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On the left side, there is a “full treasury” bank safe replete with money bags “at the end of Roosevelt’s term.” Above the safe is a sign: “Cost of Roosevelt’s administration $2,640,000,000—population of U.S. 80,000,000.” Caption: Safe—. On the right side, there is an empty treasury “left empty through Democratic incompetency” safe at the end of Grover Cleveland’s term. Above the safe is a sign: “Cost of Cleveland’s administration $1,757,000,000—population of U.S. 65,000,000.” Caption: —Unsafe. Moral—’Tis far better to have an expensive administration that is not disastrous to the country than to have a CHEAP one that is.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1904-05
Creator(s)
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:
A tale of two safes. [May 1904]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302478. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Gillam, F. Victor, 1858?-1920. A tale of two safes. [May 1904]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. August 3, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302478.
APA:
Gillam, F. Victor, 1858?-1920., [1904, May]. A tale of two safes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302478.
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. August 3, 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.
