Roosevelt—“Bill, I don’t think I will need any help eating this melon.”

President Roosevelt carves up the “presidential nomination” watermelon with his “self esteem” knife, discharging two slices to the side—”first term” and “second term.” He starts to carve up “third term 1908” as he says to William H. Taft who is standing somewhat hidden in brush, “Hello, Bill!” Behind Taft is his half-brother Charles P. Taft holding his “wife’s money.” William H. Taft says to Charles P. Taft, “Good heavens! Charlie, I thought Teddy didn’t care for that anymore.” Meanwhile, Uncle Sam watches on the other side, “I thought I understand that gap to say he was tired of that fruit.” Caption: Roosevelt—“Bill, I don’t think I will need any help eating this melon.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Cartoonist J. F. Collins, straying from his minor comic strip for the World Color Printing Company, drew political cartoons for a short-lived journal, The Meddler. His drawings were of almost painful exactitude and invariably anti-Roosevelt. They were so partisan that the publishing effort possibly chose its name as an in-your-face brand, like Puck imitators including Judge, The Wasp, The Bee, and The Verdict. Or its title might have been inspired by a current nickname for Theodore Roosevelt, the “Meddler,” for his reformist and iconoclastic activities as president.

In fact, James Creelman wrote a long profile of the president, “Theodore Roosevelt — The Meddler,” in 1907, in the popular Muckraking monthly Pearson’s.

The vehemence of The Meddler‘s editorial point of view and the prejudice of Collin’s cartoons, were blinders regarding facts of the political situation. Nothing but willful speculation and imputation of malign motives could have supported Collins’ depiction of Roosevelt betraying William H. Taft, and his own public statements, about the desire to avoid succeeding himself as president in the imminent election.

Taft is depicted as crestfallen — which is ironic, because he really had little appetite for the office — and, presciently, Collins drew his half-brother Charles P. Taft, wealthy newspaper publisher who bankrolled and managed many of Will’s political efforts. Uncle Sam is depicted as being surprised, even if readers of The Meddler were not.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-22

Creator(s)

Collins, J. F.

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