Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909

An angry Uncle Sam holds up a lantern labeled “Congressional Legislation” to illuminate a rotund man wearing a crown labeled “Trusts” and a robe decorated with dollar signs. The man has a ring with many keys hanging from a cord around his waist, and he is sitting on a stack of books that are labeled “Day Book, Ledger, Entry Book, Stock Book, [and] Cash Book.” He has his right hand on an open book. All the books are locked with padlocks. Caption: Uncle Sam — You’re a powerful big man, and you have your uses. But if you’re honest why do you hide in the dark? – Open up those books!

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Pughe’s cartoon is on a theme that often had been visited by cartoonists and editorial writers for decades in criticism of the trusts and monopolies: publicity. Reformers knew that the glare of public scrutiny would accelerate the demise, or at least the more onerous practices, of rapacious business combinations. The seeds planted by critics bore fruit in the century’s first decade from new unlikely sources — the presidency, under Theodore Roosevelt, and the “Muckrakers” (by coincidence, Roosevelt’s term) who, in print of both fiction and exposes, eviscerated the corruption and venality of monopolists. 

Prince Henry is pictured in a half-length portrait, left profile. Puck holds up a stein and offers a toast while standing on top of a building that is draped with American and German flags.

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The figure of Puck, symbol of the eponymous magazine, which was originally a German-language weekly, shows his true colors in this cover cartoon — the red, white, and blue,’ and Germany’s tricolor red, white, and black. Puck stands atop his New York City headquarters, the Puck Building, on the corner of Houston and Mulberry Streets. Prince Heinrich (Henry), grandson of England’s Queen Victoria and brother of the Kaiser Wilhelm II, visited America early in 1902 to congratulate the new president and to pick up his American-built yacht, the Meteor. His handsome good looks and engaging personality won the affection of many Americans as Prince Henry toured many American cities. The cartoonist of the Chicago Tribune drew a popular series, “Prince Henry’s Visit to America,” fanciful but clearly documenting the public’s adulation. The first major State Dinner of the Roosevelt administration was a lavish dinner in Prince Henry’s honor, and young Alice Roosevelt was asked to christen the Meteor — another hit with the public.

George F. Hoar sits on the U.S. Capitol dome using a telegraph to send a “wireless” message “Keep it up! We are with you!” across a body of water to the insurgent forces fighting against American troops in the Philippines. At the base of the Capitol are several men waving “Anti-Expansion” banners.

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Republican Senator George Frisbie Hoar of Massachusetts was the most prominent sitting politician in the small but influential band of anti-Imperialists following the Spanish-American War. Mark Twain, William Jennings Bryan, and a number of prominent newspaper editors were loudly opposed to expansion. This cartoon by Pughe was published at a time when American troops were dying in American efforts to pacify the Philippines, and suggested that aid and comfort were being telegraphed to the rebels. “Wireless telegraphy” was a recent innovation, so the cartoonist included a popular topic in that regard.

Uncle Sam, John Bull, and “Japan” as dogs stand in an open doorway, the door labeled “China Trade.” Caption: The way to keep the door open is not to let it be closed.

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The situation depicted in this cartoon uncharacteristically does not reflect reality, as many contemporary political cartoons do. As the Boxer Rebellion ended, the eight Colonial powers alternately saved face and withdrew from China, but also committed harsh atrocities and imposed punitive penalties and reparations on the Chinese. There were no actual guarantors of the peace, or aftermath, although Russia and Japan, largely due to propinquity, assumed dominant status in certain regions, thus inviting friction that erupted into the Russo-Japanese War a few years subsequent. Some nations received lands and ports as part of reparations, such as Great Britain with Hong Kong. Under Theodore Roosevelt, the United States claimed no land, and the scheduled reparation payments paid by the Chinese Dynasty were transferred in full to Chinese students studying in the United States, and who intended to return to China.

A fox labeled “France” and the Russian Bear walk away from a grape arbor labeled “Anglo-Japanese Alliance.” They have tried the grapes and found them not palatable.

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This seemingly innocent anthropomorphic cartoon ably suggests the troubling and complicated situation of international politics leading to the Great War a dozen years in its future. Treaties, “understandings,” secret alliances — some of them broken, and shifting — starting about the time of this cartoon are major factors in the cauldron that armed the Guns of August (1914, the commencement of continental hostilities). Great Britain ended a generation of “splendid isolation” — avoiding entangling alliances — with the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of 1902, the grape arbor of this cartoon. England’s concern partly was animated by a desire to counter Russia’s stated expansionist goals. France, which had treaty “obligations” with Russia, suddenly realized the possibility of being squeezed by powers from the east and west in the event of conflict. So Russia and Japan had reasons not to savor the grapes in the cartoon. A significant aspect of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty inured to the benefit of the United States and Theodore Roosevelt. During the negotiations he hosted to end the Russo-Japanese War two years subsequent, he was able to call upon Great Britain and its special relationship with Tokyo for assistance and back-channel communications. In the same manner also, Germany, tellingly absent from the 1902 round of alliances, was useful when Roosevelt recruited Kaiser Wilhelm to play a role with his cousin Czar Nicholas.

