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President Roosevelt wants to hear about W. Sloan Simpson’s trip. He is glad Simpson thinks Oklahoma Governor Frank C. Frantz has a chance, and that he approves of Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou’s actions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-26
President Roosevelt found Representative Hill’s letter very interesting and will bring it before the Cabinet. Nothing will be done about the currency question in the Philippines until Roosevelt hears from Governor Taft.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-01
President Roosevelt uses his patented “Roosevelt invigorator” with “necessary measures,” “anti-injunction,” “anti-trust,” and “currency legislation” to blow into the mouth of a “Do Nothing 60th Congress” elephant costume that appears to be on Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon who says, “A storm must be brewing.” Roosevelt’s big stick lies on the ground with the United States Capitol building in the background.
President Roosevelt approves of how Joseph Bucklin Bishop handled a letter from William H. Taft. He also mentions that he heard about an interaction between Bishop and John J. McCook. Roosevelt discusses the views of Congress and big financiers on currency reform and sends Bishop a copy of a letter he sent to the Senators from Oregon.
1903-08-23
The article discusses why the English press favors the Democratic ticket. Other topics discussed on this page include “Navy Plank Struck Out,” “‘Artful’ Judge Parker,” “Judge Parker Against Palmer and Buckner,” “Democratic Lightning Change Artists,” “The Irish World on Protection,” and “Chairman Cortelyou’s Alleged Prophecy.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-11
Alton B. Parker as “Little Bopeep” sits on a rock labeled “Esopus,” tending a flock of sheep labeled “Gold Democrat” with their tails labeled “Vote.” The sheep are entering a pasture labeled “Democratic Fold – Four Years of Clover.” A ribbon tied to the shepherd’s crook states “Gold Standard.” Includes verse: Little Bopeep has lost her sheep, / But she doesn’t have to mind them. / Let ’em alone and they’ll come home / And bring their tails behind them.
William Jennings Bryan is a large spider labeled “Free Silver” with three flies labeled “White, Schurz, [and] Godkin” caught in his web labeled “16 to 1,” “Anti-expansion,” “Chicago Platform,” and “Bryanism.”
The radical economic policies and agrarian roots of William Jennings Bryan kept many Eastern, aristocratic liberals from making alliance with his Populist-based campaigns. The old-line liberal reformers Horace White, Carl Schurz, and Edwin Godkin — all on the staffs of the New York Post and The Nation magazine — were tempted to support Bryan in his presidential candidacy of 1900 on the issues of Expansionism and anti-Imperialist views. The cartoon’s layout and labels indicate that cartoonist Pughe saw Imperialism as an issue that would lead to their doom.
A tattered old man labeled “Silver Republicans” runs into the open arms of Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna, “Chairman of Rep. Natl. Com.” Behind Hanna is a building flying the banner of “McKinley & Sound Money” and with a cow labeled “Prosperity” looking out an open window.
comments and context
A fact largely forgotten by history is that on the great issues of the end of the 19th century in American politics, the two major parties were not clearly divided. Before President Cleveland’s decisive Annual Message on the tariff in 1887 (still the lone State of the Union message devoted to one subject), there were protectionists and free-traders in each party. Until the radical platform of William Jennings Bryan and the McKinley prosperity, there were a sizable number of “Silver Republicans” who resisted the gold standard of East Coast and Wall Street Republicans. The 1878 Bland-Allison Act was a bipartisan, bi-metallic measure vetoed by President Rutherford B. Hayes, but overridden by Congress. McKinley himself flirted with silver coinage around 1890, and Ohio Senator John Sherman’s name was on a Silver Purchase Act, which Cleveland believed precipitated the Depression of the 1890s. By 1900, the silver-coinage issue was dead, both for apostate Republicans as this cartoon illustrates, and for the country as a whole.
Members of the Democratic Party labeled “Sound Money Democrats” cast votes for President William McKinley and show their support for the “Sound Money” platform of the Republican Party. On the left is a little man representing a faction of the Populist Party, flying a banner with a portrait of William Jennings Bryan; and in the background is the deserted Democratic Party Platform, flying a banner labeled “Democrat No Nomination.”
comments and context
The man under the Populist banner is Senator William A. Peffer of Kansas, one of six Populists to serve in the United States Senate. He served one term, 1891-1897, but maintained political ambitions, and Populist ideals. Among the “Gold Democrats’ who stayed loyal to President Cleveland in 1896 and declined to support William Jennings Bryan, some continued to support Republican President McKinley in 1900. This cartoon seems more appropriate for 1896, but shows how shunned Bryan was among some Democrats with long memories and “Sound Money” principles. They are not labeled, but some of Democrats shown voting for McKinley are (foreground) John M. Palmer, the so-called National Democratic Party candidate for President in 1896; and (background, with shaded spectacles) William C. Whitney, who had been President Cleveland’s Secretary of the Navy. Whitney was a hunting partner of Theodore Roosevelt, and whose son Harry married Gertrude Vanderbilt, founder of the Whitney Museum of Art; and whose other son William married Helen Hay, poet and daughter of Roosevelt’s Secretary of State John Hay. The daughter of Harry and Gertrude was Flora Payne Whitney, who engaged to be married to Theodore’s son Quentin when the latter was killed in aerial combat in World War I.
