Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919

President Roosevelt holds a gun labeled “Simplified” and cartridges on his belt labeled “The New Way”: “Tho,” “Tapt,” “Thru,” “Topt,” “Blest,” and “Fixt.” Opposite is a man labeled “Congress” with a belt labeled “The Old Way” and cartridges labeled “Though,” “Tapped,” “Through,” “Topped,” and “Blessed.” The two are firing words at the feet of the “Public Printer” – “Dropt,” “Ript,” “Mixt,” “Mixed,” and “Ripped” – who jumps into the air to avoid getting shot. A diminutive Andrew Carnegie stands in the foreground.

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Comments and Context

Cartoonist “Scar” (Alonzo W. Scarborough) of the newly energized New York Globe drew memorable cartoons about Theodore Roosevelt in his second term. As with many cartoonists, the Republican Scar milked the Simplified Spelling matter for all it was worth. In fact it was not worth much, except as a curious distraction in a very contentious political year.

President Roosevelt and Andrew Carnegie bring flowers to a grave that reads, “Sakrud to the Memory of Simpul Speler Born Nu Yawk March 06 Died in Washington December 1906.”

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Comments and Context

This cartoon mocking the effective demise of the Simplified Spelling movement — at least as far as United States government policy, having been explicitly and unanimously rejected by the House of Representatives, was concerned — was drawn by the New York Globe‘s Alonzo W. Scarborough, who ironically simplified the spelling of his own name, professionally, to “Scar.”

Andrew Carnegie, dressed in a Scottish kilt with a hat labeled “Andru” with the “u” crossed out and replaced with “ew,” looks at a man fallen on the ground labeled “Simplified Spelling Order” kicked down by the U.S. Capitol building. A teddy bear runs off into the distance.

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Comments and Context

Among the playthings of Andrew Carnegie, having sold his steel businesses and reputedly the richest man in the world, was a faddist obsession with changing — “simplifying” — the spelling of words in the English language. Apparent anomalies in English are to due its origins in diverse language groups, yet rules that seemed challenging, flummoxed people like Carnegie, Mark Twain, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Andrew Carnegie comforts President Roosevelt who is looking toward the U. S. Capitol building and a man labeled, “Reformed Spelling.” Caption: Mr. Carnegie–“He seems to have been among some bad company, Theodore.”

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Comments and Context

At the time of this drawing’s publication, the United States Congress formally resisted President Roosevelt’s executive orders that government bodies, including the Government Printing Office, adopt Simplified Spelling in all documents and publications.

In one circle, President Roosevelt holds a box labeled, “Nobel Peace Prize.” In another, Andrew Carnegie cuts a paper labeled “Inheritance” that is divided in half. One side reads, “This piece is for the children,” and the other reads, “This piece is to be returned to the ‘community.'” In the last circle, Henry Watterson faces Roosevelt and holds a bag with a tag, “To Europe,” and a paper sticking out that says “T.R. is all right.” Two men are outside the circles with a paper that says, “We got ours,” while a government clerk looks through a telescope at the number “20%.”

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Comments and Context

This genre cartoon by Jack H. Smith was typical of drawings many newspapers and magazines produced at the time — weekly or monthly pictorial round-ups of recent news events; not commentary or advocacy, but summaries.

Uncle Sam reads a book entitled, “The Nu Spelling by A. Karnegy.” The back matter reads, “Litl wurdz for [beginners].”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-27

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

New Year’s letters featuring greetings and wishes from Andrew Carnegie, Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long, and the “Father of Greater New York,” likely referring to A. H. Green.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-31

Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about his upcoming trip to Louisiana. He says he will write a book with chapters on his travels to the Andes, Patagonia, Brazil, and Arizona. Roosevelt says his latest book Through the Brazilian Wilderness is getting recognition but he is unhappy that Scribner’s changed the title. He is sending Kermit South of Panama by Edward Alsworth Ross and looks forward to hearing Kermit’s thoughts on it. Roosevelt also gives his opinions on the War in Europe and President Wilson.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-05-31

Theodore Roosevelt asks for his sister’s advice on an enclosed letter. He wishes he knew a wealthy man who could help support the family of the deceased poet, Madison Julius Cawein, but refuses to ask Andrew Carnegie. Roosevelt inquires about a photograph he sent to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson and sends his love to her family.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-06-16

Theodore Roosevelt thanks his sister for her help with the Calwein family and asks her to keep him informed. During his Pacific travels, Roosevelt will try to visit her at Henderson House if possible. Roosevelt mentions that Douglas Robinson was in good shape when he saw him recently.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-06-29

Theodore Roosevelt writes that he and Kermit Roosevelt have finished a trip into Sotik and have returned to Nairobi. He describes his anxiety at having Kermit with him in dangerous game country. His articles will be appearing in Scribner’s Magazine soon and he is grateful to Andrew Carnegie for undertaking the scientific aspects of the expedition. Roosevelt will resume political work when he returns to the United States.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1909-07-27

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Douglas Robinson for his letter and informs him that he has not used the $50,000 yet, as Andrew Carnegie will be providing for expenses. He writes that his payment for the Scribner’s Magazine articles will pay for his and Kermit Roosevelt’s trip.< He mentions that he is glad to have been away from the United States and criticizes the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1909-10-16

A large group of representatives from several nations, many carrying weapons and making threatening gestures to others, arrive outside the “Palace of Peace” for the peace conference to end the Russo-Japanese War. Andrew Carnegie is posting a notice on the side of the building offering “Best Armor Plate for sale by Andy U.S.A.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Carl Hassmann’s cartoon cleverly depicts the actual situation behind the surface rhetoric and posturing between world powers. A second World Peace Congress was organized and funded by industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1905, and held in 1907; and the nations of the world flocked to attend at the Hague. But few of them were committed to disarmament or peace, and the Great War (to commence in 1914) was a universal assumption.

