Your TR Source
Senator Knox’s views on Alton B. Parker and the Democratic Party platform are discussed and generally praised. Knox’s point that Parker’s advocacy of the gold standard is actually a testament to a Republican achievement and is an affront to many Democrats who support William Jennings Bryan is particularly commended.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-15
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to discuss barriers to electing Secretary of War William H. Taft to the presidency. He cites the defection in the black vote, big business, the labor’s unhappiness with the Republican Party, the unemployed, and the fact Taft is an Unitarian. Roosevelt also talks of Kermit’s start at college, their trip to Africa, and his first month back at the White House.
1908-10-20
This advertisement for a subscription package for both the New York World and the Citizen announces the impartiality of the World in covering the upcoming elections.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-27
President Roosevelt thanks Joseph Bucklin Bishop for his editorial. He also discusses the Democratic Party’s possible nomination of Gray for president and shares his opinion of why he does not think George Gray will be chosen as the Democratic candidate.
1904-02-08
This article discusses Charles J. Bonaparte’s political views, revealing that he is both a Republican and independent voter. Subsections of the article include “Republican And Independent,” “Believes In National Organization,” “May Take Part In Campaign,” “What He Thinks Of Parker,” “Democratic Party Improving,” “Letter of Acceptance ‘Commonplace,'” and “Scores Parker’s Alleged Sponsors.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-18
Honor Bright explains why he will be supporting President Roosevelt, and not Alton B. Parker, in the presidential race.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-07
A list of Republican and Democratic Representatives, probably related to some piece of legislation under consideration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-05
Theodore Roosevelt writes to T. H. Wanamaker about the Progressive movement in the South and invites him to share his letter with John M. Parker and other representatives in the Southern states. Roosevelt expresses admiration for the members of the Progressive Party in the South. He also mentions his hope that the Progressive Party would provide a second party option for those in the South who were dissatisfied with the Democratic Party. However, Roosevelt acknowledges the failure of the Progressives to gain popular support in the South and concludes that they must do what is best for the nation.
1916-06-24
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna Roosevelt about current happenings in Oyster Bay, New York. The Roosevelts have been entertaining guests and playing tennis and polo. Roosevelt also discusses the upcoming election and thinks that Benjamin Harrison will be a good candidate.
1888-07-30
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
President Roosevelt describes the fall foliage in Washington, D.C., and updates Kermit on the family’s activities, including Roosevelt’s tennis playing and scramble-walking. He discusses the entertaining schedule they have been keeping. Roosevelt also adds that the Democrats have been spreading lies during the campaign and he will send Kermit a list of how he thinks the states will vote.
1904-10-15
President Roosevelt writes to Kermit Roosevelt with news of his Presidential election campaign and his forecasts. He warns Kermit not to leave the letter out where anyone could find it.
1904-10-26
Article describes the Progressive and Democrat party platforms, and William H. Taft.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1912-09-17
Article discusses Theodore Roosevelt and his acceptance of the nomination.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1912-01-11
William Randolph Hearst paints a donkey yellow from a bucket of paint labeled “Riot & Rottenness.” He holds the donkey by a bridle labeled “Dem. State Machine.” A dog, with the countenance of Hearst’s able amanuensis Arthur Brisbane, plays Buster’s dog Tige in this cartoon.
Once the Yellow Journalist publisher and New York congressman William Randolph Hearst declared his interest in the 1906 gubernatorial contest as a Democrat, Udo J. Keppler and his Puck magazine fired weekly salvos against him.
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw discusses historical events in finance and banking in relation to Republican and Democratic policies. He notes that support for the single gold standard has increased within the Republican party. Shaw frames this discussion by asking what conclusions an “intelligent stranger of a philosophical turn of mind” would come to after observing “self-governed and self-governing people.” He argues that “the consensus of mature judgment of the Republican party is usually right, and that the consensus of mature judgment of the Democratic party is usually wrong.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-23
Lincoln Steffens discusses with William Loeb when it would be possible for him to meet President Roosevelt to discuss the Presidential election. Steffens talks about an article for Wall Street that he thought was bad, but may include the information in another article that he is working on. He also discusses some other issues related to the conventions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-13
The “Democratic Party” donkey and the “Republican Party” elephant sit on a porch. A stork carrying a bag labeled “Dr. Stork” is coming around the corner of the building. Caption: Will it be an elephass or a jackaphant?
A mid-summer cartoon — Puck almost palpably enjoyed a few weeks of politics, scandals, and muckraking on hiatus — addressing, with added humor, common speculation that the two political parties were growing similar to each other, or perhaps switching their identities.
William Jennings Bryan, as Moses, beams rays of “Radicalism” and “Conservatism,” and holds his own version of the Ten Commandments. Among the small group of followers in the background are James K. Jones and Tom Loftin Johnson.
On August 30, 1906, the twice-rebuffed Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan ended the months of speculation about his intentions for 1908. He and surrogates, since he returned from a lengthy world tour, and teased — albeit with little subtlety — about his habitual ambition to be president.
The Democratic Donkey, as a woman, sits in a pew in a church with William Jennings Bryan preaching “Jeffersonian Simplicity” from a pulpit. On Bryan’s left are Alton B. Parker, Henry Watterson, and William Randolph Hearst, and among those on his right are New York City Mayor George B. McClellan Jr., former Representative Tom Watson of Georgia, Representative John Sharp Williams of Mississippi, and Senator “Pitchfork Ben” Tillman. All are preaching except Hearst, who righteously looks up to the heavens. In the background, the sun illuminates a stained glass window labeled “Our Thomas” and showing Thomas Jefferson. In a far corner of the church, Grover Cleveland is asleep. Caption: The Democratic Donkey (drowsily) — He-e-e Haw! What a lot of ways to be saved!
If “politics makes strange bedfellows,” the calendar can make them even stranger. Puck Magazine, generally and justly considered a Democratic journal for most of its life, placed itself in agreement with many of the policies of the new president, Theodore Roosevelt, after the assassination of President William McKinley. That is, until the presidential election year of 1904.