ROOSEVELT, THEODORE | Autograph letter signed ("Theodore Roosevelt"), as U.S. Civil Service commissioner, to Herbert Welsh, regarding the Indian Rights Association

ROOSEVELT, THEODORE 

Autograph letter signed ("Theodore Roosevelt"), as U.S. Civil Service commissioner, to Herbert Welsh, regarding the Indian Rights Association

4 pages (6 1/8 x 3 7/8), on a single folded sheet. Written on Roosevelt's personal letterhead, stamped "Oyster Bay, Long Island, N.Y." and "Sagamore Hill" in upper left and right, dated 19 May [1889].

A letter from Roosevelt to the founder of the Indian Rights Association

Roosevelt took office as Civil Service Commissioner in May 1889, and within a week he was in communication with Herbert Welsh, a founder of, and driving force behind, the Indian Rights Association. At this time, the Association was the most influential organization working in the field of Indian affairs. In May 1889, Welsh was engaged in a campaign to secure John Oberly's position of Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and approached Roosevelt for his support in this matter. Roosevelt responded to Welsh's request for help by telling him that he would not oppose Oberly, but neither could he endorse him. Roosevelt had been prejudiced against Oberly by George Bird Grinnell, the editor of Forest and Stream, who objected to Oberly's failure to remove an incompetent Indian agent. Roosevelt writes:

"My Dear Mr. Welsh, Immediately on receiving your first letter, I wrote to two or three men with long practical experience concerning Indians, and thoroughly conversant with Mr. Oberly's work in the west; I did so because the only experience I had had with official proceeding had not influenced me in his favor, though I had concluded from is said in the paper that my experience must be exceptional. I regret to say that [...] my corespondents were very strongly adverse to Mr. Oberly. Can you not get over to Washington? The letters to me were confidential, but I would like to show you parts of them, and to tell you in full the reasons why I am by no means satisfied with the Oberly course [...]. I hate to have to write this to you; I don't think I need say how sincerely I wish I could agree with you [...]. Yours sincerely[,] Theodore Roosevelt P.S. Of course I am tooth and nail against Rutter." 

Ultimately, Welsh's support of Oberly ceased. He attributed his change of heart to information from Roosevelt, as well as one of his colleagues on the Civil Service Commission, that Oberly had engaged in what Welsh termed "underhanded and improper methods."