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Ehrhart, S. D. (Samuel D.), approximately 1862-1937

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Tammany’s anti-trust game

Tammany’s anti-trust game

Cartoon showing Richard Croker, leader of New York City’s Democrat machine Tammany Hall, as a laborer carrying a block of ice labeled “Ice Trust” and a sheet of paper “N.Y Dock privileges;” he cries out, “Stop thief,” while himself being pursued by an angry mob of citizens.

Comments and Context

Richard Croker, the boss of New York City’s corrupt Democratic machine Tammany Hall, ruled his domain so strongly that he even lived away from New York for three years — in England, where the Irish-born politician raised racehorses on an estate — controlling events through cables and assistants. However, in 1900 the city was in a crisis, a heat wave where ice prices doubled. The poor suffered, but the commodity was in the hands of one supplier, the American Ice Company, owned by Charles Morse. Among Croker’s emoluments were “gifts” of stock in the ice company, more properly the “ice trust,” or monopoly. The public was outraged, especially as Croker tried to hide behind criticism of trusts in general. He eventually quit politics, succeeded at Tammany Hall by Charles F. Murphy.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

If they’ll only be good

If they’ll only be good

Uncle Sam stands at center, gesturing to the left toward American soldiers boarding ships to return to America after defeating the Spanish in the Philippines, and gesturing to the right toward a group of matronly women, one labeled “Daughters of the Revolution,” who have just arrived to educate the peoples of the Philippines. Caption: Uncle Sam–You have seen what my sons can do in war – now see what my daughters can do in peace.

Comments and Context

Ehrhart’s cartoon perfectly illustrates the United States’ stated intention toward the Philippine Islands after Spain’s surrender in the Spanish-American War, moreover, President McKinley’s goal of “Christianizing” the natives. He declared this goal after he was reluctantly persuaded to declare war and the post-war reality was different, as rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo fiercely resisted the American occupiers in what would be several years of bloody guerrilla battles. The cartoon intended to portray noble intentions, yet was somewhat patronizing — among the women uplifters is a domestic servant with a carpet-beater, implying that natives lacked basic customs of cleanliness. 

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs