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Father Knickerbocker struggles to hold aloft a dumbbell that is labeled on the left “Plattism,” showing Thomas Collier Platt with papers labeled “Jobs” and “Deals,” and on the right “Crokerism,” showing Richard Croker with papers labeled “Jobs” and “Deals.” Caption: He’s pretty strong; but the double-boss dumb-bell will prove too much for him.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-01-31
David B. Hill appears as a strong man on a stage in a theater, wearing a suit stuffed with straw and medals that state, “I am a Democrat, From Liquor Dealors, [and] Champion of Peanut Politics.” Weights lying around him, also stuffed with straw, are labeled “Powerful Influence Against Cleveland, Anti-Reform Club, Strength with the New York Machine, [and] Hill’s Presidential Prospects.” Edward Murphy Jr. is standing at the “Box Office” in the background and William E. Chandler is the only person in the audience. Caption: [S]tuffed “Strong Man” … Dave Hill / [Trea]surer … Ed. Murphy / [Applau]se Furnished by … Bill Chandler
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-04-18
Grover Cleveland lifts a heavy weight labeled “Silver Question.” He has several medals pinned to his chest. With him are “W.E. Russell,” David B. Hill, Robert E. Pattison, Adlai E. Stevenson, James E. Campbell, and William R. Morrison. On the right, refusing to touch any of the weights labeled “Silver Question, Tariff Question, [and] Cuban Question,” are William McKinley, Shelby M. Cullom, Levi P. Morton, Robert Todd Lincoln, Thomas B. Reed, Benjamin Harrison, [and] William B. Allison. Uncle Sam is part of a large audience seated in the background. Caption: One strong man has shown his ability to lift the heavy weight; – now let’s see what the others can do.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1896-05-13
An angry Father Knickerbocker, symbolic figure of New York City, performs a feat of strength by breaking chains that bind his arms and chest. The broken chains spell “Raines Law” and “Hayseed Legislation.” Caption: Father Knickerbocker is in training for this “Sandow Act” (referring to similar feats of strength by bodybuilder Eugen Sandow).
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-06-09