129 206
REFUSING A FAVORTHAT IS CONTRARYTO PUBLIC INTEREST
189
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ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. Typed Letter Signed, as President, to Senator
William P. Frye, declining to relieve General Wheaton and promote General Merriam. 1
1
/
4
pages, 4to,White House stationery, written on the first and terminal pages of a folded sheet.
(TFC)
Washington, 9 November 1901
[500/750]
“
Personal. . . . General Wheaton not only declines to resign, but General Chaffee reports that
he is doing excellent service and that it would be a serious detriment to the public service to
have him resign. Secretary Root tells me that Merriam is a good man but not an unusually
good man. Under these circumstances, I really do not see how I can do what General Merriam
has been rather importunate in asking. . . .The question is whether he should be given a favor
to which he has no real title at the expense of doing an injustice to the service, and an injustice
to a man by whose removal he would profit.
“
I am sorry not to do anything you ask.”
190
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ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. Typed Letter Signed, as President, to President of
the University Club of San Francisco Fairfax H.Wheelan, declining his invitation to dine
with a Unitarian group, expressing his openness to visiting the Harvard Club. 1 page, 4to,
White House stationery; faint ink blot affecting initial “T” of signature, minor fading to
text and signature, horizontal fold; matted with portrait and framed.
Washington, 31 October 1902
[400/600]
“
. . . If I go to the Unitarians I would have to go to various other similar dinners. I want to go
to the Harvard Club if by any possibility I can, but more than this it is out of the question for
me to take up.
189
190