxxis] action concerning the Franchise Tax Bill.

[?93]2

After its passage I speedily found that the organization leaders were
more or less covertly hostile to me, and were anxious to prevent my re-
nomination for Governor.  I was confident that if it came to a direct
fight on this question of the re-nomination, I would beat them, and I 
grew to believe than they themselves saw this and wished to get me out of
the way by indirection.  Accordingly they began to insist that I
must be the nominee for the Vice-Presidency.  At the time I did not 
realize, and neither did my friends in New York State itself realize, that
there was a general desire outside of New York State to have me take the 
Vice Presidency.  I did not pay heed to this general outside movement, which
represented a real feeling in my favor and a real desire to have me take
a position of more National significance; I had my eyes fixed surely on
the motives of the leading New York politicians; who were backing me for
the Vice-Presidency merely to get me out of the Governorship, and out of
active participation in New York politics [-] that is, to remove me from a 
position in which I could actively strive for certain measures which I 
regarded as essential to the political, social and economic wellbeing of 
our people.  I therefore announced that I would not accept the Vice-
Presidency, and I myself went to the Convention primarily with the idea
of being on hand to stop any movement in the New York delegation to force
my nomination.

70943

Immediately on reaching Philadelphia, I was made aware that there was
a very strong movement outside of the State of New York in favor of my
nomination, the motive of these men outside of New York being the exact
reverse of the motives of the politicians from New York; for the men
outside New York wished me nominated because they believed in me and wished
me to continue in public life.  However, it was some little time before I
attached full weight to this outside movement, my attention being absorbed
by the effort within the New York delegation to force me as a candidate.
Senator Platt had come on, and personally and through his lieutenants was
assuming control of the delegation, and they were insisting that I would
have to be nominated, and that New York would insist upon presenting my
name.  I insisted that I would not be nominated, and that I would not
permit New York to present my name.  Finally a caucus of the New York
delegates was called, and it was while this caucus was being held that I
had my interview with Senator Platt.  As soon as the caucus came together,
it became evident that a concerted effort would be made to force me into
the acceptance of the nomination, without regard to my wishes.  I taxed 
the leaders of the movement [with] desiring merely to get me out of the Governorship
- for my term as Governor would end the following January, and the 
Convention to nominate a Governor would be held some three months after
the Presidential Convention which we were then attending.  Some of those 

7095


4

I thus taxed with wishing to eliminate me from the Governorship acknowledged 
the fact with a laugh; others denied it. I told them that I would
not permit them to nominate me for Vice President; but that I should not only make the fight in the caucus
but [fight] also if necessary in the convention, and would explain fully what I believed their
purpose was, and that most assuredly after such public exclamation by me it would be
impossible for them to nominate me.  This caused a good deal of commotion,
and in a short while one of Mr [Taft's] Platt's lieutenants came to me and stated
that the Senator wished to see me in his room, to which he was confined
because of an accident with which he had met. I accordingly went up stairs and
saw him. He told me that it had been decided that I was to be nominated
for Vice-President, and that they could not accept any refusal and that I
would have to yield. I answered that I was sorry to be disagreeable, but
that I regarded the movement as one to get me out of the Governorship for
reasons which were not of a personal but of a public character, that is,
for reasons connected with the principles in which I so heartily believed,
and that I would not and could not consent to go back on those principles,
and so I would refuse to accept the nomination for Vice President. 
Senator Platt again said that I would have to accept. I again told him
that I would not. He then said to me that if I did not accept, I would be
beaten for the nomination for Governor, and someone else nominated for
Governor in my place. I answered in effect that this was a threat, which simply
[*96*]5
rendered it impossible for me to accept, that if there was to be war there
would be war, and that that was all there was to it; and I bowed and left
the room. As I went down stairs to the room in which the New York
delegates were gathered, I made up my mind that the wise course was to
take the aggressive at once, and with all possible force. Accordingly as
soon as I entered the room, I announced to half-a-dozen men that I had
just had a conversation with Senator Platt; that Senator Platt had
informed me that I must take the nomination for the Vice Presidency, and
that if I did not I would not be nominated for Governor; [and] that this
threat rendered it impossible for me to consider accepting the Vice
Presidency; and that I intended to announce immediately that I was a
candidate for Governor and would fight for the nomination, and that every
man who voted for my nomination for Vice President must do so with the
understanding that I would see that the people in their turn understood
that he was thus voting at the dictation of Mr Platt, in order to remove
me from the Governorship; that I should make at this [?][?][?] this statement instantly in
the full meeting, that I would make it to the newspapers afterwards, and that
I would fight for the nomination on this issue. The minute that I took this
position the whole effort to bring pressure upon me collapsed. There was
great confusion, and one of Senator Platt's lieutenants came to me and
begged me not to say anything for a minute or two until he could 
976

communicate with the Senator, whom he was certain must have been
misunderstood by me.  I laughed and said that I had very clearly
understood him, but that of course I would wait for a few minutes until
he could be communicated with.  In three or four minutes this gentleman
came downstairs, saying the the Senator wished to see me again, that he
was very sorry he had spoken in a way that caused me to misunderstand
him, that he was under the influence of opiates to reduce the pain caused
by the injuries he had received, and that he supposed he had expressed
himself badly in consequence.  Accordingly I went upstairs, and Mr. Platt
substantially repeated this explanation to me, saying that he was sorry if
he had shown temper or expressed himself badly, and that of course in
view of my feeling the effort to nominate me for Vice President would be
abandoned, and that he wished me to be assured that he and all his friends
would favor my re-nomination as Governor.  I thanked him, bowed, and went
downstairs.  The delegates took their cue at once.  No further effort was
made to nominate me for the Vice Presidency, [at  this New York caucus], and they voted to present
the name of Mr. Woodruff.

When the meeting broke up, I took it for granted
that all chance of nominating me for the Vice Presidency was over, but I 
found next morning that what we had done in the New York delegation had
merely strengthened the feeling outside among the other delegates about
my nomination.  There was not the slightest let-up in the pressure upon

7098

7
me to accept; on the contrary, it was increased. The argument which I
finally accepted as conclusive was that made independently to me by two
or three different men from different portions of the Union. These men
said to me that they understood entirely my preference for my being Governor
of New York rather than Vice President, and that in urging me to accept
the Vice Presidency they did not pretend to say that it would be better
for me personally, that on the contrary they did not know whether or not
it would hurt or benefit me personally, but that they did feel absolutely
sure that the best thing for the country as a whole, and therefore for
the Party as a whole, was to have me accept the Vice Presidential
nomination, and they urged that I look at it purely from this standpoint.
I finally made up my mind that this was the proper view to take, and by
that time Senator Manus, and indeed practically everyone, had come to the
same conclusion. But I was resolute that no action should be taken which
could give any color of suspicion to the belief that I was being nominated
by the New York machine in order to put me out of the New York Governorship,
and accordingly I would not let any New Yorker nominate me, or so
far as I now remember, even second my nomination. My memory is that I was
nominated from Iowa, and seconded from California and other States, and I
believe that this was the first time that a man nominated for the
Presidency or the Vice Presidency was ever put in nomination except from 
[7099]8
his own State. As I was myself a delegate I did not vote, but every vote
in the Convention except mine and cast for me.

I send you this account because the account in Senator Platt's
"Reminiscences" is wholly inaccurate. It was written when he was very
old and very infirm, and when his memory was [really inaccurate] extremely faulty.

Sincerely yours,

P.S. You are welcome to put in the [?] in its entirety. You will
see from it that Platt's statement of which you speak, that he had
converted Hanna while the caucus of the New York delegation was in
session, is preposterous, because it was during that caucus that I saw
Platt, and it was at that time that Platt finally announced that he would
abandon the effort to nominate me for Vice President, and that I should be
nominated for the Governorship.

Herbert Croly Esq.,
Cornish, N. H. 

7100December 20th, 1911.
My dear Mr. Cahn:
I wish I could accept, but it is a simple 
impossibility. I have received literally thousands of 
similar requests and with the best wishes in the world 
it has proved impossible for me to accept one in a 
hundred of these invitations. I deeply appreciate the
courtesy and kindness of those who ask me to speak, but 
you have no conception of the drain it is upon me even 
to accept the very limited proportion that I am physically 
able to accept and I could not greatly increase this proportion
or accept more of the invitations that come to 
me without absolutely abandoning all thought of any other 
work.
Very sincerely yours,

Mr. Sigmund Cahn,
Temple Shaari Zedek,
New York City.

16688December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
courtesy in sending him a copy of that address. He looks
forward to reading it.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. Lane Cooper,
Ithaca, New York.
16689December 20th, 1911.
My dear Dr. Devine:
It was very kind of you to send me on a copy
of your little book "The Spirit of Social Work", and I
appreciate your doing so. I look forward to reading it.
Wishing you a merry Christmas, I am,
Sincerely yours,

Dr. Edward T. Devine,
105 East 22nd Street,
New York City.
16690December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt has received your letter and although
thoroughly sympathises with you in your trouble he fears it is
utterly out of the question for him to advise you in the
matter. As a matter of fact he does not know how he could
advise you otherwise he would gladly do so. He is very sorry.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. R. J. Dowdall,
Batavia, N. Y.
16691December 20th, 1911.
My dear Mr. Dowdall:
I thank you for your letter, but at present
there is nothing that I can add to what I have already
said.
With all good wishes,
Sincerely yours,

Mr. W. T. Dowdall,
Memphis, Tenn.
16692December 20th, 1911.

Dear General:

It was delightful to get the volume of 
your reminiscences.  I look forward with genuine pleasure
to reading it.  Do let me see you if ever you come to 
this neighborhood.

Sincerely yours,


General Basil W. Duke,
c/o Doubleday Page & Co.,
11 West 32nd Street,
New York City.


16693

December 20th, 1911.

My dear Mr. Ewart:

It was indeed good of you to send me your kind 
letter.  I sincerely appreciate all that you say and thank
you for writing.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. S. Frank Ewart,
Hockessin, Del.


16694

December 20th, 1911.

My dear Sir:

Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
courtesy in sending him that piece of work you have
accomplished.  He much appreciates your sending the copy
to him, although he will not trouble you for any further 
copies.

Sincerely yours,


Secretary


Mr. Abraham I. Ganchor,
217 West 130th Street,
New York City.


16695

December 20th, 1911.

My dear Sir:

Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
courtesy in sending him a copy of that address.  He does
not know if the editors of The Outlook will care to use any
of it, but he will see that it is brought to their 
attention.


Sincerely yours,


Secretary


Rev. George Gilmour,
Dallas, Texas.


16696

December 20th, 1911.

My dear Madam:
          
Every day, almost without exception, Mr. Roosevelt
receives a number of letters asking him to obtain positions 
of various kinds for those who write to him.    Now, I am sure 
on thinking it over, you will see how impossible it is for 
Mr. Roosevelt to render help in this way.  He is no longer in 
public office, and has nothing whatever to do with the dispos 
of positions of any kind or sort, nor does he know anyone who 
might be able to render such help.  It is therefore with 
regret that he is compelled to send an unfavorable reply, muc
though he appreciates the circumstances and sympathises with 
the needs of the applicant.
                                                  
Faithfully yours,
                                                                     
Secretary


Mrs J. S. Hammer,
Oklahoma City, Okla.


16697December 20th, 1911.

My dear Sir:    
           
Mr. Roosevelt has nothing whatever to do with the   
acceptance of articles for publication in The Outlook, but 
in this instance he will see that your article is brought to 
the attention of the Managing Editor.  He is the only man 
who can say whether it will be available.  Mr. Roosevelt 's 
usual custom is to return the articles to the senders telling 
them that their only plan is to communicate with the Managin
Editor, but in this instance he is making an exception to 
this rule in handing the article himself  to the Managing 
Editor.

                                              
Sincerely yours,                                                          
                                                                             
Secretary


Mr.  Wells F. Harvey,
Washington, D. C.  


16698December 20th, 1911.

My dear Mr. Hein:
               
It was indeed good of you to send me your 
kind letter.  I sincerely appreciate all that you say 
and thank you for writing.
                                                   
Sincerely yours,



Mr. John W. Hein,
94 Elm Street,
Utica, N. Y.    


16699December 20th, 1911.

