International conferences are liable to become short and lively

In the first section, several men speak to President Roosevelt. Caption: The Committee of International Conferences–“Mr. Roosevelt, we have arranged another Hague conference. You will kindly attend and do what you can for universal peace.” In the second section, Roosevelt rushes toward the group of men. Caption: A few days later–“It’s all fixed, gentlemen! What next?” In the third section, Roosevelt holds the “report on the international conference for the suppression of the boll weevil” as the three men look confused. Caption: A little later: Committee–“Now you might start for the Pan-American Conference, and then there’s the International Conservation Conference and the,” etc., etc. In the fourth section, one man signs a “resignation” paper while the second man holds the third man and says, “Brace up, Henry! We’ve got to get up some more conferences.” Roosevelt sits in a chair and thinks. Caption: Mr. Roosevelt–“Well, I guess I’ll have to hunt up something to do myself.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

A political cartoonist took a breath and a break in early 1909 from the plethora of cartoons on the Secret Service controversy and President Roosevelt’s planned African safari, the thematic preoccupations of most cartoonists during these months. Ralph Wilder chose to have editorial fun with the twin inspirations of United States’ involvement in international conferences and commissions; and — not a new topic — the president’s strenuous hyperactivity.

The cartoonist tweaked the topics and goals of international gatherings, as well as the exhaustion of officials confronted by the president’s omnipresence, instantly returning from events. The United States actually was one of the “callers” of the previous year’s Peace Conference at Hague, but Roosevelt had faith in its efficacy.

Five years after John T. McCutcheon’s departure for the Chicago Tribune, his successor Ralph Wilder at the Record-Herald was still aping McCutcheon’s style, thematic approaches, characters’ anatomy and movement and expressions. In some cartoons, such as this example, readers needed to locate the signature to know which cartoonist executed the drawing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-08

Creator(s)

Wilder, Ralph, 1875-1924

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