The village blacksmith

A large man labeled “Big Shipper” appears as a blacksmith holding a diminutive man labeled “Small shipper” on an anvil labeled “The Rail Road” and striking it with a hammer labeled “Rebates.” On the floor at his feet is a pile of coins labeled “Illegitimate Profits,” and eager schoolchildren (Nelson W. Aldrich, Chauncey M. Depew, Thomas Collier Platt, and others) gather at the entryway hoping to “catch the burning sparks that fly like chaff from the threshing floor.” Includes verse.

Comments and Context

This cartoon by Udo J. Keppler appeared only two weeks before the passage of the Hepburn Act, the long-awaited, intensely contentious, law that granted the Interstate Commerce Commission power to review and cap railroad rates; extending regulatory jurisdiction over lines and competition; and eliminated rebates and free passes. The Hepburn Act technically was a group of amendments to the toothless Interstate Commerce Act of 1887.

Its passage revolutionized fairer commerce and let small railroads establish themselves and compete, especially in under-served areas of the United States, which in turn spurred further development of the continent’s farming and small manufacturing activities.

President Roosevelt had taken an active role in the nuts-and-bolts of the railroad rate legislation that, among other aspects, virtually represented a generational battle in American politics — the Old Guard vs. young Insurgents / Progressives; old Populist Democrats and young Republican reformers; powerful trusts holding out against the move toward smaller entrepreneurs; Reactionary Republicans (represented in the doorway by interested senators Finance Chair Nelson Aldrich of Rhode Island); Chauncey M. Depew and Thomas Collier Platt of New York; Stephen B. Elkins of West Virginia; and W. P. Hepburn of Iowa.

Puck was sufficiently cynical about the bill’s passage even three weeks beforehand — and just as cynical that it actually would deliver reform. So it warned, or predicted, that the rail Trust would prevail in its hammering of small entrepreneurs.

The bill’s gestation was characterized by wild peregrinations. It also amended parts of Senator Elkins’ 1903 law, which also weakly advanced regulations. At various points Senator Aldrich, generally a friend of monopolies like the Railroad Trust, tried to kill the bill with numerous amendments; and even named a Southern Democrat foe of President Roosevelt, as floor manager, an unprecedented maneuver.

Yet the bill became law on June 29, 1906. Some parties were displeased, of course, but Roosevelt’s middle path and attractive compromises carried the day. Typically (and never publicly stated) the president sought to avoid hidebound reaction that preserved injustices, and, on the other hand, a growing movement that advocated state ownership of the railroads.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1906-06-13

Creator(s)

Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956

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

Cartoon

Rights

These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.

Citation