My dear Mr. Herman:

It was very kind of you to send me the copies 
of those booklets and I appreciate your doing so.    I look 
forward to reading them.   I was greatly interested in Dr. 
Mezans works, and read them with particular interest.
                                                               
Sincerely yours,



Mr. John A. Herman,
Harrisburg, Pa.


16700December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
letter and to say that he hopes you will let him have a
line when you come back from the Bermudas.  He will then
ask you to come to lunch.  He cannot do so before on account
of his engagements.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Dr. W.T. Hornaday,
Zoological Park.

16701December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:

I sent all your accounts to Mr. Douglas Robinson
to pay on behalf of Mr. Roosevelt. He has forwarded to me a
copy of a letter from the Clinton Stone Co. which shows that 
they evidently have a grievance against you for having 
deducted a certain amount from their bill. I wish you would 
let me have the exact particulars about this as naturally Mr. 
Roosevelt does not want to have any trouble whatever with any
and of course if the money is in any way due to the Stone Co.
he wishes to have it paid. Will you please let me have 
full details?
                                                   
Sincerely yours,
                                                                      
Secretary


Mr. Hans R. Jacobsen,
Oyster Bay,
L. I.


16702December 20th, 1911.

My dear Sir:
       
Of course there are lots of honest lawyers in this
city and I am sure that if you read the newspapers you will
find the names of hundreds of them.  As a matter of fact it i
only rarely that a lawyer is not straight with his clients.
Mr. Roosevelt would not feel at liberty to recommend any
particular man for the simple reason that he would not like
to single out any particular man as being more honest and
straightforward than another.  Your best plan would be to get
the advice of some personal friend and for you to go to the
office of some reputable lawyer and see him about the case.
You need have no scruple whatever in telling the lawyer all
about the case and seeking his advice.  I am sure he will
advise you to the best of his ability.
                      
Sincerely yours,

Mr. R. Keif.                                                              
Secretary


16703December 20th, 1911.

My dear Sir:

Without knowing all the circumstances Mr. Roosevelt
would not feel at liberty to give you advice on such a very 
important matter.  If he did know the circumstances he might
be unwilling to do so for the simple reason that it is a matte 
which you should decide for yourself.  Have you no friends in 
Buffalo with whom you can talk the matter over?  I am sure 
that if you had such a conversation, you would be able to come 
some satisfactory conclusion.
                                                   
Sincerely yours,
                                                               
Secretary


Mr. W.H. Kuhl,
Buffalo, N.Y.


16704December 20th, 1911.

My dear Sir:

Mr. Roosevelt has no such material as you 
desire, but if you will turn to The Outlook for November 
28th, you will find an article by him entitled "The Trusts, 
the People and the Square Deal", which will give you Mr. 
Roosevelt's position in the matter.
                                                  
Sincerely yours,
                                                             
Secretary

Mr. Carl W. Lemmon,
Tocgootee, Ind.


16705December 20th, 1911.
My dear Mr. Lilly:
I thank you for your very courteous letter.  At
the present time however there is nothing I can add to what
I have already said.
With all good wishes,
Sincerely yours,

A.A. Lilly Esq.,
Beckley, W. Va.

16706


December 20th, 1911.
My dear Madam:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your very
courteous letter.  He has read what you have to say with
deep interest and if at any time he can render any help in
the matter it will certainly give him the greatest pleasure
to do so.  He does not know what can be done but if at any
time any proposal is put forward which promises to solve
the very difficult problem he certainly will do all he can
to have the proposal adopted.  He greatly appreciates your
writing to him.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Miss Mary W. Lippincott,
Rabbit Hill,
Wyncotte, Pa.

16707December 20th, 1911.

My dear Mr. McCloy:
         
I thank you for your letter, but as I told you, and 
afterwards also told Mr. Riis, it is not possible for me to 
take any part in that movement.   I am very sorry, but I am 
sure on thinking it over you will thoroughly understand why I 
am unable to do as you wish.   I am almost driven to death wit
the work I already have on hand and even if I were to promise 
to try and help you, when it came to helping you I should fin
that it was physically impossible.  It really is not possible 
for me to add in any way whatever to the work I am already 
doing.
                                     
With renewed regret,
                                                    
Sincerely yours,


Mr. W.C. McCloy,       
498 East 18th Street,             
Flatbush, Brooklyn.


16708December 20th, 1911.

My dear Mr. McMurran:
                      
It was very kind of you to send me on a copy of
that article and I appreciate your doing so.
                       
Of course I shall be glad to see you at any time
you care to call at The Outlook office on a Tuesday or Friday
at about 12.30. I cannot ask people to come down to Oyster
Bay to discuss matters with me for the simple reason that if
I began such a practice there would be no end to it, and the
only chance I have of getting a little rest and quiet is by
remaining at home and such rest and quiet would end if I were
to begin the practice of asking people to come there. I am
sure you will appreciate this on thinking it over, and if you
wish to see me will come to The Outlook office.
                             
Sincerely yours,


Mr. C. W. McMurran,
21 Spruce Street,
New York City.

16709December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Every day, almost without exception, Mr. Roosevelt
receives a number of letters asking him to obtain positions of
various kinds for those who write to him.  Now, I am sure on
thinking it over, you will see how impossible it is for Mr.
Roosevelt to render help in this way.  He is no longer in
public office, and has nothing whatever to do with the disposal
of positions of any kind or sort, nor does he know anyone who
might be able to help you.  It is therefore with regret that
he is compelled to send an unfavorable reply, much though
he appreciates the circumstances and sympathises with the
needs of the applicant.
Faithfully yours,
Secretary

Mr. W.G. Moore,
East Orange, N.J.

16710

December 20th, 1911.
My dear Mr. Murphy:
I must send you one line to congratulate you and
especially Mrs Murphy upon your very fine family.  You are
the kind of American citizens I believe in.
With all good wishes for a merry Christmas, believe
me,
Sincerely yours,

Mr. Henry A. Murphy,
27 Arnold Street,
Providence, R.I.

16711

December 20th, 1911.
My dear Mr. Nimmo:
It was indeed good of you to send me your
kind letter.  I sincerely appreciate all that you say
and thank you for writing.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. Robert Nimmo,
Westwood,
Cincinnati, Ohio.

16712




December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
On behalf of Mr. Roosevelt I beg to thank you
for our courtesy in sending that clipping.  I will see
that it is brought to his attention.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Mr. George A. Newland,
Alexandria, Va.

16713December 20th 1911.

Dear Mr Osgood:
I am really very much pleased at getting your letter.  Permit me to
take this opportunity of thanking you for the interest with which I have
read so much that you have written.  I absolutely agree with you as to
the enormous overestimate that biologists have tended to place upon the
utility of small variations.  As always happens when a great discovery is
made, people tend to press it into all kinds of impossible services.
Darwin's epoch-making contribution to science and to exact thought was
the forcing of evolution into practically universal acceptance among
intelligent men, and putting it as a doctrine alongside of the doctrine
of gravitation.  Two-thirds of his book was really a defence of evolution;
the other one-third consisted in advancing the doctrine of natural
selection working through minute changes as the chief but not the sole
cause of evolution.  As regards this last third of his book, I think that
he showed that natural selection does play a great part, but that he
entirely failed to show that it plays the overwhelmingly great part that
he was inclined to claim for it.

As regards the question of coloration, I began my paper simply with
the idea of showing poor good Thayer's many and utter absurdities; the
only reason I thought it worth while to do so was because so many

167142
naturalists had accepted him and his theories with entire seriousness-
even Merriam himself being among those misled.  But when I got into the
subject I felt that I would like to go on and make some contributions of
my own, aside from my criticism of Thayer, and that is why I wrote at
such length about the birds and mammals, and especially about the big game
that I have observed.  It is just as you say in your letter, many animals
have a coloration that would be concealing or protective, but they live
under conditions that make this coloration as an actual matter of fact of
no more consequence than the advertising coloration of other animals which
live under the same conditions.  At any rate, as you say, the burden of
proof is very heavy upon the man who tried to prove utility or a utilitarian
purpose as playing a large part in the origin and development of color
characters, and indeed of very many or most other characters.  The point
you make as to the parallelism of the sand-colored desert animals and the
color of the diurnal and nocturnal species is of capital importance, and I
had never thought of it before.

I was frequently puzzled while in Africa at seeing that big game such
as the roan antelope or eland, where the coloration was somewhat protective,
differed in no way in their habits from other species like the
sable antelope and wildebeest, where the coloration had a high revealing
quality.  One of the rather comical features of poor Thayer's theories is

167153

that in his effort to prove that the stripes conceal the zebra, he is
reduced to what is an effort to prove that the coloration of the wild ass
is not concealing.  As a matter of fact, I think that the coloration of
the wild ass is probably more nearly concealing than that of any other
granivorous quadruped.  In the old days on the ranch in the West, I found
that the ordinary countershaded grayish donkey was harder to see at night
than any other animal.  Yet I cannot find that this coloration really
does affect the habits of the wild ass, or that it is really taken
advantage of.

Are you ever in New York?  If so, do let me know.  I would like to
have you come to lunch and meet one or two friends who are also interested
in the subject.

Faithfully yours,

Mr. Wilfred H. Osgood,
Field Museum of Natural History,
Chicago.

16716December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
If you will refer to a copy of The Outlook for
March 12th you will find Mr. Roosevelt's views upon the
subject you are to debate.  You will be able to see The 
Outlook filed in any public library, or to obtain a copy
by writing to The Outlook office, or through a newsagent.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Mr. L Robinson,
215 Hillside Street,
Hillsdale, Mich.

16717December 20th, 1911.

My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt has received your letter asking him to
contribute to your columns, but he feels sure on thinking it 
over you will see why he is unable to do so.  He is now Contributing
Editor to The Outlook, which has the exclusive right
to publish anything he writes.  If he were to make a single
exception by contributing to any publication, he would be
immediately inundated with applications for articles on
various subjects from all over the country.  He is sorry not
to be able to do as you ask.

Sincerely yours,

Secretary

Mr. A. W. Russell,
Case and Comment,
Rochester, N. Y.

16718December 20th, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt is approached by so many hundreds 
of people to read manuscripts and to give advice as to
publication that if he were to respond favorably in each 
case it would become a burden too great for him to bear.
As you will readily realize on thinking it over, if he
granted one such request he would be compelled in common 
fairness to respond to all the others. He is very sorry 
that he cannot help you in the way you wish, though he 
much appreciates the circumstances.
Faithfully yours,


Secretary

Mr. John C. Schutte,
Glenwood Springs, Colo.

16719December 20, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
letter and also for the enclosures.  At the present time
he has nothing whatever to add to what he has already
said.  I am returning the enclosures herewith as you may
like to have them back.
Sincerely yours,

Secretary

Mr. J. T. Sperry,
Bedford City, Va.

16720December 20th, 1911.
My dear Weeks:
I have received your letter asking me to write an
article of from fifteen hundred to two thousand words on the
training that should fit a man for wise fatherhood, but I am
sure on thinking it over you will see how impossible it is for
me to respond. Naturally I am very much in sympathy with the
movement you represent and I have done and shall do all that
am able to help the good work along. At the present time
however I am so overwhelmed with work that it is physically
impossible for me to aid in any way to it, and as for writing
the article, I have been approached in dozens of cases to
write articles endorsing movements, and if I were to respond
in all such cases it would take more than a year to work them
off. You have no conception of the great pressure upon me,
and of how impossible it is for me to do as you desire.
Sincerely yours,



Mrs E. R. Weeks.

16721
December  30th ,   1911 .

My   dear   Mr.  Wogelmuth   :   

         I    must    send   you    one    line   to    congratulate    you    and    especially   
Mrs    Wogelmuth     upon    your    very    fine     family .     You    are    the    kind
of    American    citizens    I    believe    in .      


With   all   good   wishes    for    a    merry    Christmas  ,   believe   me  ,




                                                                                              Sincerely   yours  ,



        Mr.  Frank    Wogelmuth ,
        Hillsboro ,   Kansas  .


       16722
       










Secretary
Mr. John O. Yeiser,
Omaha, Nebr.
December 20th, 1911.
My dear Mr. Yeiser:
It really is not possible to alter the decision
made in the telegram which I sent to you a few days ago.
Mr. Roosevelt does not want to say anything further at the
present time as he has nothing whatever to add to what he
has already said.  I am returning the correspondence which
you very kindly enclosed.
With all good wishes,
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Mr. John. O. Yeiser,
Omaha, Nebr.

