Something of a pioneer himself
Subject(s): Hanna, Marcus Alonzo, 1837-1904, Pioneers, Presidents--Nomination, Republican elephant (Symbolic character), Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Securities industry, Wagons, Wall Street, Washington (D.C.)
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President Roosevelt drives the G. O. P. elephant who is attached to the “Washington or Bust” wagon. They are headed toward “renomination 1 mile” and followed by “Wall St.” and “Hanna.” Caption: “Across the Continent came the ox-drawn, white-topped wagons bearing the pioneers * * * * who entered into this country to possess it.”–President Roosevelt’s speech at Portland, Oregon.
Comments and Context
The dateline on this cartoon, clipped and pasted into the White House cartoon scrapbook, makes for confusion, as it was typeset “1901.” Yet May 23 fell on a Saturday that year, and President Roosevelt was indeed on a speaking tour of the Pacific Northwest.
It also might seem early that the cartoon’s theme was only peripherally Roosevelt’s speech but principally about his reelection almost eighteen months in the future. But in politics, and political cartooning, there is no “early” timetable.
Cartoonist Donald Farquharson Stewart correctly identifies the possibly hostile parties to Roosevelt’s drive to re-nomination. Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna, the only alternative who ever was spoken of as a rival to Roosevelt, died early in 1904. Wall Street, represented by several Indian warriors, was a predictable threat, except, ultimately, the general public appreciated his stands against the trusts probably more than who opposed; and in the end, Wall Street usually supported Republican nominees. It is noted, therefore, that the pioneer wagon’s primary destination is the nomination.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-05-23
Creator(s)
Stewart, Donald Farquharson, 1880-1945
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
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:
Something of a pioneer himself. [May 23, 1903]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302137. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Stewart, Donald Farquharson, 1880-1945. Something of a pioneer himself. [23 May. 1903]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302137.
APA:
Stewart, Donald Farquharson, 1880-1945., [1903, May 23]. Something of a pioneer himself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302137.
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.
