Cannon, Joseph Gurney, 1836-1926

President Roosevelt and the Republican elephant stand at the dock of the “G.O.P. Boat Club” as they watch Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Philander C. Knox, Leslie M. Shaw, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, and Secretary of State Elihu Root try to row a boat.

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Comments and Context

Cartoons like Clifford Kennedy Berryman’s “In Training,” typical of many during his long career in Washington, D. C., were closer to illustrated observations, reflecting current events, not attempting to criticize or persuade, than to classic political cartoons. They were editorial cartoons, not at all partisan, merely addressing political realities.

Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, President Roosevelt, and Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks watch over a fence saying, “Oh!” “Heigh!” “Oh!” respectively. William H. Taft holds the handle to the “Buckeye State” wagon and Senator Joseph Benson Foraker rolls his sleeve, ready for a fight.

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Comments and Context

A cartoonist named H. H. Graham discovered a variant angle on the aspirations of Republican politicians as the 1908 elections drew near. Cartoonists and editorial writers — and politicians themselves — endlessly speculated on the race. Roosevelt clearly favored his Secretary of War, William H. Taft; yet the power of an incumbent president, even one with the broad popularity that Roosevelt enjoyed, was not absolute. Party leaders and unpredictable delegates could confound the experts.

Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon holds “President’s Indianapolis Speech” with the words, “Revision to Tariff” struck out and holds a pen to write on it as President Roosevelt looks on.

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Comments and Context

This cartoon in the Washington Herald refers to the Memorial Day address President Roosevelt delivered in Indianapolis a few days prior. Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon was indeed a chief congressional supporter and protector of trusts and tariffs.

President Roosevelt sits on the springboard dipping his feet in the water as Secretary of War William H. Taft, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, Secretary of State Elihu Root, Iowa Governor Albert Baird Cummins, and Wisconsin Senator Robert M. La Follette stand behind him on the board waiting. Former Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw stands on land in the background.

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Comments and Context

This 1908 cartoon from early in the career of Jay H. “Ding” Darling displays his mastery of caricature and composition, as well as conception, for Ding squeezed a slightly new aspect from a familiar subject in the day’s news: whether President Roosevelt would run again, violating his own public declination in 1904, and whom he would support as his successor, was getting to be a tired topic.

Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon stands on a platform with a suitcase that has a “Panama” label waving as he looks ahead and sees two men fighting, an elephant and an “Ananias cup.” The words “willful untruth,” “$5,000,000.00 conspiracy fund,” “You coughed up everything,” “deliberate untruth,” “brainstorm,” and “blame it on Loeb” appears from the kerfuffle.

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Comments and Context

Between the fifty-ninth and sixtieth Congresses — in both of which he served as Speaker of the House — “Uncle Joe” Cannon embarked on a tour of the Caribbean and Panama. It was highly unusual that a member of Congress at that time would undertake an independent diplomatic or fact-finding mission. It was widely assumed, or at least speculated, that Cannon was burnishing credentials and doing homework for a planned presidential campaign in 1908.

President Roosevelt watches from the White House as New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Leslie M. Shaw, Secretary of State Elihu Root, former Secretary of the Treasury Philander C. Knox, watch Secretary of State William H. Taft and Senator Joseph Benson Foraker roll two eggs — “Taft boom” and “Foraker boom”on the White House lawn.

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Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

William H. Taft stands with a gavel in his hand as the delegates select President Roosevelt as the nominee. In the audience are Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. A balloon in the top right-hand corner shows William Jennings Bryan and William Randolph Hearst holding signs that read, “Gov’t Ownership” and “Socialism” respectively as they step on Minnesota Governor John Albert Johnson.

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Comments and Context

Whether cartoonist Tyler McWhorter drew this cartoon as a prophecy or a hopeful dream, it was another cartoonist’s speculation on whether President Roosevelt would break his pledge of Election Night 1904 that he would not allow his name to be put into nomination in 1908. With its long caption, it also might have been an illustration for an article, or part of series. In any event the St. Paul Dispatch drawing was pasted in the White scrapbook, and presumably seen by the president.

President Roosevelt tags an enormous William H. Taft saying, “You’re it!” Taft replies, “Oh fudge.” In the background are Secretary of State Elihu Root, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, and Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-19

Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon with a cigar in his mouth holds a folded up umbrella and a suitcase labeled “Uncle Joe” with a paper, “The Show Me,” walking toward “Panama.” Behind him is an elephant also with a cigar in its mouth. On the ground are footprints of others: President Roosevelt, Uncle Sam, and Secretary of War William H. Taft.

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Comments and Context

Joseph Gurney Cannon was one of the most colorful, flinty, and dictatorial Speakers of the House, a position he held from 1903-1911. He was touted as a Republican presidential aspirant for 1908, but he sometimes averred that he had more power as Speaker than any president could wield; yet his name was frequently discussed in the gaggle of hopefuls, very likely to enhance his influence and prestige as a Favorite Son of Illinois.

President Roosevelt rides a hobby horse labeled “declination” on a treadmill saying, “If this nag holds out I’m safe!” as he is chased by a giant trying to kick him with “third term league boots.” Three men sit in the distance: Joseph Gurney Cannon, Secretary of War William H. Taft, and Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks.

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Comments and Context

This cartoon might have been drawn by Wexford Jones, who later in 1907 became Comics Editor of William Randolph Hearst’s American and Journal newspapers in New York City — and if so, was a better editor than a cartoonist — and is a rather uninspired variation on a theme popular with political cartoonists in the latter half of President Roosevelt’s second term: whether he would seek a third term.

Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon says, “Tariff revision or an extra session!” in one cartoon. The next includes a teddy bear and President Roosevelt reading a paper that says, “Mr. President: Anything you say goes! California.” Another cartoon depicts a government clerk holding a bag that says, “50% salary increase” while Uncle Sam says, “And more if necessary.” The next cartoon depicts William Jennings Bryan saying to William Randolph Hearst, “After you, my dear Willie!” with a sign that reads, “To presidency.” Another one shows South Carolina senator Benjamin R. Tillman depicted with a pitchfork walking toward the White House with a dove of peace. Finally, the last cartoon depicts Senator Joseph Benson Foraker with a sign that says, “Reenlistment” in front of a group of soldiers labeled, “25th Infantry” — the black regiment at the center of the Brownsville Incident.

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Comments and Context

When cartoonist Clifford Kennedy Berryman switched, shortly prior to this drawing’s publication, from the Evening Star from the Washington Post, his drawing style improved: a better ability to capture celebrities’ likenesses to place atop little bodies. This cartoon fell back on the erstwhile cartoonists’ annual chestnut — a reliable theme to use once a year, the Valentine cards for politicians — either dream-fantasies or the unlikeliest of scenarios.

President Roosevelt tells Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, Secretary of State Elihu Root, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Secretary of War William H. Taft, and Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, “You remember what I said on election night!” They reply, “But, Mr. President, we love so much to hear you repeat it.” In the foreground a teddy bear shakes hands with a star and says, “Delighted!”

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Comments and Context

Cartoonist Clifford Kennedy Berryman was not the only cartoonist to squeeze every ounce of speculation from a matter that was not open to speculation during Theodore Roosevelt’s second presidential term — his decision to succeed himself. He had (as the cartoon indicates) declaimed such intention; and his string choice of a successor was Secretary of War William H. Taft. Nevertheless, some politicians still dreamed, and some cartoonists still fell back on easy subjects.

President Roosevelt holds “the message” football and looks at Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon and President Pro Tempore of the Senate William P. Frye, who face one another.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-03

In one vignette, “Congress” shaped like Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon looks at President Roosevelt. Caption: That he has three more days of grace. In another, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, Secretary of War William H. Taft, and Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw hold a paper that reads, “President’s anti-third term declaration.” Caption: That it is irrevocable. In a third vignette, a man with a pickaxe sweats and smiles. Caption: That the president has gone. In the fourth vignette, “Dorsey” looks at a sign that reads, “Dismissal of colored troops—25th Infantry.” Caption: That he wasn’t in it. In the fifth vignette, William Jennings Bryan sits in a chair. Caption: That the N.Y. democracy did so splendidly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-29

President Roosevelt holds a “Roosevelt Speller revised edition” and crosses off the second “f” in “the tariff” on the chalkboard. Andrew Carnegie says, “That wasn’t on my list!” while Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon tries to pull Roosevelt back. Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw says, “The unkindest cut of all.” Pennsylvania Representative John Dalzell lies flat on the floor while a “steel trust” and Rhode Island Senator Nelson W. Aldrich cover their faces.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-01

President Roosevelt, dressed like Moses, comes down the hill with “drastic inspection laws” in the shape of the Ten Commandments. He kicks the “beef trust” golden calf, while Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, dressed as a “high priest,” puts his hands up. The golden calf is on an altar of “potted ham,” “potted chicken,” “corned beef,” and “canned goods.” Meat packers surround the statue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-06

President Roosevelt, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Indiana Senator Albert J. Beveridge, and Commissioner of Corporations at the Department of Commerce and Labor James Rudolph Garfield James Rudolph Garfield lead a “beef trust” minotaur to a “publicity” pond. There is “the muckrake” alligator on the shore.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-29

President Roosevelt lights a “Taft boom” stick of dynamite outside of the “White House.” Beside him are previously lit sticks of dynamite: “Fairbanks boom,” “Shaw boom,” “Root boom,” and “Cannon boom.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-22

Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon holds a gavel and holds the docile lamb of the “House” under his thumb. Meanwhile, President Roosevelt holds a big stick behind his back and watches as an unruly “Senate” goat eats the “railway rate bill.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-01

President Roosevelt rides on an elephant and leads a Saint Patrick’s Day parade featuring the “G.O.P. band,” which includes Secretary of War William H. Taft, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Pennsylvania Senator Philander C. Knox, Secretary of State Elihu Root, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, and Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw. The parade has a banner with a three-leaf clover that has words in each leaf: “anti-rail-road rebate,” “Philippine tariff moderation,” and “Panama Canal—no grafting.” Roosevelt holds a “Spanish-American War” sword.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03