Will the ball be lost before the game is finished?

President-elect William H. Taft swings at the “Roosevelt policies” golf ball on a green labeled “administration line.” Philander C. Knox is behind him and holds the caddy and two other golf balls–“Taft policies” and “Republican policies.” Knox says, “If that ball gets lost I’ve got others!!”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Many political cartoonists, especially those antagonistic toward Republicans, were downcast (as many admitted in ink) that their favorite subject, Theodore Roosevelt, was retiring from the political scene. With the planned African safari, Roosevelt would not merely be out of office, but off the national stage for at least a year.

But as one of those chief antagonists, cartoonist James Calvert Smith, showed with two months yet remaining until Inauguration Day, the new president, William H. Taft, might not provide the color and controversies endemic to Theodore Roosevelt; but he at least would provide “ample” opportunities for caricature.

Smith provided some prescient commentary beneath his pictorial hyperbole. Many observers had thought that Taft’s fidelity to “My Policies” of Roosevelt during the campaign would evolved into his own programs — and it would prove to be the case.

Philander C. Knox had just been announced as Secretary of State in the incoming administration; he was an administrator who never assumed the “Napoleon of the Cabinet” role that many predecessors did. He had been Attorney General in Roosevelt’s first administration; then senator from Pennsylvania; then spent a full term in Taft’s cabinet. He represented Pennsylvania again in the Senate from 1917-1921.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-04

Creator(s)

Smith, James Calvert, 1878-1962

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