16723



[*Sample Case*]
                                                                         
December 21st, 1911.

My dear Sir:
              
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
courtesy in sending him that copy of your paper.  He much
appreciates your doing so.
                                                  
Sincerely yours,
                                                                 
Secretary


Mr. C. S. Barker,     
"The Sample Case"                
Columbus, Ohio.December 21st, 1911.
Dear General:
It was mighty kind of you and Mrs Barry
to remember us.
A merry Christmas to you and yours from
Mrs Roosevelt and me.
Sincerely yours,

General Thomas H. Barry,
West Point, N.Y.

[*Bezorth, M.L.*]
                                                            
December 21st, 1911.

My dear Sir:
                 
In reply to your letter to Mr. Roosevelt I 
think the best plan is to refer you to an article which 
he wrote on March 18th last in The Outlook.  You will 
be able to see a copy at any public library, or to obtain 
it through any newsagent.
                                             
Faithfully yours,
                                                                
Secretary


Mr. Mildred L. Bezorth,
Woodland.December 21st, 1911.
My dear Mr. Collier:
This is to introduce to you Mr. Julian Harris, the son
of Joel Chandler Harris, who is editing Uncle Remus's Magazine.
There is not a magazine in the country that is doing better work,
and there is no magazine in the South, and no paper in the South,
that is standing up as valiantly for decency, uprightness and
justice, and for all that goes to make up civilization.  All
Americans were devoted to Mr. Harris' father, and personally I
feel the same affectionate respect for the son.  He is doing a
work of real national consequence, under exceptionally difficult
circumstances.  He wishes to place some of the circumstances of
the case before you, and I beg that you accord him the courtesy
of a full hearing.
Sincerely yours,

Robert J. Collier Esq.,
"Colliers Weekly"

7931
December 21st, 1911.
My dear Sir:
I wish it were possible for my friends to realize
my position, not for my own sake, but because then they would 
understand just why it is that I cannot accept all the invitations 
that come to me. From now on I wish to avoid making 
any speech that I possibly can avoid and greatly though I 
appreciate the invitation coming from such a body as the one 
you represent, it really is not possible for me to accept. 
I cannot undertake anything further of any kind or sort now. 
I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,



Mr. Fred B. Dalzell,
Maritime Association,
New York City.

16724December 21st, 1911.

My dear Commissioner Davenport:
I suppose I have said this before, but you must
let me repeat that I think you are a perfect trump. I did
not know anything about that case. All I wanted was to see
that justice was done. I had no idea you would look into
it personally, but you have done it and done it in a way th
makes me feel mighty proud as an American of the service
we are getting from the Bureau of Pensions.

Sincerely yours,

Hon. J. L. Davenport,
Commissioner for Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

16725December 21st, 1911.

My dear Mr. Dodge:
This is to introduce to you Mr. Julian Harris, the son
of Joel Chandler Harris, who is editing Uncle Remus's Magazine.
There is not a magazine in the country that is doing better work,
and there is no magazine in the South, and no paper in the South,
that is standing up as valiantly for decency, uprightness and
justice, and for all that goes to make up civilization. All
Americans were devoted to Mr. Harris' father, and personally I
feel the same affectionate respect for the son. He is doing a
work of real national consequence, underexceptionally difficult
circumstances. He wishes to place some of the circumstances of the
case before you, and I beg that you accord him the courtesy of a
full hearing.

Sincerely yours,

Cleveland H. Dodge Esq.,
Riverdale, N. Y.

16726December 21st, 1911.
Dear Roly:
It was fine to get your Christmas greetings. I 
am glad you are making the trip in South America. I do
hope no trouble comes between Peru and Chile, and I am
extremely glad that you preach the gospel of peace. I
am really for peace Roly, but I do not believe in being
hypocritical about it. It is an admirable thing that
you should be making this tour.
Always yours,

Captain Granville Fortescue.
16727December 21st, 1911.
Dear Comrade:
Many thanks for the Christmas postal.
A merry Christmas to you and yours,
Sincerely yours,

Mr. Tony Gavin,
Buffalo, N. Y.
16728December 21st, 1911.
My dear Mr. Gore:
It was indeed good of you to send me your kind
letter. I sincerely appreciate all that you say and thank
you for writing.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. D. L. Gore,
Wilmington, N. C.
16729December 21st, 1911.
Gentlemen:
No sooner has the car come back from your shop
than it has broken down, apparently owing to gross carelessness
on the part of your representative who was to
oversee the putting on of the wheels after it was painted.
I need hardly point out how exceedingly annoying this is
after the car has been away for two weeks and a half.
Very truly yours,

The Haynes Automobile Co.,
16730December 21st, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
very courteous letter and to express his regret that he
is unable to grant such an interview as the one you desire.
He has made it a rule not to grant interviews to any newspaper
men on any subject and is sorry not to be able to 
oblige.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. Walter Jaeger,
Frankfurter Zeitung,
30 Broad Street,
New York City.
16731December 21st, 1911.
Dear Mr. Kingsbury:
I will look at that report with the
greatest pleasure, and a little later I think it
would be fine if we could have a repitition of that
luncheon.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. John A. Kingsbury,
105 East 22nd Street,
New York City.
16732December 21st 1911.
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Mr Lane:
That is a really kind and friendly letter from you, and I appreciate
it. Now I agree absolutely with you that I have no business under any
circumstances to accept any such call, even in the greatly improbable
event of its coming, unless I am convinced that the need is National, a
need of the people and not merely a need of the Party. But as for
considering my own chances of any such event, my dear fellow, I simply
would not know how to go about it. I am always credited with far more
political sagacity than I possess; really, I act purely on public grounds and then that proves after to be good policy too. I assure you with all possible
sincerity that I have not thought and am not thinking of the nomination,
[for any position], and that under no circumstances would I in the remotest
degree plan to bring about my nomination. I do not want to be President 
again, I am not a candidate, I have not the slightest idea of becoming a
candidate, and I do not for one moment believe that any such condition of
affairs will arise that would make it necessary to consider me accepting
the nomination. But as for the effect upon my own personal fortunes, I
would not know how to consider it, because I would not have the vaguest
idea what the effect would be, except[ing] that according to my own view it could
167332
not but be bad and unpleasant for me personally. From the personal
standpoint I should view the nomination to the Presidency as a real and
serious misfortune. Nothing would persuade me to take it, unless it
appeared that the people really wished me to be a given job, which
I could not honorably   
shirk.

Sincerely yours,

Hon. Franklin K. Lane,
Interstate Commerce Commission,
Washington, D. C.

16734December 21st 1911. 
[[shorthand]]

Dear Col. Lyon:
This is to introduce to you one of the best fellows I know,
Medill McCormick. Mr McCormick is for La Follette, and I have
told him that you disagree with him on that point. But he is a
trump and a square man, and he wants to have a little candid
talk with you, and to tell you the situation as he sees it. Not
only do I think it well worth your while thus to talk with him,
but aside from any present matter he is a man whom I particularly
wish you to know, for he is our kind of a man.

Always yours,

Colonel Cecil A. Lyon,
Sherman, Texas.
[[shorthand]]

16735December 21st, 1911.
My dear Admiral Mahan:
I have been reading your book with the utmost ple[asure.]
When was it that the Senate passed that resolution about
dividing the fleet? If it was in my term, I simply paid no
earthly heed to it; but it is astounding and appalling that
it should have been possible for them to pass such a resolution
Next week I have in The Outlook an article calling attention
to the extraordinary hypocrisy of abrogating the Russian Tr[eaty?]
at the very time they are talking of entering into these
general  [????]ol arbitration treaties. I can stand pretty
much anything except a sham, and pretty much any man except
a hypocrite.
Sincerely yours,



Admiral A. T. Mahan.

16736December 21st, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to say that he would
be glad to see you for a minute if you would call in at
The Outlook office on Saturday morning next at about
11 o'clock. He thinks it would be best to see you rather
than reply by letter.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. William C. McCloy,
498 East 18th Street,
Flatbush, Brooklyn.
16737December 21st, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
courtesy in sending him that sample of your pencils. He
much appreciates your doing so, and has handed your letter
to the Advertising Department for them to attend to.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. T. McIntyre,
281 East 236th Street,
Woodlawn, N. Y.
16738December 21st, 1911.
My dear Sir:
I beg to thank you for your letter and also
for your kindness in sending on that pamphlet. I will
see that both are placed before Mr. Roosevelt at the
earliest possible opportunity.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Rev. F. D. McRae,
41 Macalester Avenue,
St. Paul, Minn.
16739December 21st, 1911.
My dear Mr. Menkle:
The volumes have come, and Mr. Roosevelt is
extremely obliged to Dr. Shaw for sending them to him.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. W. Menkle,
Review of Reviews,
New York City.
16740December 21st, 1911.
Dear Colonel:
That is delightful. I am much obliged to you
for sending on that telegram to me. I cannot tell you
how I enjoyed our little talk on Sunday.
Good luck and a merry Christmas.
Sincerely yours,

Colonel W. R. Nelson,
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City, Mo.
16741December 21st, 1911.

My dear young friend:
I thank you for your very pleasant letter, and I
thank your mother for having written it. Usually I do not
send my photograph to anyone, because I have not any photographs
and have to send out and buy them myself, but in this
case I will have to make an exception for the namesake of
my son, because of his father who is an engineer, and because
of his mother who wrote the letter for him. All right, I
hope you will be an engineer when you grow up to be a big
man, and then I will take advantage of your promise to let
me ride on your train.

Your friend,
Kermit Roosevelt Nothstein,
Lehighton, Penna.

16742December 21st, 1911.
Private and Confidential.
My dear Mr. Nugent:
I thank you for your kind words about myself,
but the one thing I do not desire is to be the candidate
for any office.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. John H. Nugent,
League of Republican Workers,
Philadelphia, Pa.
16743December 21st 1911.
Dear Mr Oliver:
Mr Medill McCormick has asked me to introduce him to him,
which without regard to Mr McCormick's political views at the
moment I very gladly do.
Sincerely yours,

Mr W. J. Oliver,
Knoxville, Tenn.
16744December 21st, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to say that he believes
it was in 1900 when he was made a Master Mason in the lodge
at Oyster Bay, although he is not absolutely certain.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. Guy D. Peck,
Plainsfield, N. J. 
16745December 21st, 1911.
My dear Mr. Perkins:
This is to introduce to you Mr. Julian Harris, the son
of Joel Chandler Harris, who is editing Uncle Remus's Magazine.
There is not a magazine in the country that is doing better work,
and there is no magazine in the South, and no paper in the South,
that is standing up as valiantly for decency, uprightness and
justice, and for all that goes to make up civilization. All
Americans were devoted to Mr. Harris' father, and personally I
feel the same affectionate respect for the son. He is doing a
work of real national consequence, under exceptionally difficult
circumstances. He wishes to place some of the circumstances of
the case before you, and I beg that you accord him the courtesy
of a full hearing.
Sincerely yours,



George W. Perkins, Esq.,
71 Broadway,
New York City.

16746December 21st, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt desires me to thank you for your
letter and the enclosure. He is a Contributing Editor to
The Outlook, and has nothing whatever to do with the
acceptance of articles for publication in that magazine.
Such matters are in the hands of the Managing Editor, and
if you so desire you can get into communication with him
at The Outlook office.
Faithfully yours,
Secretary
Mr. A. A. Paterson,
Rochester, N. Y.
16747
December 21st, 1911.
My dear Mr. Quinn:
I congratulate you and especially Mrs Quinn,
and I thank you for the picture of your family.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. John C. Quinn,
49 Westminster Street,
Providence, R. I.
16748December 21st, 1911.
Dear Sister Rebecca:
Herewith I am sending you a letter which
Mr. Roosevelt has received from the Commissioner for
Pensions in reply to his letter asking the Commissioner
to look into the case which you brought to Mr. Roosevelt's 
attention. I am also retutning the enclosure to your
letter herewith as you may like to have it back.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Sister Rebecca,
134 Newes Street,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
16749December 21st, 1911.

Dear Teddy:
When you get the chance, I want you to make the
acquaintance of the Chairman of the New York Republican
Country Committee, Mr. Koenig. Koenig is a first class
fellow, straight, clean and sensible. His views on the
speakership are worth your while heeding, and he represents
just the kind of crowd in politics that you and I would
naturally train with.

