Cutting another notch in the big stick

President Roosevelt cuts another notch—”federal control of railroads”—in his big stick that already has several notches: “meat inspection,” “canal,” “R.R. rate regulation,” and “pure food.” In the background are James J. Hill, J. Pierpont Morgan, and Edward Henry Harriman holding knives with a banner behind them, “Angry R.R. magnates in their one act come by, entitled. We’re always agin the president.”

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Comments and Context

Seldom does a political cartoon simultaneously hit the mark in the presentation of an idea, or explanation of a situation in the news, and convey real humor (if such was intended). The otherwise little-known St. Louis cartoonist Elmer C. Donnell achieved both in this textbook-explication of President Roosevelt, his reform agenda — “his policies” — and relationship and reactions of America’s most prominent trust magnates of the day.

Donnell couched his depiction in a burlesque of burlesque melodramas, with Roosevelt and the three “robber barons” emoting in the manner of stage characters in a cliff-hanger play.

The details, however, are dispositive of the situation during the time of Muckrakers, the dawn of the progressive era. Roosevelt’s “big stick” was a famed force to be reckoned with, whether in foreign affairs or domestic politics. And, one by one, as pictured, he used it effectively to attack corruption in various segments of American life. The trust magnates in general opposed virtually every reform and regulatory initiative.

The St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Donnell’s publisher, was a thorough-going Republican newspaper, so the manic expression on Roosevelt’s face is thematic in context; not condemnatory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04

Creator(s)

Donnell, Elmer C., 1877-1951

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Page Count

1

Production Method

Printed

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