The Phoenix of prosperity
Subject(s): Big business, Cornucopias
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A female figure labeled “Prosperity” holds a cornucopia labeled “Legitimate Business” overflowing with coins and papers labeled “Increased exports, Good crop reports, Higher wages, Larger R.R. earnings, [and] Trade ascendancy.” She is rising from the flames of “Watered stocks, Wildcat schemes, Mad speculation, Undigested securities, False values, [and] Overcapitalization.”
Comments and Context
Puck was never in the business of promoting or electing Republicans, but it did always claim to be independent. In the early years of the Theodore Roosevelt presidency, the traditionally Democratic-leaning magazine proved its fair-minded approach by praising the policy initiatives and successes of the new president. It should be recognized that in the eyes of many eastern Democrats, the national party control by William Jennings Bryan was odious, and by general consensus Roosevelt’s policies indeed attracted unprecedented support throughout society.
Keppler’s center-spread cartoon could fairly serve as a campaign poster for the Republican Party — less than a year before its presidential nominating convention — and its list of accomplishments and trampled old practices could have suggested the question, “Are you tired of wining?” Roosevelt’s early achievements were remarkable in scope and effect.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1903-08-05
Creator(s)
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
The Phoenix of prosperity. [August 5, 1903]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277336. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. The Phoenix of prosperity. [5 Aug. 1903]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. April 2, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277336.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1903, August 5]. The Phoenix of prosperity.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277336.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. April 2, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
