Payne, Charles M., 1873-1964

“The investor” sits in a tree holding onto a bag of money while President Roosevelt grabs “the sheep’s clothing” off the “financial wolf” at the base of the tree.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

A Republican elephant and Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker sit in an “Ohio Rep. Convention” boat as Foraker says, “Get into the boat!” Ohio Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna holds a broom as he points toward a “Roosevelt sentiment” wave. Hanna says, “We’d better sweep it to one side at present.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Inspired by the legend of King Canute and his efforts to sweep back the tide, cartoonist Charles M. Payne drew a typically handsome and politically prescient portrayal of the advance run-up to the 1904 Republican presidential convention.

President Roosevelt chops a large log labeled “the strenuous life” while a raccoon looks on, “He’s always gettin’ a hump on.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Cartoonist Charles M. Payne, later famous over a long career for comic strips like S’Matter, Pop?, responded to headlines with this political cartoon — using familiar image of a strenuous President Roosevelt, and the context of a happy (“Roosevelt-mad”) Egypt.

President Roosevelt holds a big stick as he steps on the footprints of “government evils” and says, “Me for disarmament? No!” A raccoon behind him holds a stick with an exposed nail in the top of it and says, “Naw!!”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Artist Charles M. Payne created a virtual textbook example of an effective political cartoon in this example from the Pittsburgh Times — handsome simplicity, clever use of multiple icons, and faithful reference to pertinent news of the moment. President Roosevelt uses his “Big Stick” not just in international diplomacy, but in domestic politics, pursuing wrong-doers and government corruption.

President Roosevelt pulls a cart labeled “For Bear” as bear footprints walk away from where he stands in all directions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-20

President Roosevelt watches as men representing the coal miners and operators walk out opposite doors. Uncle Sam stands behind Roosevelt. The cartoon is regarding the presidential conference on the coal strike.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-04

President Roosevelt is dressed as a Rough Rider and has roped two cows to his horse labeled The Far West and The Far East respectively.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-29

President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan appear dressed as school children. Bryan is crying because Roosevelt has stolen his piece of fruit labeled “The Trust Issue” and is about to take a bite out of it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-27

Father Pitt sits at a desk completing invitations to the Fourth of July celebration. A list on his wall shows that President Roosevelt has accepted his invitation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-20

As Father Pitt looks on, two men dressed as children paint a sign for the “Greatest Show on Earth, July 4th,” which will include fireworks, greased pig and other contests, and President Roosevelt’s appearance,

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-07

An army officer is shown gagged and being insulted by various members of Congress. Cartoon is regarding Roosevelt’s gag order on General Funston.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-04-26

“Opposition” men run away as “Miss Democracy” holds a broom, prepared for the “Roosevelt nomination” wave.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-19

A “Penn G.O.P.” elephant carries a “Roosevelt” flag and a number of men playing trumpets with the word “harmony” coming out as the elephant walks toward the White House. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-31

President Roosevelt holds a sword in a man’s stomach as a Democratic donkey attaches a paper that says “blame” to his clothing. At the man’s feet is a paper that reads, “Postal frauds: born during Cleveland Administration—discovered and destroyed by Roosevelt Administration.” A raccoon gestures at Roosevelt and the donkey and says, “Now wouldn’t that jar you?”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-02

A Democratic donkey frantically attempts to divert the “Republican presidential nomination” train from its course heading “to Roosevelt.” A raccoon runs up to him, “Hey! You don’t work on this line!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-25

Ohio Senators Marcus Alonzo Hanna and Joseph Benson Foraker both try to drive the Republican elephant. Foraker points toward the “immediate endorsement entrance” that has a sign: “to the Roosevelt enclosure.” A little raccoon says, “Come on!!” Hanna points to the “later endorsement entrance.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The early, political-cartooning period, of the great American comic-strip artist Charles M. Payne is unjustly neglected by historians. Payne possessed a wonderful comic style that invited readers’ eyes into his compositions, and filled his drawings with masterful caricatures and distinctive shading. In this cartoon the cross-hatching, shading, lettering, and perspective make the cartoon interest before the concept is appreciated.

President Roosevelt’s “letter of acceptance” spotlight sheds light on a “Democratic mule” with a number of tags on its jacket: “free trade fallacy,” “absurd theories,” “unsettled financial policy,” “shifting foreign policy,” and “promises to Wall St.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-13