Depew, Chauncey M. (Chauncey Mitchell), 1834-1928

Simon Cordery examines the relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and the nation’s railroads. Cordery highlights some of the significant episodes in Roosevelt’s life made possible by train travel like his trip to the  Dakota Badlands in 1883, his exhausting campaign tour as a vice-presidential candidate in 1900, and his “Great Western Tour” as president in 1903. Cordery notes Roosevelt’s affection for the railroad workers and his disdain for their employers. Roosevelt saw the employees, with their difficult and dangerous jobs, as embodying the strenuous life while he wanted to curb the economic and political powers of their bosses. Cordery highlights the Northern Securities Case which dismantled a combination of railroads on the northern Great Plains and the debate over whether the railroads should provide free travel to the president. 

The article features nine photographs, including three of Roosevelt and trains, and two political cartoons. 

After having lunch with President Roosevelt at the White House, former New York governor Frank Swett Black reports that Roosevelt is certain to win the delegates from New York. The article also discusses the potential of Black becoming the newest U.S. Senator from New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-06

President Roosevelt stands at the “Presidency” plate on a baseball diamond, holding a bat labeled “Honest & Upright Government.” David B. Hill is poised to pitch him a “Tricky Politics” ball. “Gray,” William Jennings Bryan, and Grover Cleveland are in the outfield, while “Williams, Captain” talks with catcher Alton B. Parker. August Belmont, as bat boy, carries a “$” bag of bats labeled “Trusts” and “Interest.” Behind Roosevelt in the dugout are his teammates, Chauncey M. Depew, Albert J. Beveridge, Joseph Gurney Cannon, John Hay, George B. Cortelyou, “Black,” and vice-presidential candidate Charles W. Fairbanks. In the stands in the background are kings and other interested fans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08

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

New York Senator Chauncey M. Depew points at New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt and laughs. President Roosevelt and New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell sit on a couch in the background and also laugh. There is a picture of Abraham Lincoln on the wall. Caption: “A conference was held last week at the White House, when it was arranged that Benjamin Odell should assume control and re-organize the Republican fences in New York State. Senator Platt is said to resent this, and will be assisted in his fight for Supremacy by Senator Depew.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-05

A “U.S. Senate” horse stands and eats cobwebs as “Senator Root,” “Senator Cummins,” “Senator Roosevelt,” “Senator Bryan,” and Wisconsin Senator Robert M. La Follete push a steam engine that produces steam labeled “umsteen horse power legislative capacity” toward the horse to hitch it up. Meanwhile, the “people” push the “old regime” — “the old family phaeton,” an old-fashioned carriage — including “Sen. Platt” and New York Senator Chauncey M. Depew, as Uncle Sam watches and chuckles in the background.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Readers do not have to check their pulses or their texts when they see the vintage political cartoon by Jay N. “Ding” Darling referring to Senators Theodore Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan. Two men labelled senators were indeed appointed to their offices just at this time — Elihu Root of New York, the recent Secretary of State, and Governor Albert Baird Cummins of Iowa. Robert M. LaFollette of Wisconsin had been in the Senate for two years at the time of this cartoon.

In the top half of the cartoon, President Roosevelt grabs a man holding a rake by the neck. Caption: 1. After you had made a thrilling attack on the Man of the Muck Rake, and you had swatted and lambasted him in the most merciless manner— In the second half of the cartoon, “the common people” point Roosevelt to the “national muck heap” and ask, “Why don’t you get busy about that?” A number of individuals are in the pile: “R.R. rebater,” “official bribe taker,” “official grafter,” “U.S. senator owned by railroads,” “trust-owned U.S. senator,” New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt, Chauncy M. Depew, Pennsylvania Senator Philander C. Knox, Chair of the Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou, and Rhode Island Senator Nelson W. Aldrich. Caption: 2. If you suddenly learned that you ought to have attacked the Muck Heap instead of the Muck Rake. Wouldn’t it DEE-PRESS you?

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04

This cartoon includes depictions of a number of guests at the twentieth anniversary celebration of the Gridiron Club.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-09

Seating chart for a lunch held on December 4, 1901.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-04

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

A number of Republican and Democratic politicians play a game of baseball while large crowds look on. President Roosevelt is the pitcher while Charles W. Fairbanks is the catcher. The “voter” stands at the “White House” home base while Alton B. Parker tries to run to home base. Thomas Taggart tells Parker, “Get ready to slide, Judge.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-11

Elizabeth Snowden Nichols Watrous thanks and praises President Roosevelt for his courtesy and help.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-07

Various prominent citizens including, President Roosevelt and multiple senators, justices, and cabinet members, state their support of endowing a department of political science in Western Reserve University in memory of the late Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-27

Columbia University President Butler sends President Roosevelt his thoughts on revision of national currency policy. He feels that the current system is unable to meet the needs of businesses and creates constant problems. Butler evaluates the current state of politics in New York, including the popularity of Governor Charles Evans Hughes and unpopularity of Senators Thomas Collier Platt and Chauncey M. Depew.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-26

President Roosevelt appreciates Mayor Low’s summation of the case. Roosevelt believes there is greater danger in failing to act. He had not previously considered Frederick Burgess’s suggestions but agrees with Senator Chauncey M. Depew.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-08

Scenes from the 16th Republican National Convention held in Chicago, June 7-10, 1916. Long shot of delegates outside the Congress Hotel. Medium shots, from left to right, of Mrs. Olive H. Whitman; Governor Charles S. Whitman of New York (1915-1918); Francis Hendricks, former New York State Senator (1886-1891); George W. Perkins, a leader in the Progressive movement (1912-1916); Chauncey M. Depew, former New York State Senator (1899-1911); and a medium shot of the Coliseum where the convention was in session.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1916

Thomas Collier Platt waves his top hat while riding on the back of a bucking donkey. The donkey is labeled “Tribune” and has the face of Whitelaw Reid, and is in the ring at the “G.O.P. Circus.” Among those in the audience is Chauncey M. Depew.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-02-05

A large Christmas tree is decorated with ornaments labeled with political offices and presidential appointments. Thomas Collier Platt and Matthew S. Quay, who is dressed as a woman, are standing in front of the tree. In queues on both sides are diminutive figures anxiously awaiting their presents, including from right to left, Jerry Simpson, Joseph B. Foraker, William E. Chandler, William McKinley, Whitelaw Reid, Thomas B. Reed, Levi P. Morton, Benjamin Harrison, William B. Allison, George F. Hoar, John Sherman, Chauncey M. Depew, and Robert T. Lincoln. Caption: The two big bosses have full charge of it, and the most obedient boys will come in for the best gifts.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-12-25

On the left, many businessmen and women appear in stocks and pillories for such offenses as serving guests wine on Sunday, “for shaving on Sunday,” “for delivering ice on Sunday,” “for selling a glass of beer on Sunday,” “for blacking shoes on Sunday,” and “for working the growler on Sunday.” A notice states, “Behold the Punishment of the Wicked Sabbath Breaker. Let All Evil Doers Beware.” On the right is a group of New York legislators dressed as Puritans, including Lieutenant Governor Charles T. “Saxton,” Thomas C. “Platt,” Jacob M. “Patterson,” Hamilton “Fish,” Frederick S. “Gibbs,” Warner “Miller,” Governor Levi P. “Morton,” Chauncey M. “Depew,” and Jacob S. “Fassett.” Caption: The glorious revival of blue Sundays, stocks and pillories, that our good Republican Puritans are trying to bring about.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-10-16