Eight men and one woman are seated or standing around a table. Each is identified with a Cabinet position: J.P. Morgan as “Sec’y Navy,” Thomas W. Lawson as “Sec’y War,” Thomas F. Ryan as “Att’y Gen’l,” James J. Hill as “Sec’y Int,” James H. Hyde as “Sec’y Com. and Lab.”, Russell Sage as “Sec’y Agric,” Henrietta “Hetty” Green as “Post Mistress Gen’l,” Andrew Carnegie as “Sec’y State,” and John D. Rockefeller as “Sec’y Treas.” Setting on the table is a statue labeled “Golden Calf,” and hanging on the wall are portraits of “Midas” and “Croesus.” On the far left is a ticker tape machine. Caption: “There is not in my Cabinet one man to whom it is not a financial disadvantage to stay in the Cabinet.”–President Roosevelt at Asbury Park.

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Comments and Context

This cartoon by Joseph Keppler, Junior, is more of an ad hominem attack on personalities than Puck was used to make. There is no political or policy subtext, either about the Roosevelt cabinet as the president is quoted describing. Nor were any of the moguls at the table imminent appointees. This is merely having fun (except for the obvious venom in the depictions) with Roosevelt’s statement about the financial status of his department secretaries.

At center a valentine card features President Roosevelt as Cupid. Around the outside are other valentines featuring two European leaders, American industrial and political figures, a Russian admiral, a writer identified only as “Tom,” and a Wall Street con artist.

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Comments and Context

Whether it was a cartoonist’s creative crutch every year, or readers’ happy expectations, the easy formula of imaginary Valentine’s Day cards for political figures was a frequent feature in Puck and other satirical weeklies of the day. Frederick Burr Opper drew many of these over his years at Puck in the 1880s and ’90s.

Democrats and Republicans, capitalists, social reformers, political symbols, and others enjoy a summer outing at a park.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1904-08-17

A series of nine vignettes shows men putting themselves at risk in one way or another. One man gets up in the middle of the night to attend to a screaming infant, another tests breakfast cereals, a third dares to enter the kitchen to reprimand the cook, others survive the street railroads, one suffers the attack of mosquitoes, while others endure rude opera attendees, rural life, and a tour guide. At center, each “hero” receives a pension from Andrew Carnegie who is wearing a traditional Scottish kilt.

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Comments and Context

Cartoonist Ehrhart drew these center-spread vignettes as news commentary on the announcement 1904 by Andrew Carnegie of the creation of the Carnegie Hero Fund with an initial endowment of $5-million.

President Theodore Roosevelt stands on a reviewing stand, holding hat in raised right hand as a large group of capitalists, industrialists, and financiers wearing the tattered clothing of tramps, march past the stand. Some carry placards with such statements as: “Irrigate the Trusts,” “No place to go but the Waldorf,” “We want the earth,” “Free quick lunches,” “Pity the poor banker,” “Dividends or we perish.” At the front of the group, J. P. Morgan carries a wooden bucket labeled “The full water pail.” Caption: “Aggregated wealth largely represented among Parker’s Supporters”–New York Tribune.

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Comments and Context

It might be said now, as it was in 1904, that the Republican Party is the home of the wealthy class, industrialists, and plutocrats. And then as now, cartoonists have fed that stereotype. Also then as now, major figures of Wall Street have supported the Democratic Party in great numbers, whether from agreement on social and political issues or frank self-interest.

At center a group of six men, including John D. Rockefeller and E. B. Thomas, warm themselves by a stove labeled “Standard Oil.” At bottom left Andrew Carnegie burns “U.S. Steel Bonds” and Charles Schwab attempts to burn “Steel Common” stocks. On the right Chauncey Depew burns speeches. On the middle left a tramp rests against a haystack in the warm sun. On the right William Jennings Bryan generates hot air while speaking to a group of farmers. On the top left a family burns the furniture in a fireplace. On the right E. B. Thomas sits in front of a fireplace where a lump of “Radium” is warming the room.

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Comments and Context

Eben B. Thomas had risen from telegraph operator to the presidency of the Erie Railroad (and eventually the Lehigh Valley Railroad). He was very successful at consolidating rail lines and their efficiency, and maintaining labor harmony in an era of conflict. In his position he became a useful ally of J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie, especially in his geographic “domain” of central Pennsylvania, land of oil, coal, and steel mills.