Busy times for the sheriff

A “sheriff” holds a rope over his shoulder with several men attached to it walking along a path “to the jail.” In the foreground is a bear near a sign, “Line of march of bear hunt,” with several reporters and photographers taking pictures. Other reporters and photographers sit in trees saying, “Photo of primeval forest” and “bear before being shot.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The day after President Roosevelt commenced his two-week black-bear hunt in the Louisiana canebrakes, cartoonist Ralph Wilder of the Chicago Record-Herald — certainly not alone among his fellow artists — began to draw comments on the trip. It was a period in the middle of a wide-ranging speaking tour when reporters and cartoonists would not be allowed to cover or even pursue the president at a distance. The same unofficial but stern prohibition would be imposed on Roosevelt’s African safari eighteen months later.

This stricture frustrated the press, especially as they were addicted to virtual 24/7 coverage of the president, his family, and his myriad activities since 1901. In this cartoon, Wilder loads his blunderbuss with all the satirical ammunition he can: newspapermen spying, reporters being arrested, photographers interviewing bears, people using dense canebrakes and high tree branches to catch glimpses.

The cartoon was drawn in the best imitation of John T. McCutcheon (whom Wilder succeeded upon the latter’s switch to the Chicago Tribune) and his crowded cartoons with multiple figures.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-07

Creator(s)

Wilder, Ralph, 1875-1924

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