The clash to date leaves a few disabled

In the top left, John D. Rockefeller, pours “oil” down Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell’s throat as crowds cheer, “Standard Oil, dah-de! Dah! Bryan, Bryan–Rah! Rah rah!” and “Taft’s a big man–ump-ti-de-de! He’s the guy for the pres-i-den-cee!” John D. Archbold chases down Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker as Secretary of State Elihu Root runs into the fray. William Jennings Bryan fights William H. Taft supported by individuals in their parties: Charles Francis Murphy, Thomas Taggart, Henry Watterson, John W. Kern, Norman Edward Mack on the Democratic side and President Roosevelt, J. S. Sherman, Frank H. Hitchcock, and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes on the Republican side. Uncle Sam referees.

comments and context

Comments and Context

This cartoon from the beginning of the last month of the 1908 presidential campaign offers a convenient summary of the major players, and a view likewise of the personalities involved the now nearly forgotten subplot that nearly overshadowed the main contest. The cartoonist is unknown, but the signature seems to be “Allen,” tempting one think it might be Clarence Allen, longtime political cartoonist of the Tulsa World but for the fact that he was ten years old when this cartoon was published.

The cartoon is in the style of T. E. Powers in the New York American — a genre drawing with many elements, action, and humorous references; also in its informal feel and reliance on characters’ comments. These cartoons are round-ups of recent events for readers familiar with the news; and virtual primers for those who were not.

In the foreground are the prominent players in the campaign: the two candidates and their running mates, President Roosevelt, the leader of Tammany Hall, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, who had been touted as a possible candidate himself.

In the background are two pairs of figures who figured in the scandal that exploded in the middle of the canvass, the publication of the Archbold Letters between the president of the Standard Oil trust and various politicians, pilfered by agents of yellow-journalist publisher William Randolph Hearst. On the left, John D. Rockefeller (Archbold’s famous predecessor at Standard Oil) pouring oil down the throat of Charles Nathaniel Haskell, the compromised Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee. On the right, Archbold himself approaches Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Republican from Ohio, whose illicit payments from Standard Oil effectively ended his political career. Foraker was running for reelection, but withdrew from consideration after the revelations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-04

Creator(s)

Unknown

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