Davis, Henry Gassaway, 1823-1916

Eleven topics vie for attention in the “Reviews” section, including six book review essays, three of which are written by John A. Gable. Harry N. Lembeck revisits Jacob A. Riis’s 1904 biography Theodore Roosevelt the Citizen and finds it especially valuable for learning about Theodore Roosevelt’s tenure as Police Commissioner of New York City. Jeremy M. Murphy says that Eric Rauchway’s Murdering McKinley goes against the prevailing trend that sees Roosevelt’s progressivism as genuine, and he disputes Rauchway’s conclusions about the fate of the Socialist Party in the United States. Gable notes that James Chace’s 1912 makes no use of primary sources, but he recommends it “as a good place to start on the election of 1912.”

In his review of Daniel J. Philippon’s Conserving Words, Edward Renehan focuses on Roosevelt, his writings about hunting and ranching in Dakota, and his founding of the Boone & Crockett Club. Gable notes that John P. Avlon identifies Roosevelt as a model centrist in his Independent Nation, and he says that Richard D. White’s Roosevelt the Reformer provides a biography of Roosevelt during his years as a Civil Service Commissioner. The section also has an excerpt from the writings of Douglas Brinkley, notes the passing of Edward Wagenknecht, author of The Seven Worlds of Theodore Roosevelt, and announces that the 2004 meeting of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) will be held in Portland, Oregon. An article on the vice presidential candidates in the election of 1904 and two letters to the TRA praising its journal close out the section.

Photographs of Roosevelt and Avlon appear in the section along with a text box with a quote from Roosevelt about the 1904 campaign.

Leslie H. Southwick provides a comprehensive history of the 1904 presidential election, surveying the Republican and Democratic candidates as well as those of the Socialist, Populist, and Prohibition parties. Southwick describes Theodore Roosevelt’s path to securing his election, touching on his service as Vice President, his political battles with Senator Marcus Hanna, and his selection of George B. Cortelyou as his campaign manager. Southwick also covers Alton B. Parker’s path to the Democratic nomination, highlighting the roles played by former nominees William Jennings Bryan and Grover Cleveland. Southwick describes the dull fall campaign, enlivened by the musings of Finley Peter Dunne’s fictional barkeeper, Mr. Dooley, which Southwick quotes frequently in the course of the article.

Photographs of the four candidates for president and vice president of the Republican and Democratic parties appear in the article, along with an electoral map of the election, and Homer Davenport’s famous cartoon endorsing Roosevelt.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Alton B. Parker gives Uncle Sam a paper that reads, “application for position as master of the White House—Alton B. Parker—References: Hill, Belmont, McCarren, Taggart, Williams, Davis, Bailey, Murphy,” as Parker points to a group of men, all of whom are listed on the paper. On the wall is a “U.S. bulletin help wanted” board.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09

Henry Gassaway Davis and West Virginia Senator Stephen B. Elkins carve up a “West Va” turkey. On the wall is a sign that reads, “West Va. is ours.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-02

Alton B. Parker and David B. Hill with a “peanuts” feather sit in the conductor’s car of the “Belmont Never Git There Line.” Henry Gassaway Davis stands in a car with a “Davis bar’l $40,000,000” and operates the brake.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08

A Democratic donkey holds an axe and a shovel as it runs toward “Davis $40,000,000 Bar’l.” In the background is a tag for “Hearst $1,400,000.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08

President Roosevelt and Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbanks ride a carriage driven by an elephant with a cannon attached to it. Roosevelt holds “the big stick.” Alton B. Parker and Henry Gassaway Davis ride calmly in a carriage beside them. “The law” and the “Constitution of the United States” are attached to the carriage. Both pass the “1904” marker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-12

President Roosevelt pops a large ball of “Democratic campaign fallacies” with a “sound America common sense” feather. It drips into a “many inventions” bowl.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08

Henry Gassaway Davis sits on a pile of money surrounded by a barbed wire fence. Caption: And the millions he intends to give the Democratic campaign fund.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-26

President Roosevelt, Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbanks, Alton B. Parker, and Henry Gassaway Davis sit on the edge of their seats on “the anxious bench.” They are all sweating. Uncle Sam watches and says, “Somebody ought to tell those fellows the names of the nominees. I want to know what they’ll say.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-24

A number of men stand around an ailing mule with two brands: “W. J. B. 1900” and “W. J. B. 1896.” Alton B. Parker tries to feed the mule “Parker golden corn” and ponders, “I wonder will he swallow this?” William Francis Sheehan has a telegram, August Belmont holds “clippers,” William Bourke Cockran has “ginger,” David B. Hill holds a “whip,” and Patrick Henry McCarren holds a “knife.” Henry Gassaway Davis comes running toward the mule and says, “I’ve got the remedy.” The train at the “Esopus Station” has smoke that reads, “from West Virginia.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-17

West Virginia Senator Stephen B. Elkins holds onto a woman labeled “West Virginia.” Henry Gassaway Davis looks at the woman as he wears a fancy suit and a “West VA daisy” and says, “I want you mah honey, yes I do!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-17