President William McKinley stands on the steps to the U.S. Capitol, holding up two flags, one labeled “Expansion” and the other labeled “Sound Money.” Tiny figures at the foot of the steps show William Jennings Bryan and his “Anti-Expansion” and “16 to 1” followers trying to dislodge the flag poles.
comments and context
Puck never shed its Democratic roots more than in campaigns where William Jennings Bryan was its party’s nominee, especially in 1900. The portrait of McKinley virtually is hagiographic. Even with two major issues, the Democrats found scarce traction with voters. The Anti-Expansion “pigmies” include Carl Schurz, left; and Joseph Pulitzer, right. Two of the “16 to 1” (free silver) opponents are Senator George Frisbie Hoar, left; Adlai E. Stevenson, with the straw hat; and Bryan, with the banner.
President Roosevelt tells Sir George Otto Trevelyan of his happiness regarding the recent 1904 presidential election, and remarks that he is glad people decided to support the positive message of the Republican Party, rather than the negativity of the Democratic Party. The president attributes his victory to the clear-cut message in his speeches and addresses as well as those canvassing for him. Roosevelt discusses the differences between the American president and other political leaders and believes the American president is more like the British prime minister than the French president. he additionally reflects on his intention not to run for a third term. Even without the convention of only two terms, the president believes it would be better for Secretary of War William H. Taft or Elihu Root to succeed him; they are similar in policy, but would have fresh thoughts and ways. Roosevelt concludes by discussing his recent reading. He praises a section from one of Abraham Lincoln’s speeches after his reelection and equates certain American political leaders to characters in Charles Dickens’s works.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-24
Theodore Roosevelt opposes the Aldrich proposition. He is puzzled that Elisha Ely Garrison and Victor Morawetz oppose it with strong arguments yet contend that each other is wrong. Despite Garrison’s suggestion, Roosevelt is unwilling to lead the fight against the Aldrich Bill as he is less knowledgeable about currency issues and the tariff than about the military and corporate regulation, among other things.
President Roosevelt gives careful consideration to anything Thomas F. Woodlock writes about the currency question. He is discouraged by financial leaders of the country, who despite having the most knowledge of the subject, only unify in opposition to any of his proposed measures.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-16
President Roosevelt will give careful consideration to anything John L. Hamilton writes about the currency question. He is discouraged that, while all of the financial leaders in the country agree that something has to be done, they cannot agree on what should be done.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-16
President Roosevelt encourages Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou to have the currency plan ready soon, so they can work to get it approved. He also asks Cortelyou to send him the nomination of George W. Wanamaker for appraiser of merchandise in New York so his name can be announced when the Senate returns.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-02
President Roosevelt agrees with Lucius B. Swift regarding currency reform but believes Congress will continue to not take action. While problematic, Roosevelt thinks the main issue is the divided opinions of businessmen. Roosevelt appreciates Swift’s concern and assures him that he is not affected by the negative responses that businesses and the public have made regarding his comments.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-09
President Roosevelt thanks Jacob H. Schiff for sending his speech and hopes Congress will agree on what to do about the currency question.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-09
President Roosevelt thanks Guild A. Copeland for his letter. He requests that Copeland bring along Henry W. Peabody in the spring so they can all speak. Roosevelt thanks Copeland and Peabody for promoting the “Boston plan” of currency reform.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-02
President Roosevelt hopes that if Colonel Higginson discovers at the last minute that he can spend the night of January 12 in Washington, that he will do so. He agrees with Higginson about the currency question, and points out that he has “pegged away” in every annual message to Congress on the lines that Higginson suggested. He does not know how to get Congress to act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-07
President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Gurney Cannon, Chairman of the Notification Committee, to formally accept his nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and to approve the platform adopted by the Republican National Convention. In the letter, Roosevelt provides a comprehensive defense of his foreign and domestic policies and outlines what he believes are the major differences between the Republican and Democratic parties in the upcoming election. Roosevelt discusses, among other topics, his position on international relations, antitrust legislation, tariffs, the gold standard, pensions for Civil War veterans, the military, civil service, commerce, agriculture, taxation, and self-government in the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-12