Bowers, Frank S. (Frank Sherman), 1872-1955

As a snake, a wolf, a bobcat, a bear, a coyote, a cougar, and two bears start running toward President Roosevelt, he looks back at Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks manning the camera and says, “Say when you’re ready.” In a handwritten addition to the cartoon, Fairbanks says, “If it wasn’t for policy wouldn’t I like to show a picture like this of the Roosevelt administration,” with an arrow pointing to Fairbanks and another caption that reads, “Commander-in-chief of this paper.” Caption: Official photographer to accompany the president.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The most telling components of this cartoon — otherwise, to the public, a mundane portrayal of President Roosevelt’s penchant for hunting, and Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks’ subservience — are the scribbled commentaries by whoever organized the White House cartoon scrapbook, in which this was preserved.

Sweating, President Roosevelt attempts to fit an enormous “railroad speech” in his suitcase as he packs on top of a bear rug. A boy holds a smaller roll and says, “Papa, here’s some of the speech you overlooked.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Cartoonist Frank S. Bowers knew what he was talking about — or drawing about — in his comment on President Roosevelt’s “Railroad” speech. It was delivered in Indianapolis on Memorial Day, May 30, and attracted widespread attention, which is what the president hoped.

President Roosevelt jousts with a “trust” octopus as he holds a dove in his right hand. “San Juan Hill” is in the background.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-02

William H. Taft hands Frank H. Hitchcock a medal labeled “Postmaster General” and pronounces him the winner of the “Great American Road Roller Race,” while an animated President Roosevelt appears jubilant and dances in the background.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-28

Several Democratic leaders pull at ropes tied together. Senator Arthur P. Gorman and Representative William Bourke Cockran pull against each other on the “tariff question,” William Jennings Bryan and Grover Cleveland pull against each other on the “money question,” and August Belmont and William Randolph Hearst pull against each other on the “trust question.” Caption: Think of Gorman agreeing with Cochran on the tariff question. Think of Bryan agreeing with Cleveland on the money question. Think of reconciling the words of their platform and their candidate on the Philippine question. Think of Belmont harmonizing with Hearst on the trust question.—Senator Beveridge’s Tomlinson Hall Speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-10

An ice pitcher features Alton B. Parker’s face while a coffee pot features President Roosevelt’s face. “The working man” is seated and has a coffee cup and glass in front of him. Caption: “I thank Mr. Bryan for his suggestion of the water pitcher. It puts the party difference in their proper contrast—the Republican party and coffee pot; the opposition and the freezing water pitcher, and let the voter take his choice.”—Senator Beveridge at Evansville.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-06

President Roosevelt and Alton B. Parker, dressed as police men, use batons to attempt to wake up a sleeping elephant and donkey respectively in “Presidential Park.” Caption: “Will the ‘hot-foot’ wake them up?”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-08