The rival salvationists
Subject(s): American Republican Party, Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Competition, Gompers, Samuel, 1850-1924, Kern, John Worth, 1849-1917, Marching bands, Parker, Alton B. (Alton Brooks), 1852-1926, Presidents--Election, Sherman, J. S. (James Schoolcraft), 1855-1912, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Uncle Sam (Symbolic character), Watterson, Henry, 1840-1921
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An annoyed Uncle Sam sits against a full moon with his hands over his ears. He is caught between the noise of the “G.O.P. Salvation Army” with William H. Taft on the bass drum and James S. Sherman on the cymbals, and “The Bryan Volunteers of America” with William Jennings Bryan also on the bass drum, Samuel Gompers on the cymbals, John W. Kern singing, Alton B. Parker with a large bell, and Henry Watterson with a tambourine, among others. Uncle Sam has papers labeled “Agricultural Prospects” and “Industrial Reports” spread across his lap, “Crop Forecast” in his pocket, and is sitting on papers labeled “Resumption of Business.”
Comments and Context
In 1880, Joseph Keppler, founder of Puck and father of Udo J. Keppler, who drew this cartoon, published a similar drawing of partisans of Ulysses S. Grant as the “Political Army of Salvation” — annoyingly singing, banging drums, and parading on behalf of a third term for Grant.
Puck and other journals frequently used the Salvation Army as a cartoon prop or metaphor. It was new in American society — Salvationists arrived from their home base in England in May 1880, and they made such an impression with their methods of street evangelism that Keppler was able to construct a cartoon idea that readers would understand.
The movement, now a denomination of almost two-million members in more than 120 countries, grew from Arminian, Holiness, and Methodist church traditions, and is marked by a leadership structure modeled on the military; and its widespread charity work.
Udo Keppler’s remarkable cartoon is notable in two aspects: his utter mastery of caricature and exaggerated anatomy, those features, however, never interfering with his concept. Further, students will note that Puck‘s certain theme, at least the commencement of the 1908 campaign, reinforced week after week, was that whatever criticism Puck deigned to share was apportioned in equal measure to each political party.
And among the hoariest of the cartoon’s many merciless caricatures was Judge Alton B. Parker, retired from the bench and four years subsequent to being Puck‘s “white knight” to redeem the Democratic Party as 1904 presidential candidate. By the time of this cartoon, he was howling for Bryan too.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1908-09-02
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:
The rival salvationists. [September 2, 1908]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o287235. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. The rival salvationists. [2 Sep. 1908]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o287235.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1908, September 2]. The rival salvationists.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o287235.
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. February 13, 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.
