A peep into the future
Subject(s): Palmistry, Presidents--Nomination, Republican elephant (Symbolic character), Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Woll, John M., 1857-1927
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A Republican elephant dressed as a palmist supposedly reads William H. Taft’s hands but actually reads President Roosevelt’s hands and says, “I see by the lines in your hand Mr. Taft that you will be the Republican nominee for president.” In a handwritten addition to the cartoon, John M. Woll writes, “I hope to God the above reading will come true.”
Comments and Context
At first glance this political cartoon by William P. Canfield would seem to suggest that the bona fides of William H. Taft would be identical to the policies of Theodore Roosevelt, and that both men were happy to be so identified. Actually the cartoonist was suggesting, as many cartoonists and editorial writers did, that President Roosevelt fully intended to be the nominee in 1908 — hoping all along to be drafted, or using his endorsed favorite, Secretary of War Taft, as a stalking horse.
The cynicism is evident when the newspaper’s Democratic leanings are considered. Canfield drew for the Pittsburgh Post and its sister paper the Sun. Both were purchased and consolidated by William Randolph Hearst in 1927 during a decade of profligate acquisitions by Hearst.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-04-07
Creator(s)
Canfield, William P. (William Parker), 1874-1938
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 peep into the future. [April 7, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301722. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Canfield, William P. (William Parker), 1874-1938. A peep into the future. [7 Apr. 1908]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301722.
APA:
Canfield, William P. (William Parker), 1874-1938., [1908, April 7]. A peep into the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301722.
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. February 26, 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.
