Teddy Roosevelt

The work of the Reclamation Service in developing the larger opportunities of the western half of our country for irrigation is more important than almost any other movement.

Precisely the same action would have been taken had the troops been white--indeed, the discharge would probably have been made in more summary fashion.

I have done all I could to secure them equal school training when young, equal opportunity to earn their livelihood, and achieve their happiness when old.

But I wish it distinctly understood that the fact of the birthplace of either officer is one which I absolutely refuse to consider.

I have striven to break up peonage; I have upheld the hands of those who, like Judge Jones and Judge Speer, have warred against this peonage.

People have spoken as if this discharge from the service was a punishment. I deny emphatically that such is the case, because as punishment it is utterly inadequate.

If the colored men elect to stand by criminals of their own race because they are of their own race, they assuredly lay up for themselves the most dreadful day of reckoning.

I ordered the discharge of nearly all the members of Companies B, C, and D of the Twenty-fifth Infantry by name, in the exercise of my constitutional power and in pursuance of what, after full consideration, I found to be my constitutional…

It is hereby ordered that the following-described lands in New Mexico, namely: T. 16 N., R. 1 E., Jemez meridian, excepting any tract or tracts the title to which has passed out of the United States Government or to which valid legal…

In precisely the same spirit I have now acted with reference to these colored men who have been guilty of a black and dastardly crime.

Every farsighted friend of the colored race in its efforts to strive onward and upward, should teach first, as the most important lesson, alike to the white man and the black, the duty of treating the individual man strictly on his worth…

I challenge as a right, the support of every citizen of this country, whatever his color, provided only he has in him the spirit of genuine and farsighted patriotism.

I have condemned in unstinted terms the crime of lynching perpetrated by white men, and I should take instant advantage of any opportunity whereby I could bring to justice a mob of lynchers.

Under no circumstances will I consent to keep in the service bodies of men whom the circumstances show to be a menace to the country.

The number of Japanese children attending the public schools in San Francisco was very small.

Let me point out further that there would be no objection whatever to excluding from the schools any Japanese on the score of age.

I authorized and directed Secretary Metcalf to state that if there was failure to protect persons and property, then the entire power of the Federal Government within the limits of the Constitution would be used promptly and vigorously to…

It is obviously not desirable that young men should go to school with children.

Many of the buildings they put up were excellent and are still in use.

The present coal law limiting the individual entry to 160 acres puts a premium on fraud.

Everywhere are to be seen the drainage ditches which in removing the water have removed the breeding places of the mosquitoes.

The law forbids it, and the law must and will be enforced; I will see to it that the illegal fences are removed unless Congress at the present session takes steps to legalize proper fencing by government control of the range.

I visited many of the different villages, inspecting thoroughly many different buildings.

There is but one way by which the fraudulent acquisition of these lands can be definitely stopped.

I also saw and had long talks with two deputations--one of machinists and one representing the railway men of the dirt trains.