In one vignette, Henry Gassaway Davis puts his hand on West Virginia Senator Stephen B. Elkins’s shoulder. Caption: Mr. Davis—That it’s all in the family. In the second, an elephant holds President Roosevelt’s hold “to victory.” Caption: G.O.P.—That it had a strenuous leader. In the third, William Jennings Bryan sits by a grave with a headstone that reads, “Safe & Sane Democrat 1904.” Caption: Mr. Bryan—That it wasn’t his friends. In the fourth, Missouri Senator Francis Marion Cockrell stands by “national esteem” wreaths outside the “White House.” Caption: Mr. Cockrell—That it’s an ill wind, etc. In the fifth, Henry Watterson sits in a rocking chair on a boat bound for Europe. Caption: Mr. Watterson—That there’s another country. In the sixth, a badly beaten donkey stands up by a sign that reads, “Under no circumstances will I again be a candidate for the presidency. T. Roosevelt.” Caption: Democracy—That there’s a ray of sunshine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-24

In the first vignette, Alton B. Parker knocks on the door of August Belmont. Caption: Mr. Parker—”Did I understand that there was a $50,000 job vacant around here?” In the second, Henry Gassaway Davis holds a large money barrel while President Roosevelt walks away with West Virginia woman. Caption: At last reports Uncle Henry Davis was still holding his own. In the third, “Dr. Bryan,” “Dr. Hearst,” and “Dr. Watson” all attempt to doctor a bandaged Democratic donkey. Caption: The Doctors—”Cheer up, we’ll begin work on you again.” In the fourth vignette, William Preston Harrison walks from the “West Side” to the “North Side.” Caption: William Preston Harrison leaves from again. In the fifth, Parker stands beside William H. Douglas who holds a sign with a shoe on it that reads, “It pays to advertise.” In the sixth, Chicago Mayor Carter H. Harrison stares at a sign that reads, “Wisconsin for Roosevelt . . . 50,000—Illinois for Roosevelt . . . 230,000—Indiana for Roosevelt . . . 60,000.” Caption: The states he promised Parker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-10

In one vignette, David B. Hill jumps into a “Wolfert’s Roost” tree with a sign that reads, “I really couldn’t wait until Jan. 1.” In the second, “the silent voter” sphinx shouts, “Roosevelt!” from a megaphone as Alton B. Parker runs away. In a third vignette, Chair of the Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou tells Chair of the Democratic National Committee Thomas Taggart, “Kindly make allowances for me, Tom, as this was my first campaign.” In the fourth, President Roosevelt looks at a Republican elephant who holds a scroll that reads, “339 + electoral votes.” The elephant says, “Theodore, you’ve established a hard record for me to keep up with.” In the fifth, Henry Gassaway Davis opens a fence as West Virginia Senator Stephen B. Elkins rushes toward him and says, “Welcome home, pop!” In the sixth, Williams Jennings Bryan looks at a piecemeal donkey and says, “I guess there’s enough to work on.” In the seventh, “Southern democracy” looks at the shoes of “Northern democracy” stuck in a snowdrift and says, “Nothin’ but de feet!” In the eighth, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon looks through binoculars and says, “Wanted! A few minority members for House committees.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-13

Several Democratic Party leaders ride on a train together, including August Belmont, Patrick Henry McCarren, David B. Hill, Charles Francis Murphy, Henry Gassaway Davis, Thomas Taggart, William F. Sheehan, and William Jennings Bryan. Alton B. Parker wears several bandages, including a “$50,000 law job from Belmont” around his head and a “Solid South” bandage on his hand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-09

Alton B. Parker and Henry Gassaway Davis operate a “St. Louis platform” handcar as a “Republican express” locomotive with President Roosevelt’s face on the front advances toward them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-29

New York Senators Thomas Collier Platt and Chauncey M. Depew led a durbar procession, which includes President Roosevelt, who holds a paper that reads, “the presidency compliments of the people,” sitting on a Republican elephant. Democratic party leaders, including Arthur P. Gorman, David B. Hill, Alton B. Parker, August Belmont, and Henry Gassaway Davis, watch from the side. Uncle Sam bows toward the procession.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-29

An African-American man holds two hands of playing cards. One hand includes cards that feature the faces of President Roosevelt, Chair of the Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou, J. Pierpont Morgan, Charles W. Fairbanks, New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell, and New York Lieutenant Governor Frank Wayland Higgins. The other hand includes cards that feature the faces of Patrick Henry McCarren, Charles Francis Murphy, William Jennings Bryan, David B. Hill, Alton B. Parker, and Henry Gassaway Davis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10

Each of the four 1904 presidential and vice-presidential candidates are drawn with a coat of arms and a descriptive word. President Roosevelt’s word is “imperial,” Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbank’s word is “splendor,” Alton B. Parker’s word is “Jeffersonian,” and Henry Gassaway Davis’s word is “simplicity.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-12