TLS as president, one page, 7.25 x 9, White House letterhead, December 5, 1901. Letter to future governor of Massachusetts Curtis Guild, Jr, with interesting content. In part, “Maguire has been examined three times and has failed in each instance. It would be a gross absurdity, and an iniquitous absurdity also, to give him another trial. If they want a congressional investigation, tell them by all means to go ahead and have it. Please add that whatever the investigators may say will not weigh a sixteenth of an ounce in altering what has been done! I could not possibly appoint him at large. It would be a wrong thing to do under the circumstances. Besides, I always appoint the sons of army and navy officers.” In fine condition, with a bisecting horizontal fold and some light soiling. Guild served as a member in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1881. His father was active in support of vice presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt, traveling with him, and substituting for him when he lost his voice. The younger Guild joined the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia in 1891, rising to the rank of Brigadier General in 1898. During the Spanish-American War he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Inspector General of Havana. In 1905, he was elected by popular vote to three terms as Governor of Massachusetts. Labor issues continued to dominate Massachusetts’ politics, and it was labor issues that indirectly saved Guild from an assassination attempt. In 1907, an escaped asylum patient intent on killing Governor Guild entered his waiting area at the State House carrying a handgun. He saw a group of men and fired on Edward Cohen, a union leader, apparently believing him to be the governor. Guild declined to run for a fourth term! COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