In the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol, a large cat with papers tied around its waist labeled “Ship Subsidy Bill” is making a mad dash for a door as senators throw ink pots and books at it while Mark Hanna tries to get them to stop. Senators Vest and Tillman are identified in the foreground as being in opposition to the bill.

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There was a sort of “perfect storm” that doomed the Ship Subsidy Bill in 1902. The American shipbuilding industry was thriving on its own and was not in dire need of subsidies. For instance, Germany’s Prince Henry, an admiral, had recently visited the United States to take possession of his American-built yacht Meteor. However, J. P. Morgan, new chief of trusts, including steel, that had interests in building ships and in international oceanbound trade, desired government subsidies. (When Morgan failed to secure American subsidies he shifted his designs to England where, among other moves, he engaged Bruce Ismay to help him purchase the White Star Line, whose ships eventually included Titanic.) Two of the states, and therefore two of the senators, most desirous of shipbuilding subsidies were Pennsylvania and Ohio, which is why Mark Hanna is shown trying to protect the cat in this cartoon. In addition to the logical economic arguments against handouts, and a rising public tide against trusts, there was resentment of Senator Hanna, even from Republican senatorial rivals.

An eagle labeled “Germany” and the Russian Bear relax after eating. Bones labeled “Shan-Tung” and “Manchuria” lie at their feet. Caption: Russia and Germany — Of course we want peace. It isn’t wise to exercise on a full stomach.

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Pughe’s cartoon is a bit disingenuous, or at least only a partial treatment of the Chinese situation in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion, but the matter was muddled. In the midst of troop withdrawals and the imposition of punitive indemnities on the Chinese, there was a scramble for lands, ports, and territories. The Empress, faced with reality and desiring to keep her throne, acceded to carve-outs from her nation. It was not only the Russians and Germans who feasted. Russia and Japan, neighbors of China, received the most real estate, and Russia outright occupied Manchuria. Among other countries granted spheres of influence and long-term concessions were Great Britain (Hong Kong), Portugal (Macau), and Japan was even granted control of Taiwan. 

A wealthy old man rides in an automobile driven by his chauffeur. They are racing through the countryside during a cross-country auto race and have struck several pedestrians who are not used to encountering automobiles on country roads. Caption: Owner (to Chauffeur) — Don’t stop! It only costs about ten dollars apiece to run them down. I must break the record even if it costs a hundred!

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The automobile, a new-fangled toy of the rich in 1902 when Pughe’s cartoon appeared, was a luxury such that “normal” transportation as we know it today was not its main function; joy rides and extravagant excursions were. Only in Detroit and Cleveland, major centers of auto manufacturing, were autos common and driven by owners, not chauffeurs for the most part. In 1900, 20 miles per hour was considered excessive and dangerous, and a decade later 40 miles per hour was likewise regarded. At the time of Pughe’s cartoon, America knew no such things as stop signs, warning signs or signals, traffic lights, traffic cops, drivers’ licenses, lane markings, brake lights, windshield wipers, or speed limits. “Turtle turns” (cars flipped over) and fatalities, usually pedestrians including many children, were not uncommon.

A British bulldog labeled “Commercial Interests” stands before a plate of food labeled “American Products.” He is looking across a small body of water at four cats labeled “France, Italy, Austria, [and] Germany” sitting on a fence labeled “Continental Jealousy” and flying a banner “Commercial Tariff Blockade.” The bulldog is chained to a dog house draped with British and American flags and a with a sign on the front that states “England Biggest Consumer of American Goods — [as per article in the] London Times.” Caption: There is no danger of a European combination while his appetite lasts.

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This cartoon is an example of what has since been called the “special relationship” between the United States and Great Britain. High tariffs in America and England worked to mutual advantage. England’s commercial dominance in the world was long-standing, and its continental relations were set. To the United States, trade favors with England seemed satisfactory until the commercial appetites of the rest of the world became clear. A decade after this cartoon, President William Howard Taft sought to mend this situation by futilely proposing a series of reciprocal trade treaties.