A merry Christmas to you and yours and love to
Helen especially.

Always yours,

Theodore Douglas Robinson Esq.

16750December 21st, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt has received your letter and he 
wishes me to say that he never gives his opinion upon public 
questions in letters to friends for quotation. The only way 
you can obtain his views upon the question you put to him
is by referring to his published speeches. Most of these 
have been issued in book form and may be consulted at 
almost any public library. He feels sure on thinking it
over you will see how impossible it would be for him to 
answer in personal letters all the queries that are put 
to him by correspondents. If he were to try to do so, 
it would entail such a drain upon his time and energy that
would be simply unbearable. He is very sorry that he 
cannot comply with your request.
Sincerely yours,


Secretary

Mr. Paul Schlesinger.

16751December 21st, 1911.
Dear Shiras:
If anything should make me pardon your not
turning your attention to hunting and natural history,
it would be such admirable work as you are doing about the
placing before this people the proper conception of the
supervisory powers of the general movement. Now when are
you coming on here? I want to see you and talk over both
things. you must get out that "Hunting Wild Game with
Camera and Flashlight", and on the other hand you must
go on with your governmental work. More power to your
elbow in every way!
Very sincerely yours,

Mr. George Shiras,
Washington, D. C.
16752December 21st, 1911.
Dear Mr. Stelzle:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for
your letter and to say that he will be glad to write
a short piece about the work of the Labor Temple, and
he would like you to put in fifteen or twenty lines
the points you would like brought out.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
The Rev. Charles Stelzle,
156 Fifth Avenue,
New York City.
16753December 21st, 1911.

My dear Dr. Townsend:
Your letter has come and the volume, and curiously
enough the latter came to Oyster Bay just after I had said good
bye to Dr. Grenfell and Mrs Grenfell, who had been spending the
night with me. I am delighted with the volume, and especially
with the chapter on the mating habits of the Labrador sea fowl. 
It represents the kind of first hand field observation which will
enable us to build our thesis on knowledge instead of without
knowledge. The point that you make as to the male and female
eideris undoubtedly just. I gather that the young ducks are
also protectively colored, as well as the female and the male
when in the plumage of the female. Thayer has done unwittingly
a good service, because he has carried the doctrine of concealing
coloration to such a preposterous extreme as to destroy the fetish
like properties ascribed to it which have hitherto prevented many
men from making a serious study of it. You make out a very strong
case for sexual selection.

It was a great pleasure seeing you at the Travelers Club.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Charles W. Townsend,
Boston, Mass.

16754December 21st 1911.
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

Dear President Wheeler:
I am particularly pleased you liked what I said about the trusts,
and about the peace treaties. As regards the latter, I think the final
note of comic hypocrisy was struck when we abrogated the treaty with
Russia at the same time that our leaders vociferated their intention to go
into treaties which promise to arbitrate everything. Of course if we
would not arbitrate a matter like passports, if we would not treat such a
matter as "justiciable", then we would not arbitrate or treat as
"justiciable" any matter.

My article on the trusts was designed to try to crystalize just such
a sentiment as that of which you speak as becoming apparent in California -
I do not mean about the Presidency, but about our general attitude. If
people get accustomed to regarding progressives as merely aimless going
ahead anywhere and to any degree, a reaction is sure to come, and I want
to avoid government by oscillation, so to speak. I also think you have
put the matter in a nutshell about the Californians and the judges when
you say that they wish to give the judges and the corporations a warning,
but not to do anything more at present. Arizona, of course, will now

16755
2

with practical unanimity re-insert the recall of the judiciary in the
Constitution, simply because both its opponents and its advocates felt
that it was something for Arizona itself to decide, and bitterly resented
the action of the President and the Republican majority in seeking to
force them to abandon the proposal.

I think your analysis of the Democratic situation excellent, and that
the outlook for Taft is by no means hopeless. As far as I can see now, he
will be nominated, because La Follette will not develop very great
strength against him, and he may be elected just because of the many
weaknesses among the Democratic leaders of which you speak. Down at
bottom Wilson is pretty thin material for a President. He lacks the
fundamental sincerity, conviction and rugged strength, and yet I think he
is the strongest man the Democrats have.

As for the movement for me, I entirely agree with you. The last
thing I wish is to be nominated now. Both the Taft and the La Follette
people have been endeavoring to get me to say that even if nominated I
would refuse. That I will not say, for it is possible that the nomination
might come in such shape that it would be shirking a plain duty if I
should refuse, but I see no signs at present that it will so come; and
personally I should regard it as a calamity if it did come. Almost every

167563

close friend I have is for La Follette or Taft, and is anxious that I
should not be nominated. If I were nominated, very possibly I should be
beaten; and if I were elected, such impossibilities would be expected of
me that I do not see how I could avoid causing bitter disappointment to
sincere and good people. Under these circumstances I am most anxious not
to be nominated. There has been a momentary flurry about nominating me
simply because the average man, not finding any real and satisfactory
leadership, is groping about, and turns to me as the last hope. But I
think it will die down. I think that men's eyes will be turned toward
Congress, and that the natural force of events will prevent the Republican
Party from doing anything so unusual as to refuse the renomination of
Taft.

Sincerely yours,

President Benjamin Ide Wheeler,
University of California,
Berkeley, Calif.

16757December 21st, 1911.
My dear Sir:
In reply to your letter I beg to say that Mr.
Roosevelt does not desire to sell his car.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. S. Wolfson,
317 West 59th Street,
New York City.
16758December 21st, 1911.
Dear Mr. Youngs:
Herewith is a letter which Mr. Roosevelt has
asked me to send to you to see if there is anything
that ought to be done in the matter.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Hon. William J. Youngs,
District Attorney,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
16759December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir:
Almost every day Mr. Roosevelt is approached by
friends with a view to getting his assistance in their effort
either to have pensions granted to them, or to have their present
pensions increased, and greatly though he appreciates th
circumstances in most of such cases and would like to be of
service, it really is not possible for him to do anything.
Since he left the White House he has made it a rule not to
interfere in any official matter of any kind or sort, and he
feels sure on thinking it over you will approve his course in
this respect. It would not do for him to thus interfere, as
his interference would naturally be resented by those at
present in office. Your best plan is to get into direct
communication with the Commissioner for Pensions, Pensions
Bureau, Washington, D. C.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Frank E. Barney.[*Botterill*]
December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
letter and also for the enclosure. He is however only a
Contributing Editor to The Outlook and has nothing whatever
to do with the acceptance of outside articles for
publication, or indeed for suggestions for articles to
appear in The Outlook. The Managing Editor is the only
man who can decide upon such questions.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
Mr. W. J. Botterill,
Norwich, England.
1560[*Boyd*]
December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Mr and Mrs Boyd:
I must send you one line of thanks for your
kind Christmas remembrance.
Wishing you a merry Christmas, I am,
Sincerely yours,

Mrs Jay Montgomery Boyd,
743 Highland Avenue,
Forest Hill, N. J. 
1528Brett

December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Sir:
I wish it were possible for my friends to realize
my position, not for my own sake, but because then they 
would understand just why it is that I cannot accept all 
the invitations that come to me. From now on I wish to 
avoid making any speech that I possibly can avoid and 
greatly though I appreciate an invitation coming from such 
a body as the one you represent, it really is not possible
me to accept. I cannot go into anything further of 
any kind or sort now. I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,

The Rev. Cornelius Brett,
Reformed Church,
797 Bergen Avenue,
Jersey City, N.J.


[5223]December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Miss Brigham:
I thank you for that very pretty calendar,   
and it was good of you to remember me.

Wishing you a merry Christmas, I am,
Sincerely yours,

Miss Margaret Brigham,
North Grafton, Mass.[*R. C .  Brown*]

December  22nd , 1911.

My dear Sir:
          
Mr. Roosevelt desires  me to thank you for your   
courtesy in sending him that article.  He is a Contributing 
Editor to The Outlook , and has nothing  whatever to do with 
the acceptance of articles for publication in that magazine 
Such matters are in the hands of the  Managing Editor, and i 
you so desire you can get in [go?] communication with him at 
The Outlook office.
                                                                                                     
Faithfully yours,
                                                                                                       
Secretary


Mr.   R . C. Brown,    
45 Washington Sq S.,     
New York City .

December   22nd  ,   1911 .

My   dear   Sir :   

           Mr.   Roosevelt    wishes    me    to    thank    you    for    your    courtesy    in
sending    him    a    copy    of    that    song  .     He   much   appreciates    your   doing
so    although   on    thinking    it    over    he    feels    sure    you    will    realize    just
why    it    is    impossible    for    him    to    make   any    comment    upon   it  .






                                                                                              Sincerely   yours  ,



                                                                                              Secretary




          Mr .   Henry   Cunningham ,
          91   Carlton   Avenue  ,
          Brooklyn  ,   N.  Y .



          7472              
            



  





December 22nd, 1911 .

My dear Dr. Cuppy:

I must send you just one line to say how much
I appreciate the kind spirit which prompted you to send
me that Christmas remembrance.  Believe me, I am touched
by your courtesy .

Wishing you a merry Christmas, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Hazlitt Alva Cuppy,
103 Park Avenue,
 New York City.

7470December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir:

Your letter to Mr. Roosevelt has come to hand
and I have read it and also the clippings you enclosed.     
Of course if your invention is such that it would prevent
some of the great loss of life upon the railroads in this
country it certainly ought to be adopted.  At the same time
Mr. Roosevelt does not see how he can be of any service to
you as he has no influence whatever in such matters.  It
would seem that the railway companies out to take the
matter up merely for their own protection.        

With regret that it is impossible to be of
service to you, believe me,

Sincerely yours,

Secretary

Mr. ?
504 West 47th Street,
New York City.

16760[*D.*]

December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Condron:
I wish I could accept, but it is a simple 
impossibility. I have received literally thousands of 
similar requests and with the best wishes in the world 
it has proved impossible for me to accept one in a 
hundred of these invitations. I deeply appreciate the
courtesy and kindness of those who ask me to speak, but 
you have no conception of the drain it is upon me even 
to accept the very limited proportion that I am physically 
able to accept and I could not greatly increase this proportion
or accept more of the invitations that come to 
me without absolutely abandoning all thought of any other 
work.
Very sincerely yours,



Mr. E. P. Condron,
Fraternal Order of Eagles,
Mount Carmel, Pa.

16761December   22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir  :

            Every day, almost without exception, Mr . Roosevelt 
receives a number of letters asking him to obtain positions 
of various kinds or those who write ti him.  Now, I am sure 
on thinking it over, you will see how impossible it is for 
him to render help in this way.  He is no longer in public 
office, and has nothing whatever to do with the disposal of 
positions of any kind or sort, nor does he know anyone who 
might be able to render such help.  It is therefore with 
regret that he is compelled to send an unfavorable reply    
though he appreciates the circumstances and sympathises with 
the needs of the applicant.

Faithfully yours ,


Secretary                                                                                                      

        
Mr.   Clarence   J.    Davis  ,
1887    Second    Avenue ,
New   York   City .

16762December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Davis:
I wish I could accept, but it is a simple 
impossibility. I have received literally thousands of 
similar requests and with the best wishes in the world 
it has proved impossible for me to accept one in a 
hundred of these invitations. I deeply appreciate the
courtesy and kindness of those who ask me to speak, but 
you have no conception of the drain it is upon me even 
to accept the very limited proportion that I am physically 
able to accept and I could not greatly increase this proportion
or accept more of the invitations that come to 
me without absolutely abandoning all thought of any other 
work.


Sincerely yours,

Mr. J. W. Davis,
Erasmus Hall High School,
Brooklyn, N. Y.

16763December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir :
             
If you will read the article which Mr. Roosevelt    
wrote in The Outlook of November 28th entitled "The Trusts,
The People and the Square Deal",  youwill see just what Mr.    Roosevelt's views upon the trust question are.  You may    
see a copy of The Outlook at any public library or you
may obtain a copy through any bookseller.  
                                                                                                   
Sincerely yours,
                                                                                                    
Secretary
          
Mr. James W. Dykes,
Salisbury, Md.      

16764December 22nd, 1911 .

Gentlemen:
            
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your 
courtesy in remembering him by sending him a copy of your 
calendar.  He much appreciates your thoughtfulness.

