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Following a trip to Indiana, Booker T. Washington reports on the state of the African American vote in that state. Washington’s main fear is efforts by Democrats to keep them away from the polls on election day. Washington also spoke with African American leaders from West Virginia, where things are in good shape.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-08
John Mulholland congratulates President Roosevelt on his speech after his nomination was announced. He criticizes the Democrats’ presidential nominee Alton B. Parker for not recognizing labor. Mulholland suggests that the Republicans can attract Democrats’ votes by arguing that Parker and his vice president Henry G. Davis are opposed to labor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-02
Elihu Root would like President Roosevelt’s opinion on a draft containing what Root plans to say to Charles W. Fairbanks. Root particularly wants Roosevelt’s and George B. Cortelyou’s opinion on whether his statement concerning Democratic vice-presidential candidate Henry G. Davis is “brutal.” He feels it must be said and thinks this the best time to say it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-26
Senator Lodge sends his thoughts on the Democratic National Convention in St. Louis to President Roosevelt including his opinions on the nomination of Judge Parker and some of the planks in the party platform.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-12
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.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
2004
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-17
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10
“H. Giveaway Davis” holds a “Western Union telegram” that reads, “Democratic National Convention.” Meanwhile, President Roosevelt stands by a wall that reads, “sound finances—honesty in public service—courage to do right—protection to American labor—respect for the flag at home & abroad—fair play for capital and labor—punishment for every grafter.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-24
Alton B. Parker and Henry Gassaway Davis hold sheet music and sing two contradictory songs about protectionism and free trade to Uncle Sam. Caption: Special engagement of Alton and Gassaway, the celebrated team of musical daologueists.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-29
Circus performers Alton B. Parker and Henry Gassaway Davis shakily stand on two galloping horses, labeled “free trade” and “protection.” August Belmont walks along as the ringleader, while David B. Hill watches as a clown.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-05