A chance at last
Subject(s): Camels, Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908, Democratic Party (U.S.), Deserts, Gorman, Arthur P. (Arthur Pue), 1839-1906, Hearst, William Randolph, 1863-1951, Hill, David B. (David Bennett), 1843-1910, Journalism, Olney, Richard, 1835-1917, Parker, Alton B. (Alton Brooks), 1852-1926, Presidents--Election, Williams, John Sharp, 1854-1932
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Alton B. Parker, David B. Hill, John Sharp Williams, Arthur P. Groman, Richard Olney, and Grover Cleveland ride on a camel labeled “Reorganization” crossing the “Desert of Bryanism.” William Jennings Bryan tries to hold back the camel by the tail, and William Randolph Hearst tries to prevent Bryan from being pulled along toward an “Oasis” labeled “Sane Democracy.”
Comments and Context
Starting around 1902, Puck assayed the Democratic field of possible presidential candidates to run against the incumbent, President Roosevelt. The pack of conservative, “Bourbon,” and “Gold” Democrats — opponents of William Jennings Bryan and a third nomination by him or a follower (such as publisher William Randolph Hearst) — usually included the same faces, reflecting the national political machinations.
Shown here are those players, with the addition of John Sharp Williams of Mississippi, Democrat leader of the United States House of Representatives. Judge Alton Brooks Parker, a dark horse significantly placed by cartoonist Pughe at the front of the camel riders, was subtly boosted by party insiders. David B. Hill was a former New York governor and senator; Arthur Pue Gorman of Maryland had returned to the United States Senate and was the party’s chairman. Richard Olney, former Secretary of State, once harbored presidential ambitions himself, but at this time was futilely urging his onetime mentor, Grover Cleveland, to run for president a fourth time, for a third term.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1904-05-04
Creator(s)
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909
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:
A chance at last. [May 4, 1904]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277816. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909. A chance at last. [4 May. 1904]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277816.
APA:
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909., [1904, May 4]. A chance at last.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277816.
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. February 26, 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.