An old man labeled “Millionaire” sits in a chair atop a pile of moneybags, bemoaning the fact that he now has little time to give away his money in a satisfactory manner. On the left are the church and the university looking for contributions and on the right are the hated “Relatives” looking to inherit new found wealth. Caption: “If I had begun earlier I might have had some fun in giving it away. Now I must leave it either to relatives whom I hate or to churches and colleges in which I have no interest.[“]

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-08-07

Thomas W. Lawson, with his America’s Cup entry “Independence,” and Nathanael G. Herreshoff with his America’s Cup entry “Constitution,” console each other after their yachts initially were denied entry in the America’s Cup challenge in 1901.

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Thomas W. Lawson was a wealthy American financier born into poverty and, ironically, lived in poverty when he died. One of his passions was yacht racing. He balked at the requirement to join the New York Yacht Club in order to race his yacht “Independence” in the 1901 America’s Cup. Several years after this cartoon, the rebellious Lawson wrote a series of magazine articles, “Frenzied Finance,” discussing corruption among the business class “from the inside,” and became one of the early Muckrakers. This cartoon is a snapshot in time: Nathaniel Greene Herreshoff built the yacht “Constitution” for J. P. Morgan. It encountered initial problems in registering for the race, but eventually the “Constitution” was ratified, raced, and won the America’s Cup in 1901, the second cup for a boat designed and built by Herreshoff.

Uncle Sam, as a large rooster, stands among several small free-ranging chicks labeled “Argentine Republic, Guatemala, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Salvador, Peru, [and] Hayti [sic].” Confined to a “European Coop” labeled “Monroe Doctrine” are five roosters labeled “Russia, England, France, Germany, [and] Italy.” Caption: Europe — You’re not the only rooster in South America! Uncle Sam — I was aware of that when I cooped you up!

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The ancient Monroe Doctrine was articulated in 1823, in President James Monroe’s Annual Message. Actually formulated and written by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, it warned world powers to cease imperialist meddling in the Western hemisphere, while promising no interference from the United States in existing European colonies. President Roosevelt, in his own Annual Message of 1904, added teeth in what came to be called the “Roosevelt Corollary To the Monroe Doctrine.” Fresh on the heels of Great Britain and Germany attempting to collect debts from Venezuela by military threats, Roosevelt asserted that when necessary, the United States would act as a stern middleman, for instance, forcing South American countries to live up to international obligations, but it would not allow foreign powers to seek colonial advantages in such disputes.

The emperors of Russia, Japan, and Germany, and the king of Great Britain each hold a balance scale, and all but “Japan” hold a paper that states their country’s “claim for indemnity.” They are confronting a kneeling, shocked Chinese man labeled “China.” In the background, on the right, Puck is handing a cap and gown to Uncle Sam, suggesting that he play the role of “Portia” and outwit the “Shylocks.” Caption: Puck (to Uncle Sam). — That poor fellow needs a Portia. Why don’t you take the part?

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In a somewhat inverted depiction of the actual situation in China as the Boxer Rebellion reached its most dangerous threats to colonial powers, the cowering Chinese figure is being pressured to deliver multiple pounds of flesh, in the cartoon’s reference point: Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. Also unique to cartoonist Pughe’s point of view is that Uncle Sam (the United States) was acting differently than the other colonial nations, which was not quite true.

The rulers of “Russia,” “Germany,” “Italy,” “Austria,” “France,” and “England” are chickens trying to hatch a large egg labeled “China.” A chicken labeled “Japan” stands in the background with Uncle Sam, also as a chicken, perched on a fence in the rear.

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This is one of dozens of cartoons published during the Boxer Rebellion that depicts the conflict as merely intractable or challenging rather than as an insoluble crisis. The cartoonist also perpetuates the situation as being one where the United States (Uncle Sam) is nothing more than an observer. In truth, U. S. Marines played a major role in defending the besieged legations and defeating the Chinese insurgents.

The Russian bear, wearing a military uniform and with sword drawn, stands on one side of a ditch. Facing the bear on the other side of the ditch are various rulers, including “Japan,” “Germany,” “France,” “Italy,” and “Austria,” as well as John Bull representing “England” and Uncle Sam, standing, holding rifles with fixed bayonets. Behind them sits a man labeled “China,” laughing.

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Western nations and Japan, in the last chapters of the Boxer Rebellion, had to deal with what was almost a rear-guard movement — the forces of the Russian Czar were attempting to profit from the chaos and preoccupation in the Celestial City. It was a foreshadowing of Russia (Soviet, not Imperial) declaring war on Japan, scant days before its surrender in World War II. J. S. Pughe’s cartoon suggests that the Western and Japanese nations were beneficent, perhaps welcome, protectors of China, which was not the case, at least in the Chinese view.