Sincerely  yours ,
                                                                                                         
Secretary
  
         
Messrs Ernst & Ernst,        
Hanover Bank Building,      
New York City.

16765December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir:
I wish it were possible for my friends to realize my
position, not for my own sake, but because then they would 
understand just why it is that I cannot accept all the invitations 
that come to me. From now on I wish to avoid 
making any speech that I possibly can avoid and greatly tho
I appreciate an invitation from such a body as the one you 
represent it really is not possible for me to accept. I 
cannot undertake anything further of any kind or sort now. 
I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. G. W. Fillmore,
Provisional Regiment of Infantry,
New York City.

16766December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir:
I wish it were possible for my friends to realize my
position, not for my own sake, but because then they would 
understand just why it is that I cannot accept all the invitations 
that come to me. From now on I wish to avoid 
making any speech that I possibly can avoid and greatly though
I appreciate an invitation coming from such a body as the one
you represent it really is not possible for me to accept. I 
cannot go into anything further of any kind or sort now. 
I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. N. T. Folwell,
525 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia, Pa.

16767December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir:
I wish it were possible for my friends to realize my
position, not for my own sake, but because then they 
would understand just why it is that I cannot accept all 
the invitations that come to me. From now on I wish to 
avoid making any speech that I possibly can avoid and 
greatly though I appreciate an invitation coming from 
such a body as the one you represent, it really is not 
possible for me to accept. I cannot undertake anything 
further of any kind or sort now. I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. Fred B. Fetherstonhaugh,
The Empire Club of Canada,
Toronto, Canada.

16768December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir:
I wish it were possible for my friends to realize my
position, not for my own sake, but because then they would 
understand just why it is that I cannot accept all the invitations
that come to me. From now on I wish to avoid 
making any speech that I possibly can avoid and greatly 
though I appreciate an invitation coming from such a body 
as the one you represent, it really is not possible for me 
to accept. I cannot go into anything further of any kind 
or sort now. I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. W. P. Gardner,
80 Broadway,
New York City.

16769December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Grobowski:   
           
Mr. Quaid of your town has sent me word that you
are the father of three boys.  I want to congratulate you
and especially Mrs Grobowski, and wish well to all of you
I hope that all the boys will thrive and grow up to be good
American citizens in every sense of the word.
                                                                                                   
Sincerely yours,
               
 Mr. Leon Grobowski,
 Sayreville, N. J.

 16770December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir:
I wish it were possible for my friends to realize my
position, not for my own sake, but because then they 
would understand just why it is that I cannot accept all 
the invitations that come to me. From now on I wish to 
avoid making any speech that I possibly can avoid, and 
greatly though I appreciate an invitation coming from 
such a body as the one you represent, it really is not possible 
for me to accept. I cannot undertake anything further of 
any kind or sort now. I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. J. A. Hall,
The United Cyclists,
New York City.

16771December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Madam:
I wish it were possible for my friends to realize my
position, not for my own sake, but because then they would 
understand just why it is that I cannot accept all the invitations
that come to me. From now on I wish to avoid 
making any speech that I possibly can avoid and greatly though 
I appreciate an invitation coming from such a body as the one 
you represent, it really is not possible for me to accept. 
I cannot undertake anything further of any kind or sort now. 
I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,

Mrs. F. W. Hallowell,
Consumers' League of Massachusetts,
Boston, Mass.

16772December 22nd, 1911.

Dear Mr. Harrison:
I have just brought over your second article to the
Editors of The Outlook, and to my great disappointment they inform
me that chiefly because of the great difficulties incident to
simultaneous publication here and abroad, they have been doubtful
whether they could publish just this type of article and did not
see their way to do so. I am very sorry. You understand of course
that I have nothing to do with the editorial policy of The Outlook.
Moreover The Outlook is not really a literary magazine. It is
designed to appeal to plain people, and that necessarily means
that we have to sacrifice much which in another type of magazine
would be of importance. But I cannot bear to think of any article
of yours should fail to appear in The Outlook.

Wishing you a merry Christmas and many happy New Years,

I am,

Faithfully yours,

Frederic Harrison Esq.,
Elm Hill,
Hawkhurst,
England.

16773December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Hoskins:

It was very kind of you to send me a copy
of that photograph, and I appreciate your doing so.  I
also appreciate all that you say in your letter, and
thank you for writing.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. W. S. Hoskins,
376 West Fayette Street,
Syracuse, N. Y.

16774December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir:

Mr. Roosevelt has received your letter and also
the article which you submitted to him to see if it was possible
to have it published in The Outlook.  Mr. Roosevelt is
approached by hundreds of people asking him to use his influence
to get articles inserted in The Outlook, but as he has
nothing whatever to do with the acceptance of such articles
or with the makeup of the paper it really is not possible for
to try to exert any such influence.  The Managing Editor is
the only man who can say whether or not an article is
available for The Outlook and your best plan would be to get
into communication direct with him.  Mr. Roosevelt is really
sorry that in this case it is not possible for him to break
the rule which he has had to make about not submitting
such articles direct.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Luther Kaltenbach.

16775December 22nd, 1911

My dear Sir:

Your letter to Mr. Roosevelt has come to hand
but he would prefer that you yourself made such an
estimate as you desire.  You could certainly do this by
consulting Mr. Roosevelt's speeches and writings.  If you
desire any information of a personal kind you could probably
obtain it from the biography written by Jacob A. Riis
which can probably be seen in any public library.

Sincerely yours,

Secretary

Mr. Harold Keats,
George Washington University,
Washington, D. C.

16776December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Sir:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter to 
Mr. Roosevelt and to say that you certainly may use the
quotations referred to, of course giving the proper credit.

Sincerely yours, 


Secretary



Mr. L. M. Koons,
1542 N. Clark Street,
Chicago, Ill.


16777

December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Latham:
I wish I could accept, but it is a simple 
impossibility. I have received literally thousands of 
similar requests and with the best wishes in the world 
it has proved impossible for me to accept one in a 
hundred of these invitations. I deeply appreciate the
courtesy and kindness of those who ask me to speak, but 
you have no conception of the drain it is upon me even 
to accept the very limited proportion that I am physically 
able to accept and I could not greatly increase this proportion
or accept more of the invitations that come to 
me without absolutely abandoning all thought of any other 
work.
Very sincerely yours,


Mr. Cecil H. Latham,
Orient, L. I.

16778December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
courtesy in sending him a copy of your book. He much
appreciates your doing so.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Mr. Paul S. Lewis,
Milwaukee, Wis.

16779December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt has asked me to acknowledge receipt 
of your letter, and to say that since he left the White 
House he has not spoken on behalf of a single person with 
regard to securing an official position or promotion of any
kind or sort. If he were to do so in one case he would be
compelled in common fairness to do the same thing in hundreds 
of similar cases about which he is approached. He feels sure 
on thinking it over you will see how impossible it is for 
him to help you. He is very sorry.
Faithfully yours,


Mr. Joseph P. Malloy,
86 Coles Street,
Jersey City, N. J.

16780December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Madam:
Mr. Roosevelt is very sorry, but at the present
time he does not wish to become a member of any further
societies of any kind or sort. He naturally appreciates
very much your kindness in writing to him and is sorry he
is unable to do as you ask. He is at the present time
doing his best to withdraw from all the societies possible
of which he is now a member.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Miss Rose Metzler,
Lordsburg, Cal.

16781December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Miss Miller:
I hope you will tender to the boys of your class
my very warm thanks for their remembrance of me, and say
that I heartily reciprocate their Christmas and New Year
wishes. I was touched and pleased by the remembrance and
particularly for what you wrote to me concerning that memb
of your family to whom I was privileged to be of service.
With all good wishes to yourself for a merry
Christmas, believe me,
Sincerely yours,

Miss J. C. Miller,
132 West 89th Street,
New York City.

16782December 22nd, 1911.
My dear young friend:
I must send you one line of thanks for your
kind Christmas remembrance.
Wishing you a merry Christmas, I am,
Sincerely yours,

Russell McAlister,
1839 16th Street,
Washington, D. C.

16783December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt is very sorry, but it would not do
for him to express an opinion upon the verses of anyone.
Hundreds of people write to him asking his opinion on
such matters and if he were to express himself in one
case it would not be fair to the others to refuse them.
He feels sure on thinking it over you will see just why
he is unable to oblige. I am returning the verses herewith
as you may like to have them back.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Mr. James A. Mundy,
3720 Wabash Avenue,
Chicago, Ill.

16784December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Mr. Oppenheimer:
It was very kind of you to ask me to attend
the dinner of the Patriotic Republican Club which is to
be held in January next. Unfortunately it is utterly
impossible for me to accept any further invitations of
any kind or sort. I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. Jack Oppenheimer,
Patriotic Republican Club,
185 East 79th Street,
New York City.

16785December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Every day, almost without exception, Mr. Roosevelt
receives a number of letters asking him to obtain positions
of various kinds for those who write to him. Now, I am sure
on thinking it over, you will see how impossible it is for M
Roosevelt to render help in this way. He is no longer in
public office, and has nothing whatever to do with the disposal
of positions of any kind or sort, nor does he know any
one who might be able to render you such help. It is therefore
with regret that he is compelled to send an unfavorable
reply, much though he appreciates the circumstances and
appreciates the needs of the applicant.
Faithfully yours,
Secretary

Mr. C. H. Phillips,
2774 Eighth Avenue,
New York City.

16786December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Mr. Rutledge:
It was indeed good of you to send me your kind
letter. I sincerely appreciate all that you say and thank
you for writing.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. J. J. Rutledge,
606 Union Trust Building,
Los Angeles, Cal.

16787December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Sir:
I wish it were possible for my friends to realize
my position, not for my own sake, but because then they 
would understand just why it is that I cannot accept all 
the invitations that come to me. From now on I wish to 
avoid making any speech that I possibly can avoid and 
greatly though I appreciate an invitation coming from such 
a body as the one you represent it really is not possible
for me to accept. I cannot undertake anything further of 
any kind or sort now. I am very sorry.
Sincerely yours,


Mr. W. E. Schermerhorn,
St. Mary's Brotherhood,
Burlington, N. J.

16788December 22nd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Shay:
I wish I could accept, but it is a simple 
impossibility. I have received literally thousands of 
similar requests and with the best wishes in the world 
it has proved impossible for me to accept one in a 
hundred of these invitations. I deeply appreciate the
courtesy and kindness of those who ask me to speak, but 
you have no conception of the drain it is upon me even 
to accept the very limited proportion that I am physically 
able to accept and I could not greatly increase this proportion
or accept more of the invitations that come to 
me without absolutely abandoning all thought of any other 
work.

Very sincerely yours,


Mr. John H. Shay,
Big Bend Reunion,
Streator, Ill.

16789December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Mr. Sketthy:
I must send you one line of thanks for your
kind Christmas remembrance.
Wishing you a merry Christmas, I am,
Sincerely yours,

Mr. John Sketthy,
611 West 177th Street,
New York City.

16790December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Madam:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
letter and to say that he will bear in mind all that
you have written to him in case he can do anything
which will relieve the trouble.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Miss Fanny Morris Smith,
Neceranza Farm,
New Hartford, Conn.

16791December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Mr. Steensland:
It was indeed good of you to send me your
kind letter. I sincerely appreciate all that you say
and thank you for writing.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. E. I. Steensland,
Blanchardville, Wis.

16792December 22nd, 1911.

              
Dear Mrs JF Stevens:
Your letter to Mr. Roosevelt has come to hand
during his absence from the office. If Mr. Stevens cares
to call at The Outlook office on Tuesday next at about 12.30
Mr. Roosevelt will be able to see him for a minute or two,
although I am sorry to tell you that on next Tuesday he will
be very busy. If Mr. Stevens would care to put it off until
the following Friday and come in then about 11 o'clock he
might be able to get a longer interview if that is what is
desired.
Sincerely yours,

Secretary

Mrs Stevens,
Waldorf Astoria.

16793December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Mr. Stoddard:
It was indeed good of you to send me your
kind letter. I sincerely appreciate all that you say
and thank you for writing.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. James A. Stoddard,
6525 Harvard Avenue,
Chicago, Ill.

16794December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Your letter to Mr. Roosevelt has come to hand
and if you could call at The Outlook office on Friday
next at about 11 o'clock, Mr. Roosevelt would be very
pleased to see you.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Mr. John A. Sullivan,
450 Tremont Building,
Boston, Mass.

