The most important thing in the universe

Two Martians, one holding a telescope and yawning, express relief now that the election for governor of New York has been decided (in favor of Charles Evans Hughes). In the background, on planet Earth, fireworks mark the celebration in New York. Caption: The Martians — Yag be thanked, it’s all over! We can get a little sleep now that we know how the New York election came out.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Puck perennially faced the challenge of addressing current events, and its readership expecting pertinent commentary, when the exigencies of deadlines — planning, writing and drawing, printing, distribution — sometimes meant that issues actually were prepared ten days or so in advance of the cover dates. It was only a real problem at election times.

Through the years Puck met the challenge by showing political parties shaking hands, no mention of the candidates; Judge‘s cartoonist once drew a campaign train in an awful smash-up, leaving the face of the losing candidate to be drawn in the moments prior to publication. In this issue, cartoonist L. M. Glackens pictures election turmoil on faraway earth while two Martians refer to the election, but not the winner.

There had been a tussle between Republican leaders over who should receive their party’s nomination. Three names were in contention, but President Roosevelt, as the national party leader and a former New York governor, desired party unity. He imposed (“suggested”) a compromise candidate, Charles Evans Hughes, the private attorney who had notably cleaned the stables of the corrupt insurance industry in 1905 and 1906.

Hughes, the white knight, arguably owed Roosevelt his subsequent success as a two-term governor, twice a Supreme Court justice, a Republican presidential candidate, and a Secretary of State.

Hearst lost, but Hughes squeaked out a victory with only 50.2 per cent of the vote. If Puck‘s relentless attacks and ridicule, were responsible for affecting enough deciding votes, it would not have been the first time in its history.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1906-11-07

Creator(s)

Glackens, L. M. (Louis M.), 1866-1933

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