A few final remarks

On the eve of the election, vignettes on New York and presidential politics are presented. At the upper left, candidate for Governor of New York Lewis S. Chanler stands tall as two men, including Charles Francis Murphy, look on and say, “Hero.” Caption: Chanler takes a stand at last: He says he is opposed to the shot-gun license law. Opposite this, a banner reads: “We are willing to be regulated but not by Governor Hughes. Charlie Murphy is good enough for us. The Franchise Grabbers’ Anti-Hughes Club.” At the bottom, John D. Rockefeller with a “$29,000,000 fine” tag says, “I think I’ll vote for you, Mr. Taft.” William H. Taft raises his hands in the air and says, “Don’t.” Looking on, William Jennings Bryan smiles and says, “Oh I’m so happy” while President Roosevelt says, “Don’t let him tell you that, Bill. Soak him one. It’s a plot.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Arcane issues of 1908 presidential politics, and even the minutia of New York State affairs, permeate this informal but clever group of vignettes by Floyd W. Triggs, published on election eve. 

The posturing character, upper left, is Lieutenant Governor Lewis S. Chanler, the Democratic candidate for governor of New York State. Democratic machine politicians are ecstatic as he boldly takes a stand on a minor issue — as sarcastically treated by cartoonist Triggs. Governor Charles Evans Hughes, the incumbent, had typically caused controversies by opposing some measures and championing others (shotgun registration, race track closures) that became consequential issues in the campaign.

Chanler was a scion of several distinguished families from the history of New York and America, related to Stuyvesants, Winthrops, and Astors. He had run for lieutenant governor with William Randolph Hearst in 1906 against Hughes. Hearst was defeated; Chanler elected. As a Democrat he ran in 1908 against his chief. (His brother Winthrop “Winty” Chanler was a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt, and was wounded as a Rough Rider in the Spanish-American War.)

In the bottom panel, specific reference is made to a controversial statement made by Standard Oil’s founder John D. Rockefeller. He declared that he was tempted to vote for William H. Taft. It was a surprise, on election eve; and widely considered a calculated gesture either to curry favor with the future president, or to embarrass the Republicans who had been pursuing his trust activities — including a federal indictment on 1,903 counts. President Roosevelt appointed Frank B. Kellogg as Special Counsel to the Interstate Commerce Commission, after prosecuting Edward Henry Harriman he built cases against Rockefeller and Standard Oil.

When Rockefeller shared his temptation to vote for Taft, President Roosevelt was livid, and sought to counteract any malign impressions in the public mind. He urged Taft to repudiate any possible endorsement, and he gave an exclusive interview to the United Press accusing Rockefeller of treachery. The “$29,000,000 fine” tag on Rockefeller’s coattails refers to the penalty judgment imposed at Rockefeller’s trial by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, later the first Commissioner of Baseball.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Creator(s)

Triggs, Floyd W. (Floyd Wilding), -1919

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