16795December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Of course you may publish that letter if
you so desire.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Mr. L. V. [Tyewffort] TWYSFFORT,
Paris France.


16796December 22nd, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt is very sorry, but it is quite impossible
for him to answer the query you put. People write
to him asking his opinion upon almost every topic under the
sun and if he were to reply in each case giving such an
opinion, it would not only become ridiculous, but it would
occupy most of his time. He is sorry not to be able to do
as you wish.
Faithfully yours,


Secretary

Rev. Charles L. Walworth,
3 Hooker Avenue,
Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

16797December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Captain:
I agree entirely with you. I take just the position
that you take. If I could go to any dinner I would go to
that dinner and say just the things that you and I believe.
Unfortunately it is not possible for me to accept any invitation
of any kind or sort; otherwise I would surely accept
this. But pray come up to the office, and if I can be of
any assistance to you I will help you in any way I can.
Sincerely yours,

Captain Millard J. Bliemer.December 23rd, 1911.
My dear Mr. Brewer:
Many thanks for your Christmas card.
Greeting to you and my fellow members of the Dutch
Reformed Church.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. William L. Brewer,
17 East 7th Street,
New York City.[*Borden*]

December 23rd, 1911.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

I look forward to receiving that pamphlet by
Magrath.  My dear Mr. Borden, I trust I need not say what
a pleasure it was to have you out at Oyster Bay.  Will
you give my very warm regards to Mrs Borden?  If you ever
come down again I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing
you both at our house.

With all good wishes,

Very sincerely yours,

The Rt. Hon. Sir R. L. Borden,
Ottawa, Canada.

16798December 23rd, 1911.
My dear Mr. Butler:
I greatly appreciate the gift of the apples
which you have sent me. It was most kind of you.
A merry Christmas to you and yours,
Sincerely yours,

Mr. W. W. Butler,
Grandview, Wash.December 23rd, 1911.
My dear Mr. Connolly:
I wish I could accept, but I simply do not dare to.
If you ever get into my office I will give you a list of a few
of the literally hundreds of invitations I have received and
have been unable to accept. Every time I go to such a place as
the Bowery Mission of the Holy Name, or the Labor Temple, of The
House of the Good Shepherd, or the Big Brother Movement Rooms,
it means that I have literally hundreds of other requests. I
simply cannot undertake anything more, because every time I attempt
to it means that I asked to do something extra.
With real regret,
Sincerely yours,


Mr. C. P. Connolly,
 4 West 105th Street,
New York City.

16799December 23rd, 1911.
Dear Mike:
I appreciate that greeting. I believe in you
and I think you are the kind of American citizen of whom
good American citizens should feel proud. Come in and
see me at The Outlook office whenever you can.
Always yours,

Mike Donovan Esq.,
New York Athletic Club,
New York City.

16800December 23rd, 1911.
Dear Mr. Elliott:
I want to thank you for those apples which Mr.
Butler sent me. I have written thanking him too. Do let
me see you at The Outlook office whenever you are in New
York, or come out to Oyster Bay if you have the time.
Sincerely yours,

Mr. Howard Elliott,
Northern Pacific Railroad Co.,
St. Paul, Minn.

16801December 23rd, 1911.
My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to thank you for your
letter and to say that unfortunately he is unable to do
as you desire as he does not know enough of the subject
to be able to speak definitely concerning it. He much
appreciates your writing to him.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary

Mr. L. W. Ewald,
637 Old South Building,
Washington Street,
Boston, Mass.

16802December 23rd, 1911.
Dear Foran:
A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you!
I hope that shoot with Bonfils comes off.
In great haste,
Sincerely yours,

W. Robert Foran, Esq.,
Kansas City, Mo.

16803December 23rd, 1911.
Dear Archie:
I am very sorry to say that after careful consideration
The Outlook editors notified me that for their purpose your book
is too technical and too elaborate to make it the right kind of
book to be reviewed at length, and that they could only make a
descriptive note of it in their ordinary book reviews. I am very
sorry, but after I had read your book I was afraid this was the
course they would take. I think it a very able book, brought out
with the utmost industry, and I have no question that you have most
accurately stated the fact. But the ordinary reader of the kind
reached by the ordinary magazine like The Outlook is not interested
in this minutiae of the battle - as I have found out in connection with 
the San Juan campaign. As I think I told you, The Outlook
editors decide these cases for themselves. They neither would
nor could pay heed to me or to anyone else, but to  their own
beliefs of what is best for the magazine - they could not run it
on any other basis. For instance, they have followed the same
course they have followed with your book as regards Mahan's last
book, and Chadwick's book, both of which I regard as of capital
importance, and both of which incidentally I should have thought
would have appealed to the general reader, but The Outlook did not

168042


thinks so.
I think moreover that most people have already come to the
conclusion you have reached as regards the main issue of the battle.
I cannot imagine any human being now seriously contending that
Chickamauga was anything but a defeat for the Union Army. I suppose
there will always be some limitless discussion as to the exact time
of the various movements, and as to the relative time - I know from
my own small experience at San Juan what an opening there is for
such discussion. This means that there will be room for a great
deal of debate as to whether Thomas was forced off the field, or
repulsed the attacks and then left because he knew that if he did
not he would be forced off the field, for that is all the difference
really amounts to. Personally I think the Confederate general
Alexander in his book on the War put the facts as history will
finally accept them. To my mind to say that Chickamauga was not
a Confederate victory is as foolish as to say that Grant was not
surprised at Shiloh, or to say that at Appotomax only 8000 Confederate
surrendered in spite of the fact that on that day returns shows
that Grant took 28,000 prisoners and nearly 21,000 muskets. All
these contentions were held with passionate zeal by thoroughly good
men who had been participants in the action and who were quite unable

168053

to speak clearly about them, but I do not think history written 
in cold blood will pay any heed to them.
Let me repeat how sorry I am that The Outlook does not 
feel that it can review your book at length. I believe that all 
the technical publications will find it well worth their while to 
review it at length.
Sincerely yours,

Archibald Gracie Esq.,
Washington, D. C.

16806December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Sir:
That is an interesting suggestion of yours. I 
have alluded to the matter in an article I am just writing, 
but I should have to go over it very carefully before 
definitely and fully committing myself.
Sincerely yours,


Mr. D. Hamlin,
Cumberland, Md.

16807December 23rd 1911.
Dear Mr Howland:
In the first place let me thank you for the Christmas card, and for
your remembrance of both Mrs Roosevelt and me.
Now for the message Harold gave me, that I should write you a little
concerning political conditions. They are very very mixed. Curiously
enough, my article on the trusts was generally accepted as bringing me
forward for the Presidential nomination. Evidently what really happened
was that there had been a strong undercurrent of feeling about me, and
that the talk concerning the article enabled this feeling to come to the
surface. I do not think it amounts to anything. It merely means that a
great many people do not get the leadership they are looking for from any
of the prominent men in public life, and that under the circumstances
they grasp at anyone; and as my article on the trusts, and my article on
the chamaras, possessed at least the merit of being entirely clearcut and
of showing that I knew my own mind and had definite views, a good many
plain people turned longingly to me as a leader. Taft if very weak, but 
La Follette has not developed real strength east of the Mississippi River,
excepting of course in Wisconsin. West of the river he has a large
following, although there is  a good deal of opposition to him and ?
Salt [La]ke, Washington and California, east of the Mississippi, I

168082

believe he can only pick up a few delegates here and there. Taft will
have most of the Southern folk, he will have the office holders, and the
tepid and acquiescent rather then active support of the ordinary people
who do not feel very strongly one way of the other, and think it is the
usual thing to renominate a President. If there were a strong candidate
against him, he would I believe be beaten, but there are plenty of men,
many of the leaders not only here but in Texas, for instance, in Ohio, in
New Hampshire and Illinois, who are against him, but who are even more
against La Follette, and who regard themselves as limited to the 
alternative between the two. There is, of course, always the danger that
there may be a movement for me, the danger coming partly because the men 
who may be candidates are very anxious that the ticket shall be
strengthened, and care nothing for the fate of the man who strengthens
it, and partly because there is a good deal of honest feeling for me among
plain simple people who wish leadership, but who will not accept
leadership unless they believe it to be sincere, fearless and intelligent.
I most emphatically do not wish the nomination. Personally I should 
regard it as a calamity to be nominated. In the first place, I might very
possibly be beaten, and in the next place, even if elected I should be
confronted with almost impossible conditions out of which to make good
results. In the tariff, for instance, I would have to face the fact that

168093
men would keep comparing what I did with what the Democrats would or could 
have done, but without an ideal, or rather with a multitude of entirely
separate really incompatible ideals. I am not a candidate. I will
never be a candidate, but I have to tell the La Follette men and the Taft
men that while I am absolutely sincere in saying that I am not a candidate
and do not wish the nomination, yet that I do not feel it would be right
or proper for me to say that under no circumstances would I accept it if
it came; because while wildly improbable, it was yet possible that there
might be a public demand which would present the matter to me in the light
of a duty which I could not shirk. In other words, while I emphatically
do not want office, and have not the slightest idea that any demand for me
will come, yet if there were a real public demand that in the public
interest I should do a given job, it might be that I would not feel like
flinching from the task. However, this is all in the air, and I do not
for one moment believe that it would be necessary for me even to consider
the matter. As for the Democrats, they have their troubles too. Wilson,
although still the strongest man the Democrats could nominate, is much
weaker than he was. He has given a good many people a feeling that he is
very ambitious and not entirely sincere, and his demand for the Carnegie
pension created an unpleasant impression. Barron is a good old solid
Democrat, with the standards of political and commercial morals of twenty

168104

years ago, who would be eagerly welcomed by all the conservative crowd.
Champ Clark is a good fellow, but impossible as President.

I think a great deal will depend upon what this Congress does. Taft 
may redeem himself. He was fairly strong at the end of the last Session,
but went off lamentably on account of his wavering and shilly-shallying on
so many matters during his speaking trip. His speeches generally hurt 
him, and rarely benefit him. But it is possible that the Democrats in 
Congress may play the fool, and give him the chance to appear as the 
strong leader, the man who must be accepted to oppose them.
               
With warm regards to Mrs Howland,
                                                  
Sincerely yours,

William B. Howland, Esq.

16811December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Congressman WE Humphrey:

It was pleasant seeing you the other night. 
Now will you write to Mr. Herbert Croly a line mentioning 
what I said about Hanna and the circumstances under which 
it was said; and if you will send it on to me I will send 
it to Croly, who is writing the life of Hanna.

Sincerely yours,

16812December 23rd, 1911.
Dear Mr. Hulbert:
I cannot at the moment remembre where it was that
I made the statement similar to that which you have quoted in
your former letter, but I certainly did make it either in a
message to Congress, or in one of my speeches - perhaps not in
the exact language, but in that general sense. I kept insisting
that as regards the coal lands, the laws themselves put a premium
upon fraud by rendering it impossible for honest men to do business
successfully if they observed the law, and at the same time
render it easy for the dishonest men to do business by evading
the law. Unfortunately I was unable to get much attention paid
to what I said, for too many of the reformers occupied themselves
solely with what had been done that was wrong, and refused to turn
in and make a resolute effort to put legislation on a straight basis;
while of course the tricky and dishonest beneficiaries of
the existing laws did not wish to see them changed. In all this
reform legislation that is especially needed is that we shall
insist upon embodying in that legislation what is practicable
and workable; and often, as I had again and again said in my
message to Congress, we have to fight both the crooked men who

16813


                                                               2



wish to continue in doing crooked things, and well meaning but 
head-in-the-air reformers who insist in taking such an impossible
position that we lose all benefit from them in the fight against
the crooked men.
                                                 Sincerely yours,




Mr. William D. Hulbert,
             4049 Girard Avenue,
             Philadelphia, Pa.




16814December 23rd, 1911.

Dear Mr. Hulbert:

Instead of quoting that letter, how would 
it do to quote the enclosed?

Sincerely yours,


Mr. William D. Hulbert.


16815

December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Mrs. Kelley:

I am greatly interested in your letter.
I shall quote some of it in a foot note to my article.
I do not know whether to use your name or not.  If I should
decide to do so, have I your permission?

Again thanking you,

Sincerely yours,


Mrs. Florence Kelley.


