Merely another nature fake
Subject(s): Bears, Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940, Fairbanks, Charles W. (Charles Warren), 1852-1918, Knox, Philander C. (Philander Chase), 1853-1921, Presidents--Nomination, Rabbits, Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ), Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
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A bear labeled “Taft,” a wolf labeled “Fairbanks,” a fox labeled “Cortelyou,” and a cat labeled “Knox” chase a “Republican nomination” bunny into the “T.R.” tent. Beside the tent is a gun, a “big stick,” and a cowboy hat.
Comments and Context
The redoubtable T. S. Sullivant, a cartoonist admired by contemporaries and later generations of cartoon scholars, hit closer with his trademark depiction of animals than the concept of this cartoon. The political-cartooning portion of his career, roughly 1904-1910, was devoted to the daily editorial pages of newspapers in the Hearst chain. Those newspapers have been insufficiently preserved and studied, and therefore Sullivant’s work of these years largely is unknown.
Usually his ideas rang with clarity as well as humor; and themes likely were supplied to him. In this cartoon — yet another cartoonist’s speculation about the 1908 Republican presidential nomination and President Roosevelt’s stated intention not to pursue it — it is clear who the aspirants were; and Roosevelt’s favorite, William H. Taft, is the largest. Yet with the rabbit seeking refuge in Roosevelt’s tent, and his hand stretched to seize it, perhaps the implication was that the president played a game all along.
A “nature fake,” borrowing Roosevelt’s term at the time for writers who imbued nature with human personalities, supports that implication.
Immediately after his work for Hearst’s political pages, Sullivant freelanced for Puck and Judge but around 1912 worked almost exclusively for Life until his death in 1926.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-06-03
Creator(s)
Sullivant, T. S. (Thomas Starling), 1854-1926
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:
Merely another nature fake. [June 3, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301541. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Sullivant, T. S. (Thomas Starling), 1854-1926. Merely another nature fake. [3 Jun. 1907]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301541.
APA:
Sullivant, T. S. (Thomas Starling), 1854-1926., [1907, June 3]. Merely another nature fake.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301541.
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.
