The Atlanta Georgian (Atlanta, Ga. : 1906-1907)

A donkey eats grass in front of the White House and says, “There’s something doing today sure.” Caption: Tom’s steed, Greenbacks, dines off white house grass while his master enjoys a substantial luncheon within the house.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Founded in 1906, the year before this cartoon (by an obscure artist) was published, the Atlanta Georgian newspaper was founded by Hoke Smith, who had been active in state and national Democratic politics since the 1890s. Eventually he and his ally Senator Thomas E. Watson shared two interests: noxious racist politics (such as placing false and incendiary stories about blacks in the paper in order to foment racial violence and disenfranchisement), and regional railroad rate reform. The latter was one of the president’s legislative and regulatory goals.

President Roosevelt sits at his desk and signs a paper that reads, “Abolish Spanish Treaty Commission.” William E. Chandler watches as he holds a paper that reads, “What Teddy said.” There is a bear head and a “big stick” on the wall and a book on Roosevelt’s desk that is entitled, “The Gentle Art of Lieing T. Roosevelt.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-30