16816

December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Miss Kennedy:

It was indeed good of you to send me your kind
letter.  I sincerely appreciate all that you say and thank
you for writing.

Sincerely yours,


Miss Eileen E. Kennedy,
Box 195,
Sydney, Australia.


16817

December 23rd, 1911.

Dear Cabot:

Your speech was capital. The action taken was just
right, but it makes the Administration's attitude on the arbitration
treaties one of intolerable folly and hypocrisy. I shall send you
my article in next week's Outlook, which I have headed "The
Russian Treaty, Arbitration, and Hypocrisy". Of course I do not
speak of the Administration at all, for I am not going to let 
myself be drawn into any attack on Taft, but Heavens and earth,
what a floppy souled creature he is!

Sincerely yours,

The Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge.

16818



                                                                                          December 23rd, 1911.


Dear Dan:
             Would Friday January 19th suit for that lunch? Now will you let me know frankly whether I have suggested [x] many names? The Century Club is just fine for the purpose.
                                                  Faithfully yours,




Edward S. Martin Esq.




16819December 23rd, 1911.

Dear Bat:

That is an interesting letter from Judge Sutton.
Do come in and let me see you sometime.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. W. B. Masterson,
The Morning Telegraph,
New York City.


16820

December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Mr. McKeever:

I appreciate your sending me that volume
of your poetry and the inscription you have put on the 
title page.

A merry Christmas and many happy New Years to
you.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. W. A. McKeever,
Topeka, Kan.


16821

December 23rd, 1911.
Dear Cal:
A merry Christmas and many happy New Years to
both Mrs O'Laughlin and yourself. Come on and see me
soon when I can have the chance to talk with you. There
are several things in your letters that I would like
to talk with you about. Borak and Dixon are both trumps.
I wish I could see them.
Sincerely yours,


Mr. J. C. O'Laughlin,
Washington, D. C.

16822



                                                                                        December 23rd, 1911.



My dear Mr. O'Neill:
              It was indeed good of you to send me your kind letter. I sincerely appreciate all that you say and thank you for writing.
                                                  Sincerely yours,




Mr. John O'Neill,
             446 W. First Avenue, 
              Columbus, Ohio.




16823December 23rd, 1911.

Dear Mr. Pinchot:

Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to say that he would 
be glad if you would let him have back the book which he
lent to you which dealt with the elk in the Yellowstone
Park.

Sincerely yours,


Secretary


The Hon. Gifford Pinchot,
Washington, D. C.


16824

December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Sir:

If you will turn to The Outlook for January 21st
1911 you will find an article by Mr. Roosevelt upon the
initiative and referendum, and I am sure from this you will
be able to obtain all the particulars you desire with regard
to Mr. Roosevelt's position in the matter.

Sincerely yours,


Secretary


Mr. Keating Ransone,
Cleburne, Texas.


16825

December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Sir:
Mr. Roosevelt desires me to thank you for sending
him that article. He is a Contributing Editor to The Outlook 
and has nothing whatever to do with the acceptance of outside 
articles for publication in that magazine. Such matter are 
in the hands of the Managing Editor, and if you so desire you 
can get into communication with him at The Outlook office.
Faithfully yours,

Secretary

Mr. Robert H. Rogers,
Waco, Texas.

16826



                                                                                        December 23rd, 1911.



My dear Mrs Rowland:
              I have just received your letter as I was not in town Friday. I wish I could seen John Burroughs. Give him my warm regards.
              A merry Christmas to you and yours.
                                                 Sincerely yours,




Mrs Orlando Rowland,
             130 West 57th Street,
             New York City.



16827December 23rd, 1911.
Dear Mr. Russell:
The Outlook people are moiling over your letter.
When they get through with it, I shall probably want to see
you myself. I want to know just how we can get at such facts
as these you give. They are appalling, but exactly as it would
not do to say that the McNamaras and Haywoods and Meyer are
guilty of murder, unless there is proof of it, so I could not
use facts like that unless I had proof of it. Personally I 
do not think Meyer and Haywood a bit better than the McNamaras,
but there is no legal proof that they committed murder for which
they were specifically tried. And so they stand in a different
attitude. In the same way I cannot act on the cases you mention
until I am sure of my ground. A little later I shall ask you
to come in a go over various of those matters with me. I am
more than anxious to fight just along the lines you mention,
but I want to be sure of my ground.
Sincerely yours,


Isaac Russell Esq.

16828December 23rd, 1911.

Dear Madam:

Mr. Roosevelt has asked me to say that he would
be glad if you would let him know whether it would be convenient
for him to come to lunch with you on Wednesday
next December 27th.  He will be glad if you will let him 
have word as soon as convenient.

Sincerely yours,


Secretary


Mill Louisa Lee Schuyler,
Highlands Falls, N. Y. 


16829

December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Sir:

Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to say that that statement
is absolutely false. He came out by the side entrance, went
around to the front entrance, and no machine was anywhere near
and the policeman told him that the machine had left and that
the man in it had asked him to tell Mr. Roosevelt when he
came out that he would be back again in two or three minutes,
because there had been a blow out. Mr. Roosevelt did not see
how there could have been a blow out, as the machine of course
had been standing still for an hour; but he waited for five 
minutes and as the man did not appear he got into another
machine. The mans statement is absolutely false.

Sincerely yours,

Secretary

Mr. E.B. Seaman,
622 West 57th Street.

16830December 23rd, 1911.

Dear Sister Sebastian:

On behalf of Mrs. Roosevelt and my family I
thank you for these Christmas cards, and for your good
wishes.  May the coming year deal tenderly with you, and
may you have the merry Christmas that you deserve, dear
Sister Sebastian.

Your friend,


Sister M. Sebastian,
Dominican Convent,
Paterson, N. J. 


16831





                                                                                        December 23rd, 1911.



Dear Shaw:
               Characteristically you have said exactly what I would most have desired to be said in that article. A merry Christmas to you and yours, and many many happy New Years.
                                                 Sincerely yours,




Dr. Albert Shaw,
             Review of Reviews.




16832The Outlook
287 Fourth Avenue 
New York

Office of 
Theodore Roosevelt

December 23rd, 1911.

Dear George:

Many thanks for your note and the copy of the correspondence.
Let me repeat my appreciation of your having written it.  By the way,
the papers have twisted something you said into what makes it look as
if I had asked for the letter, and I would be greatly obliged to you
if you would just say a line to the effect that it was purely on your
own initiative, and that you breached the subject without the slightest
suggestion on my part.

Again most heartily thanking you, my dear George, I am,

Faithfully yours,


George R. Sheldon Esq.


16833

December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Sir:

Mr. Roosevelt desires me to thank you for your
letter and the enclosure.  He is a Contributing Editor to
The Outlook and has nothing whatever to do with the 
acceptance of articles for publication in that magazine.
Such matters are in the hands of the Managing Editor, and
if you so desire you can get into communication with him at
The Outlook office.

Faithfully yours,


Mr. H. G. Sudell,
Philadelphia, Pa.


16834

The Outlook
187 Fourth Avenue
New York

Office of 
Theodore Roosevelt

December 23rd, 1911.

Dear Mark:

I do not see that anyone could wish a pleasanter Christmas
present than you give me in your letter, and I am perfectly overjoyed
with the original Dickens.  Nothing could have pleased me more.
My dear fellow I very deeply appreciate your kindness.  I am immensely
amused at the conjunction of the great names of Sullivan and Abbott.
Could you come in next Wednesday morning?  I shall be at The Outlook
on Wednesday, and as it is not usually the day that I am here, I do 
not think many people will call, and I can have a chance to see you.

Give my love to Mrs. Sullivan.

Always yours,


Mark Sullivan Esq.


16835

December 23rd, 1911.

Dear William:

I am pleased you should have heard of that conversation,
which had entirely escaped my mind. A couple of weeks hence there
will be an article by me in The Outlook in which I incidentally allude
to your view to illustrate the very thesis of which you speak, that
is, that history shall be literature, and good literature.
Next year I believe I am to be President of the American
Historical Association, and I am going to take this as the text of
my speech. I regard the "Cavour" as one of the really notable bits
of American productive scholarship and I have said so in the article
that is coming out.

A happy New Year to you.

Sincerely yours,

W. R. Thayer Esq.,
8 Berkeley Street,
Cambridge, Mass.

[*Les Keedich 
150 Nassau
4074 Buhnor*]

16836December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Tyler:

I wish I could do as you ask, but it is a 
simple impossibility.  As you know, a number of portraits 
of me have been made, and for me to comply with your
request would be to open a vista altogether too long.
I am sorry.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. Bayard N. Tyler,
130 Carnegie Hall,
New York City.


16837

December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Watts:

I thank you for the book of poems.  I look forward
with real interest in reading them, and I am sure that I shall
enjoy them.

Now as to what you say about Kipling.  I do not care 
a rap what outsiders speak of us, but I care immensely what we
ourselves do and say.  When Americans praise Kipling's silly
story about the American married couple going back to England
and realizing that it is "home", then I feel thoroughly ashamed
not of Kipling but of the Americans.  So the American woman who sells
herself for the title occupies so thoroughly contemptible a position
as the man she marries.  So the American who because a second rate
Englishman, or Frenchman, or German, and lives abroad, occupies
a thoroughly contemptible position.  I might go on ad infinitum,
but I think you will see what I mean.  I do not mind the Englishman 
or anyone else who attacks us, but I do immensely mind the American
who so behaves as to reflect discredit upon his country, and I
do not care whether it is a vulgar millionaire, or a murderous so-
called labor leader, or a wretched anemic creature who protests
against our keeping up our fleet and our standard national honor

16838

2

and integrity.  Above all, in our literature and art I want to see
us develop along our own lines as real Americans.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. H. M. Watts,
Philadelphia, Pa.


16839

December 23rd, 1911.

Dear Wheeler:

Of course such a Senate concurrent resolution is
considerably worse than foolish.  If the ex-superintendent
in question is quoted correctly, his remarks were also very
foolish, but that does not excuse the Legislature.

Sincerely yours,


President Benj. I. Wheeler,
University of California.


16840

December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Mr. Whitridge:

Mr. Roosevelt has asked me to say that he
would be glad if you would let him know whether it would
be convenient for him to come to lunch with you on
Friday next December 29th.  He will be glad if you will
let him have word as soon as convenient.

Sincerely yours,


Secretary


F. W. Whitridge Esq.
59 Wall Street,
New York City.


16841

December 23rd, 1911.

Mr. dear [Mrs] ED Wolcott:

I am immensely pleased with your telegram.
Now do you know a Miss Dewson, secretary of
She knows the suffrage arguments from the working
girls standpoint.  What would you think of asking her
to come on to that lunch too?

Sincerely yours,


[Mrs] ED Wolcott,
Milton, Mass.


16842December 23rd, 1911.

Dear Leonard:

I will read your report with interest.

A merry Christmas to you and yours,

Ever yours,


Major General Leonard Wood,
Washington, D. C.


16843

December 23rd, 1911.

My dear Madam:

Almost every day Mr. Roosevelt is approached by friends
with a view to getting his assistance in their efforts either to
have pensions granted to them, or to have their present pensions
increased, and greatly though he appreciates the circumstances in
most of such cases and would like to be of service, it really is
not possible for him to do anything.  Since he left the White
House he has not interfered in any official matter of any kind
or sort, and he feels sure on thinking it over you will 
approve his course in this respect.  It would not do for him 
to interfere, as his interference would naturally be resented
by those at present in office.  Your best plan is to get into 
direct communication with the Commissioner for Pensions, Pensions
Bureau, Washington, D. C.

Sincerely yours,


Secretary


[BG] Zalinski.


16844



December   24th ,   1911 .

Dear   Gilson  :

            No ,   I    have   no    thoughts  .     A   merry    Christmas    and     a     happy    New
Year    to    you    and    yours  .





                                                                                                             Sincerely    yours  ,


   Mr.   Gilson    Gardner  ,
   Washington ,   D .  C .


   16845




December 26th, 1911.

Dear Mr. Clements:

I am obliged to you for the copy of the 
Inter-State Commerce Commission annual report.  Many
happy New Years to you.

Sincerely yours,


The Hon. Judson C. Clements,
Inter State Commerce Commission,
Washington, D. C.


8193

December 26th, 1911.

My dear Mr. Darr:

If you can come in here on Friday morning
it will be a real pleasure to see you.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. Francis J. A. Darr.


