Dispossessed
Subject(s): Cleaning, Dunne, Edward F. (Edward Fitzsimons), 1853-1937, Government ownership, Illinois, Illinois--Chicago, Mayors, Municipal government, Street-railroads
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A depressed old man wearing formal clothing sits on the sidewalk on small railroad cars labeled “Street Railways.” In his pocket is a paper labeled “Expiring Franchises” and protruding from a bag another paper labeled “Leases.” A bundle at his feet is labeled “Boodle.” Mayor of Chicago, Edward F. Dunne, is standing in the background with a broom.
Comments and Context
This brilliant cartoon by Joseph Keppler Junior — in composition, simplicity, and humor the kind of work that enabled some readers to forget his cartoonist father — would be dispositive if published two years later. That is, the reform mayor of Chicago, Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne, is shown with the broom of reform and a crooked political boss sadly confronts his disenfranchisement from control of municipal utilities, fares, and contracts.
The flaw in the cartoon is not its delineation of issues, but its timing: Dunne was only sworn in as mayor of Chicago that very week. So Keppler’s cartoon was, he hoped, prophetic.
In fact Dunne did prove to be an effective reform mayor, achieving many of his reforms of lowered prices of water, fuel oil, and streetcar fares; and municipal ownership of public utilities. William Jennings Bryan and Cleveland’s mayor Tom L. Johnson attended his inauguration; and he appointed the young crusading lawyer Clarence Darrow as a mayoral aide.
Dunne was defeated for re-election, and again when he ran in 1911, this time to another former mayor, the reformer Carter Harrison II (at the time, Midwest mayors and governors were among the leaders in Progressive urban reform). The Democrat Dunne was elected the United States Senate in 1913 — the only person ever to have served both as mayor of Chicago and senator from Illinois — where he championed Women’s Suffrage and other progressive initiatives.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1905-04-26
Creator(s)
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
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:
Dispossessed. [April 26, 1905]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278096. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. Dispossessed. [26 Apr. 1905]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278096.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1905, April 26]. Dispossessed.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278096.
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. March 12, 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.
