Just a Hallowe’en bogie
Subject(s): Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Democratic donkey (Symbolic character), Ghosts, Halloween, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
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William H. Taft sees what appears to be a ghost in front of him although it is actually William Jennings Bryan and a donkey hidden in a sheet. Taft says, “That’s the same one that tried to scare Teddy.”
Comments and Context
An elaborate Hallowe’en theme conveys the idea, which was close to the truth of the political situation, that with less than a week until election day, neither the Democratic donkey (the party) nor a jack-o’-lantern (its presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan) presented no reason to be scared.
President Roosevelt had coasted to a substantial victory four years earlier, as William H. Taft would do in the following days; but Roosevelt’s opponent had not been Bryan, but Judge Alton B. Parker.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-10-31
Creator(s)
Schroeder, Thomas A. (Thomas August), 1885-1976
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:
Just a Hallowe’en bogie. [October 31, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301899. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Schroeder, Thomas A. (Thomas August), 1885-1976. Just a Hallowe’en bogie. [31 Oct. 1908]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301899.
APA:
Schroeder, Thomas A. (Thomas August), 1885-1976., [1908, October 31]. Just a Hallowe’en bogie.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301899.
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 13, 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.