16846

December 26th, 1911.

My dear Madam:

I thank you for the book that you so kindly sent me.
I appreciate your having done so.

Sincerely yours,


Mrs. Louise Downes,
204 Heminway Street,
Boston, Mass.


16847

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Mr. Fischer:

As usual, your Christmas gift is a treasure from
every standpoint.  Mrs. Roosevelt and my son Kermit, who is
a lover of books and of old and beautiful books, are as
delighted with it as I am.  We value the gift greatly, but 
we value even more the spirit that lies behind the gift.
May Mrs. Fischer and you have many happy New Years!

Sincerely yours,


Mr. V. G. Fischer,
467 Fifth Avenue,
New York City.


16848

December 26th, 1911.

My dear Sir:

Mr. Roosevelt wishes me to say that he is 
extremely sorry that he was so busy this afternoon that
it was impossible to see you before you had left.  He 
broke away at the first opportunity to see you, but unfortunately
he found you had gone.  He hopes you will
call at The Outlook some Tuesday or Friday when you are
in New York when he will have pleasure in seeing you.

Sincerely yours,


Assistant Secretary


Mr. Milt Goodkind,
Pelham, New York.


16849

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Eliot:

It was good of you to have remembered us.  That
is an attractive looking room of yours.  Many happy New Years.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. Eliot Gregory,
1122 Broadway,
New York City.


16850

December 26th, 1911.

My dear Mrs. Hallowell:

It is very hard for me to have to refuse, in the first
place because I most emphatically believe in the work of the
Consumers' League, and in the second place because I swear by all
the Hallowells.  Moreover I am in cordial sympathy with the special
purpose which you propose to bring forth at the meeting of the
League in question, but it is a simple impossibility for me to 
accept another invitation to speak of any kind or sort.  I have
had to refuse over five thousand requests to speak in the last 
year and a half, and half of those were for thoroughly good purposes
in which I believed.  I have found by actual experience that to
accept one invitation means that I receive a hundred others on
behalf of causes where the writers feel that my acceptance of one
similar request has debarred me from refusing the others.

With real regret,

Sincerely yours,


Mrs. F. W. Hallowell,
Consumers League of Massachusetts.


16851

December 26th, 1911.

My dear Mr. James:

I have received your letter of yesterday.  I am out of
politics and I can under no circumstances consent to take any active
part in the ordinary details of party organization.  This means that
I could not take part in any shape or way in any contest for the
speakership if ordinary issues were involved.  But the issue you
raise in your letter is not an ordinary issue.  It affects what is
fundamental and vital in our national life.  The first essential in
getting my reform in political conditions is to make a complete 
divorce between business and politics and to rule commerce absolutely
out of politics.  It is of capital importance that the public
servant in his public capacity shall act solely for the public
interest and it is an absolute betrayal of the public interest
if the public servant tries to combine with such action action for
his own pecuniary interest.  You quote a public letter of Mr. Merritt's
dated March 13th 1910 in which defending his stand in favor of
legislation to promote water storage he says:  "My direct personal
interest in water storage is due to the fact that I have been
interested in water power development on the Racquette River for
more than twenty years, and I make no apology for the fact."
As you say, Mr. Merritts frankness in avowing this fact makes it

168522

evident that he has not done anything which he considers wrong.  It
is however the same frankness that has been shown as regards similar
matters of the public service by those leaders of Tammany to whose
influence in politics we have most objected; it is in its essence on
all fours with the remark of Mr. Crocker that he was not in politics
for his health.  It has become a well established rule among high-
minded public servants with a fine sense of propriety that if they
have a direct interest in any matter put before them for Governmental
action, that fact by itself stops them from joining in such action.
Tammany has carried to a shameless length the practice of combining
business with politics and it is this practice which Mr. Merritt
in effect openly defends.  The sincerity of Mr. Merritt's belief
in the propriety of this position does not alter the fact that the 
position is fundamentally vicious and improper.  The Speaker of the 
Lower House at Albany is in a position second in importance only
to the Governor.  His control of legislation is very great and there
should be no possibility of imputing to him a motive for his own
pecuniary advantage in any legislation that he in his public
capacity advocates.   It seems to me that Mr. Merritt's own statement
should exclude him from consideration for the high office of speaker.

Sincerely yours.


16853

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Jamison:

We were very much pleased to hear from you,
and all of us join in wishing you many happy New Years.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. J. S. Jamison,
141 E. Street S. E. 
Washington, D. C.


16854

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Aunt [AA] Jobiska:

I think it was just dear of you to remember us
both and I love the little book.  I wish I could see you -
and see the pictures too.  May many happy New Years come to
you.

Always yours,


16855

December 26th, 1911.
My dear Mrs Kelley:
I shall read that book of yours with genuine interests.
I do not believe that by legislation we can do any like
what good people suppose, what some of our temperance friends,
for instance believe. But I do believe we can do such. I
thank you for your comments on my article and for your letter.
I thank you for your comments on my article and for your letter.
I think some of your comment a little perfervid, but then I
would a great deal rather have anyone in whom I believe possess
to much steam in the boiler rather than too little. I have
inserted a paragraph about working girls and about the probability
that woman suffrage would make it easier to deal with the White
Slave traffic and kindred iniquities. This I owe greatly to 
your and I thank you for it.
Sincerely yours,

Mrs Florence Kelley,
National Consumers League.

16856December 26th, 1911.

My dear Mr. Kelsey:

I thank you for your book.  I believe most
emphatically in humanistic studies, and I shall read the 
volume with real interest.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. Francis W. Kelsey,
c/o The Macmillan Publishing Co.,
New York City.


16857

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Mr. Koenig:

It was mighty good of you to remember me at 
Christmas.  Many happy and prosperous New Years to you
and yours.

Sincerely yours,


Samuel S. Koenig Esq.


16858

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Major:

I wish you were to be in New York and I 
would talk over those political matters with you, but
do tell Judge Twitchell I am particularly pleased
that he liked my editorial "Murder is Murder".  Mighty
nice of you to have sent the mistletoe.  It was good 
to hear from you.

Many happy New Years old comrade.

Sincerely yours,


Major W. H. H. Llewellyn.


16859

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Mr. Mitchell:

I was very much touched and pleased by your
remembrance at Christmas.  May many happy New Years come
to you and yours.

Sincerely yours,


Mr. W. M. Mitchell,
Atlanta, Ga.


16860

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Fred:

It was mighty good of you to remember me.  Good
luck to you!  I wish I could see you sometime.

Faithfully yours,


Captain Fred Miller,
Santa Fe, N. M.


16861

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Fair:

I have been hoping to hear from you as to when
Mrs. Osborn and you could bring the Peabodys down.  Come
down for any night, or if it is more convenient to come down
to lunch then any day excepting Wednesday and Friday.

Many happy New Years to you and yours.

Sincerely yours,


Professor Henry Fairfield Osborn.


16862

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Admiral:

It was very good of you to remember us on Christmas
and we greatly valued your greeting.  By the way, did I 
ever tell you that Dr. Cook's [or Cock's ?] publishers send me a copy 
of his book?  I returned it to them promptly.  The mere
effrontery is to me absolutely astounding.  The other day
your Borup dined with me at the Boone and Crockett dinner.
He is a good fellow.

Give my warm regards to Mrs. Peary, and wishing
many happy New Years to you both.

Your Friend.

Admiral Robert E. Peary.

16863December 26th, 1911.

My dear Madam:

I thank you for the life of Livingstone and for
the very kind clipping which you had pasted in.

Wishing you many happy New Years, I am,

Sincerely yours,


Miss Florence B. N. Plate,
Washington, D. C.


16864

December 26th, 1911.

Dear Mrs. Rizey:

I think it was just dear of you and the Doctor
to remember me and to remember all of us, but then you two
dear friends always do remember us.  Many many happy New Year
to you and yours.

Sincerely yours,


Mrs. Presby Rizey


16866

December 26th, 1911.
Dear Ted:
Your letter to mother came on Christmas day and was the 
nicest present she could have had. I love it. We had an old style
Christmas, and we felt it was not really Christmas as long as
Gracie was not present. Christmas loses some of its fine edge
when the youngest child is a boy a half inch taller than his father!
Sister and Nicholas were on and cousin Laura on Oliver and Herneck
came out for dinner and we drank the health of [??????????] and Gracie
and you. In the morning Nick and I solemnly chopped, an occupation
in which he is even worse than I am, and in the afternoon we took
a three or four hours walk, a form of exercise in which I am even 
worse that he is. I would not begin to walk with Quentin now, who
has become quite a cross country runner. He is turning out well and
is a dear. I am amused and interested to find that he plays the 
piano pretty fairly.
We do most earnestly hope that you will all come here for 
a little visit this winter. We are crazy to see Gracie as well as to
see Helena and you. More than that I should like to consult with
you about Kermit's future. I am very much puzzled about it, and
while mother and I are giving him the best advice we are capable of,
of course my weakest point is in advising about business. I can

168672
educate the boys and give them a good home and the right surroundings
until they are launched, but the penalty of the kind of life I have
led is I am not able to give them the proper advice as to business.
Moreover I should like to talk over the political situation.
I have been rendered very uncomfortable by the movement for myself.
It undoubtedly has a really popular basis, and if it should become
sweeping, that is, if it should be a really overwhelming popular
movement, I might get in a position which I could not honorably
decline the nomination. But I feel as Nick Longworth strongly 
feels, and as most of my best friends feel, that for me personally
the nomination would be a veritable calamity and I do not want to
take it if it can possibly be avoided. However perhaps this is
needless alarm, for I don't think when the time comes that enough
pressure shall come for me, and I expect to see Taft nominated.
Give my warmest love to Helena and Gracie. Good Rudolph
send me a telegram of Christmas greeting. Remember me to all the
Spreckles family.
Your loving father,

16868December 26th, 1911.

Dear Samuels:

I am really touched by your writing me. As I 
said to you before, in a way I cannot help regretting 
that you are out of journalism, for there is no greater need 
in this country than the need of the right type of men in 
journalism.  But for your own sake I am glad that you are 
out.  Let me see you if ever you come to New York . There 
is much that I would like to talk over with you, including 
politics , journalism, and the good and evil sides of the 
social system in our colleges, and especially of Harvard, 
Yale and Princeton .

Many happy New Years to you.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Arthur H. Samuels,
570 Wood Street,
Pittsburg, Pa.

16869December 26th, 1911.

Dear George: 

Let me again say how obliged I am to you for having 
written that letter. Of course it causes some disagreement at 
the moment but the effect is fine in the end. I am greatly 
interested too in what you say of the falsehood in which you 
say you were reported, including the one in the Sun. When the 
Evening Post man came to me I did not say what I was most 
tempted to say, and that was that you had never said what was 
credited to you. The Post was meanlu endeavoring to show 
that there was an issue of veracity between us. We have 
some bad politicians in public life, but the scoundrels of 
the press are a great deal worse. 

Sincerely yours,

George R. Sheldon Esq.

16870December 26th, 1911.

Dear Spreckles:

All of us were really touched by your telegram, 
and we think it very nice of you to have remembered us. 
We were greatly concerned to learn how sick you had been, 
both for your sake and for the sake of your dear wife, whose 
anxiety we knew would be intense. Give her my love and also 
to the boy and the two cunning little girls - they are dear 
children all of them. A merry Christmas and many happy 
New Years to you and yours.

Sincerely yours,

Rudolf Spreckles Esq.,
1940 Pacific Avenue,
San Francisco, Cal.

16871
December   26th ,  1911 .

My   dear   Sir  :

              I   thank   you    for    your   Christmas   gift    and     I     am    touched     that    it
should    come    from    one    who    is    blind .


May   many   happy   New   Years   be   yours .




                                                                                                           Sincerely   yours  ,



    Mr.   S.   Thompson  ,
     Edgerton   ,   Ohio  .

      16872

         




December 26th, 1911.
My dear Mr. Weigall:
On receipt of your letter I wrote at once to
the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and to the Museum
of Pennsylvania, the only ones I could think of. I enclose
their two answers. I am very sorry I could not do more.
I was greatly concerned at what you wrote me in your letter
concerning your health. I hope it is not empty courtesy to
wish you many happy New Years.
Sincerely yours,


Arthur E. P. B. Weigall,
Turf Club,
Cairo, Egypt.

16873