If Moses came down to-day
Subject(s): Aldrich, Nelson W. (Nelson Wilmarth), 1841-1915, Belmont, Perry, 1850-1947, Big business, Black, Frank Swett, 1853-1913, Day, James Roscoe, 1845-1923, Foraker, Joseph Benson, 1846-1917, Harriman, Edward Henry, 1848-1909, Harvey, George Brinton McClellan, 1864-1928, Hill, James J. (James Jerome), 1838-1916, Interpersonal confrontation, Jewish law--Moral and ethical aspects, Moses (Biblical leader), Moses (Biblical leader) in rabbinical literature, Perkins, George W. (George Walbridge), 1862-1920, Rockefeller, John D. (John Davison), 1839-1937, Ruef, Abraham, 1864-1936, Ryan, Thomas Fortune, 1851-1928, Schmitz, Eugene E., 1864-1928
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Moses, holding the Ten Commandments, is confronted by an angry mob of capitalists, businessmen, and politicians, some shaking their fists at him. Caption: Chorus of “Conservatives” – Dangerous, socialistic, un-American doctrines!
Comments and Context
This powerful indictment of endemic corruption at the upper levels of American society was drawn by Udo J, Keppler, whose father Joseph (founder and chief cartoonist of Puck) had addressed the same issues with classic drawing like They Can’t Stand the Light, showing United States Senators shrinking from spotlights in the dark. But his son’s cartoon — of this evergreen subject — encompassed more than political corruption.
In fact only four of the major, identified figures are national politicians; the majority are business leaders, a magazine editor, and even a university president. Keppler unwittingly reinforced the view that lawlessness and compromised morality had spread throughout American life.
There are “new” faces in Keppler’s hall of shame — men not previously depicted often as those Theodore Roosevelt classified as “malefactors of great wealth.” For instance, George Harvey was the owner and editor of Harper’s Weekly and an ally of Thomas Fortune Ryan, the wall Street mogul. Keppler got “local” with the two figures next to Harvey; Abe Ruef was political boss of San Francisco and Eugene Schmitz was that city’s mayor; they were under investigation for corruption when the famous earthquake devastated the city, and continued their schemes and kickbacks during recovery. The prominent figure in the yellow vest is James Roscoe Day, president of Syracuse University, who bucked the contemporary trends by writing articles and books endorsing the practices of big business — a one-man anti_muckrake squad — like The Raid on Prosperity.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1908-03-11
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:
If Moses came down to-day. [March 11, 1908]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286063. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. If Moses came down to-day. [11 Mar. 1908]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. August 3, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286063.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1908, March 11]. If Moses came down to-day.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o286063.
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. August 3, 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.
