Congresses and conventions

Theodore Roosevelt speaks on a platform in the middle of a crowd at the first Progressive Party Convention in the Chicago Coliseum. Banners and signs with state names are arranged around the arena.

Comments and Context

Following what he felt was the Republican Party’s unfair endorsement of William H. Taft for the 1912 presidential election, Theodore Roosevelt formed the Progressive, or “Bull Moose,” Party, running for president under its auspices.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Cartoon shows a man in German dress “Cartel Magnate” jumping a rope “Brussells Conference” turned by a barefoot man “Cuba” and Republican House Speaker Sereno Elisha Payne. The cartoon refers to the 1902 Brussels Sugar Convention where discussions included the topic of a German sugar cartel that received trade advantages over Cuban sugar.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1902

The First National Bank of Birmingham comments on the recent Governors and Commissioners of Agriculture conference investigating the decrease in cotton sales price despite increased production. The Bank reports on the discouraging situation surrounding the government’s dissolution of the United States Steel Corporation. It is “simply absurd” to think that the Panic of 1907 was deliberately caused to acquire the Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company. Birmingham citizens knew that before its acquisition, the Company’s stock did not have loanable value, and its credit was impaired. Since its acquisition, the Company aided in developing the local district, improvements which have been delayed due to the dissolution. Overall economic conditions in the district are favorable, although the upcoming presidential election could alter commercial and manufacturing activity. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-01

The program for the Women’s Congress outlines a four-day series of events that showcase women’s roles and responsibilities in the home, featuring presentations and demonstrations covering various topics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-06

The Georgia Society of New York invites Theodore Roosevelt to attend the society’s annual meeting to be at the Waldorf-Astoria on April 28, 1911.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04

Charles E. Merriam’s “‘progressive republican’ movement” is actually “anti-Taft propaganda” through which he intends to prevent Illinois from supporting President William H. Taft at the next Republican national convention. Merriam and his committee, comprised of eleven “influential moneyed friends,” will meet to choose a candidate. Potential candidates include Theodore Roosevelt and Senator Robert M. La Follette.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-18

Updates on membership and ballots for electing officers and officials for the annual meeting of the Sons of the American Revolution Empire State Society held on April 18, 1911.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-01

Admittance card for Theodore Roosevelt attend the monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York on April 6, 1911.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-03

Mina Mason Van Sinderen issues an invitation to a meeting of the International Children’s School Farm League. Three speakers will present at the meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-29

This draft program of the Seventh Annual Conference on Child Labor held by the National Child Labor Committee outlines the various speakers who will be presenting and the various topics to be addressed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-24

Preliminary newspaper circular sent out before the first meeting of the Illinois Federation for Country Life Progress. It outlines the purpose of the organization and the meeting and lists the three sessions that will take place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-07

Political figures and leaders from Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah are invited to the Second Annual Convention of the Western Slope Development Congress in Delta, Colorado. The congress aims to address matters related to the improvement of the Western Slope territory. Issues discussed will include railroad and public highway improvement and the management of minerals, water, and other natural resources.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-01

An account of the banquet for the Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, including a list of attendees, and reprints of messages from President William H. Taft and Governor Dix and speeches by Jacob H. Schiff, Theodore Roosevelt, Mayor William Jay Gaynor, Oscar S. Straus. The newspaper also covers the Council’s other proceedings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01

Under the pseudonym Nestor, the writer addresses the people of the United States ahead of the upcoming Constitutional Convention. He outlines four main problems with the country’s current form of government and suggests changes and a new form of government to fix them. In particular, he suggests two houses of congress, an executive branch, and the federal government minting money. Nestor also desires the founding of a university to train men in all matters of politics and government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1786-11-06

The Democratic State Central Committee of Arkansas rejected the proposition for a presidential primary. J. H. Harrod, president of the Woodrow Wilson Club, submitted resolutions to have candidate names put on the ticket but withdrew it after Senator James P. Clarke and the majority opposed it. Harrod believes Wilson is the only candidate who can defeat Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-04

A sun with President Roosevelt’s face rises over the “Chicago convention” as a rooster dressed like Uncle Sam crows, “Roosevelt!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-19

President Roosevelt appears everywhere in the “Republican National Convention.” He holds the gavel to nominate himself as president and is supported by the “Northern States,” “Western States,” “Southern States,” and “Eastern States.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-29

Frank Black, New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell, and New York Senators Thomas Collier Platt, and Chauncey M. Depew walk arm-in-arm “to Chicago” wearing buttons that spell “Roosevelt.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-16

President Roosevelt shoots a revolver that fires “nomination” bullets at the feet of “No. 1: Odell,” “No. 2: Platt,” “No. 3: Depew,” and “No. 4: Black.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-13

Ohio Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna holds an “opposition” broom and runs away from the “Roosevelt tidal wave” that has “endorsement by state conventions” in the crest of the wave. “Trust opposition” and “Wall Street” barriers break down in the water.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Richard Keith Culver’s political cartoon could stand as a picture of the nation’s, or the Republican Party’s, approbation of President Roosevelt. More than a year before the nominating convention, the United States was experiencing peace and prosperity, and the young president’s personality and reform policies captured the public’s affection. It was rather unprecedented that state parties were declaring their endorsement of Roosevelt’s re-nomination so early.