All time heap much trouble, wow!!

A group of senators (labeled Aldrich, Frye, Spooner, Penrose, Tillman, Bailey, Foraker, and Elkins) dressed as Native Americans perform a war dance around a totem pole with the face of President Theodore Roosevelt carved at the top. A drum labeled “The Press” is in the foreground while “Tom” and “Chauncey” stand in the background. Caption: Recent despatches from the Washington reservation report that the Senator Indians are again on the war path.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Udo J. Keppler — after his father’s death known as Joseph Keppler, Junior — was an owner and chief cartoonist on Puck magazine. Rather neglected by history, and not as celebrated as his father, he arguably was the better artist, and a potent editorialist. During the first decade of the century, while the venerable Puck went downhill in circulation, the political viewpoints of Keppler and his staff evolved from conservative Democrat to Rooseveltian reformist to insurgent to radical-progressive.

This cartoon is more observational than tendentious, but allowed the artist to display his utter mastery of anatomy, as well as his affinity for Native American customs and lore. He and another Puck cartoonist, Will Crawford, developed an interest in Indian tribes and their status. Keppler became an advocate before his retirement around 1915, until his death in 1956. He was active with the Seneca tribe of the Iroquois Nation, who named him an honorary chief. So this cartoon was informed by, and by no means ridiculed, Indian rites.

Among the misconceptions about totem poles is that they were religious. In fact some had details of spiritual significance, but generally they told stories through the carved signs and symbols — of leaders, events, sometimes memorable hunts or personalities. In that sense, even physically they mirrored Trajan’s Column and other expressions in other civilizations. Similarly, Indian dances existed for myriad reasons and varied from tribe to tribe, always elaborate in form and intention. Dances were celebratory, or to invoke favorable weather, or (as popularly believed) as preparations for war.

Indeed, some dances around a totem pole’s erection, or preparatory to carving, started at patlachs (the possible origin of “pot luck” get-togethers) and occasionally evolved into war-dances either dedicated to a looming conflict, or in memory of a victorious encounter.

Keppler’s drawing at first glance might seem to suggest the warriors are somehow worshiping President Roosevelt, who face is atop the totem. But their antagonistic fervor and contorted faces shows that the president is the target of their ire. All the figures are senators of the day, but only two are Democrats: Joseph Weldon Bailey of Texas and Benjamin Tillman of South Carolina. The rest of the figures are Republicans — even, not dancing but happily observing, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks. The warriors are Old Guard Republicans, in firm control of the Upper House, but having been outmaneuvered, forced to compromise, and out-voted time after time in 1906. A sweeping reform agenda of anti-trust, Pure Food, Meat Inspection, Railroad regulation, and other reforms were enacted into law. A combination of public pressure, Muckrakers’ exposures, freshman senate insurgents, and the relentless work of Roosevelt had the old chiefs on the run time after time.

So those “Stand Pat” old chiefs agreed in 1907 to thwart the president and his reform agenda more forcefully; and they did. Despite their dwindling ranks and national influence, the reactionary senators were a thorn in Roosevelt’s side until he left office in 1909 — even going to petty lengths like refusing to have his messages to the senate read aloud as was traditional.

The reader can be assured that, even with elderly and corpulent senators as models, Keppler’s depiction of the body painting, native dress, tattoos, drums, and tomahawks are spot-on, as are the venomous expressions on the frustrated faces.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1907-01-16

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