Representatives of the “Democratic, Republican, Populist, [and] Prohibition” parties carry a larger-than-life-sized President William McKinley on a sedan chair, and wave their hats as a show of support for McKinley’s policies. Behind them, on the right, are standing William Jennings “Bryan,” former senator George Frisbie “Hoar,” and Edward “Atkinson” (head of the Anti-Imperialist League) dressed like Filipinos. The U.S. Capitol building is in the background. Caption: All parties support him now, – except the unreconstructed Filipinos.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-05-29

Charles M. Schwab, holding a moneybag labeled “Schwab,” stands next to Andrew Carnegie who is sitting on the ground, holding a moneybag labeled “Carnegie” and with a basket labeled “$10,000,000 for Scotch Universities” overflowing with money next to him. Schwab gestures toward factories on the left as he addresses Carnegie. In the background, on the right, is a line of old men wearing caps and gowns and carrying “Diplomas” under their arms, emerging from a building labeled “University.” Caption: Schwab (to Carnegie). — This is the school most people must go to, and the one that has always turned out the biggest men. That other school is for the few and is already turning out too many doctors, ministers, lawyers and clerks. Don’t you think we ought to improve conditions in our school rather than in that other one?

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Of interest in this Puck cartoon is the manner of Pughe’s caricatures of the titans of finance. At one time, Puck and other reform periodicals cast critical eyes on men of extreme wealth, the implication being that their fortunes were gained as the result of market manipulation or crushing of competitors. When the wealthy became philanthropists, in effect recycling their gains, they were portrayed more kindly, as in this cartoon. 

John D. Rockefeller, Jr., wearing a huge crown and robe, stands on an oil storage tank labeled “Standard Oil” and glares at the viewer. The crown is adorned with railroad cars, oil tanks, and the names of four railroad companies: “Lehigh Valley R.R., St. Paul R.R., Jersey Central R.R., [and] Reading Rail Road,” and topped with a dollar sign.

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What is not said or shown in this cartoon is the reality of “Trust Question.” John D Rockefeller, Jr., managing most of the family business, as it were, not only controlled a monopoly on oil, but many railroads needed to transport and market that oil. It was necessary that he make alliances with various railroad barons; which led to rate-fixing schemes. Steel was needed in countless enterprises, so partnerships were struck with Andrew Carnegie and other steel magnates, including, in turn, coal trusts. Financing for these activities was needed, and the J. P. Morgan was intimately involved in commercial enterprises. The United States was threatened to be run by the trusts as much as the national government or private enterprise, an urgent situation addressed by Theodore Roosevelt when he became president. 

William Jennings Bryan is a large spider labeled “Free Silver” with three flies labeled “White, Schurz, [and] Godkin” caught in his web labeled “16 to 1,” “Anti-expansion,” “Chicago Platform,” and “Bryanism.”

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The radical economic policies and agrarian roots of William Jennings Bryan kept many Eastern, aristocratic liberals from making alliance with his Populist-based campaigns. The old-line liberal reformers Horace White, Carl Schurz, and Edwin Godkin — all on the staffs of the New York Post and The Nation magazine — were tempted to support Bryan in his presidential candidacy of 1900 on the issues of Expansionism and anti-Imperialist views. The cartoon’s layout and labels indicate that cartoonist Pughe saw Imperialism as an issue that would lead to their doom.

William Jennings Bryan stands in the stirrups of his mount, a donkey labeled “Democracy,” directing the honor guard led by Adlai E. Stevenson, and including Henry R. Towne, Joseph Pulitzer, and Carl Schurz carrying a large flag with a portrait of Emilio Aguinaldo under the heading “The George Washington of the Philippines.” Also included are Oswald Ottendorfer, Edwin Lawrence Godkin, William Bourke Cockran, John Peter Altgeld, and William Sulzer.

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Emilio Aguinaldo’s revolutionary campaigns for Filipino independence from Spain began in the 1890s, variously as a guerilla and conventional armed insurrection, through the Spanish-American War, ultimately with and against the victorious American liberators. As a rebel leader his forces sustained and committed atrocities. He was captured and then released by President Theodore Roosevelt as part of the United States’ general amnesty, a putative end of hostilities. Aguinaldo became a hero to his countrymen and a symbol for the cause of American anti-imperialists. Of William Jennings Bryan’s ragtag “army” on this political issue, their professions provide a hint of the American movement’s constituents: Stevenson was Bryan’s running mate, committed to the Democrat party plank; Pulitzer, Schurz, Ottendorfer, and Godkin were editors and publishers; Towne was an industrialst (Yale locks); Bouke Cochran a politician and orator of unorthodox consistency; Altgeld the radical Governor of Illinois (famous for partiality to the Haymarket bombers); Sulzer a New York politcian who eventually became Governor, only to be impeached. Cartoonist Pughe clearly considered the leadership of Bryan (on an undersized donkey) and the number and prowess of the “guard” to be targets of ridicule.