A prophecy of 1908
Subject(s): Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Cannon, Joseph Gurney, 1836-1926, Congresses and conventions, Democratic Party (U.S.), Fairbanks, Charles W. (Charles Warren), 1852-1918, Foraker, Joseph Benson, 1846-1917, Hearst, William Randolph, 1863-1951, Hughes, Charles Evans, 1862-1948, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Johnson, John Albert, 1861-1909, Minnesota, New York (State), Ohio, Presidents--Nomination, Republican National Convention, Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ), Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Shaw, Leslie M. (Leslie Mortier), 1848-1932, Socialism, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
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William H. Taft stands with a gavel in his hand as the delegates select President Roosevelt as the nominee. In the audience are Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. A balloon in the top right-hand corner shows William Jennings Bryan and William Randolph Hearst holding signs that read, “Gov’t Ownership” and “Socialism” respectively as they step on Minnesota Governor John Albert Johnson.
Comments and Context
Whether cartoonist Tyler McWhorter drew this cartoon as a prophecy or a hopeful dream, it was another cartoonist’s speculation on whether President Roosevelt would break his pledge of Election Night 1904 that he would not allow his name to be put into nomination in 1908. With its long caption, it also might have been an illustration for an article, or part of series. In any event the St. Paul Dispatch drawing was pasted in the White scrapbook, and presumably seen by the president.
The cartoon in the St. Paul Dispatch, owned by the Ridder Brothers who founded the Knight-Ridder chain, paid homage to Roosevelt — in fact with a quite complimentary caricature of William H. Taft and neutral depictions of other presidential rivals; and as a proper Republican paper, lampooned the two leading candidates for the Democratic nomination, the radicals William Jennings Bryan and William Randolph Hearst, shown trampling the governor of the paper’s home state, John Albert Johnson.
Johnson had harbored presidential ambitions but only went public at an absurdly late point in the process; it is possible that Democrats wary of a third Bryan candidacy but not enamored of the quasi-Socialist (at that stage of his career) Hearst might have turned to Johnson. Bryan ultimately secured the nomination… and another November defeat.
In the cartoon fantasy, despite Roosevelt’s protestations, all the presidential hopefuls withdraw and endorse the president to whom they point.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-03
Creator(s)
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Page Count
1
Production Method
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:
A prophecy of 1908. [March 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301464. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
McWhorter, Tyler, 1869-1947. A prophecy of 1908. [Mar 1907]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301464.
APA:
McWhorter, Tyler, 1869-1947., [1907, March]. A prophecy of 1908.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301464.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
