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Puck, v. 54, no. 1397

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The Philippine Oliver asks for more

A large, bloated man, wearing an apron labeled “The Trusts,” stands next to a large cauldron labeled “Tariff Reduction.” Standing in front of him is a diminutive, emaciated man labeled “The Philippines” holding a cup labeled “25%.”

Comments and Context

Keppler’s cover cartoon delineates a contrast between a bloated trust figure (did cartoonists ever depict the trusts otherwise?) and an emaciated supplicant, representing the new United States territory of the Philippine Islands — evoking the scene in Dickens’s novel where Oliver Twist begs for more food.

“Keb, Lady?”

An elderly woman labeled “Democracy” stands next to a trunk labeled “Old Issues” and with a tag that states “To the White House.” Standing at the curb are several cab drivers labeled “Parker, Olney, Johnson, Shepard, Gorman, [and] Watterson” hoping to pick up a fare, and two other drivers labeled “Cleveland” and “Bryan” sitting on their carriages. Cleveland does not appear interested, though Bryan, on his cab labeled “16 to 1,” holding up his hat, calls out above the others.

Comments and Context

Political cartoons, when well designed, not only present issues and events clearly, but also convey subtexts, background information, and nuances that speak to readers of their time, and to subsequent students of history.