Eggs

Alton B. Parker is pictured as a chicken sitting on a large egg labeled “Parker Boom.”

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Comments and Context

The “Parker Boom” was a largely contrived effort of conservative Democrats to find an alternative presidential candidate to William Jennings Bryan in 1904. The radical Populist Bryan had lost two presidential campaigns, badly, in 1896 and 1900. “Bourbon” Democrats yearned for power again, and “Gold Democrats” like former president Grover Cleveland wanted the party to return to sane policies as they saw them.

The “Republican Party” elephant walks on “Senate” and “House” stilts, on a path covered with eggs labeled “Monopoly, High Tariff Excuses, ‘Bad Trusts,’ Labor Question, Post Office Scandal, [and] Protected Trusts.” A paper attached to the elephant’s tail states “Tariff Reform.” A sign in the background points “To Washington 1904.”

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Comments and Context

The Republican elephant, drawn by Puck‘s go-to animal cartoonist J. S. Pughe, is the focal point of this cartoon that is frankly a generic concept, rare for Puck, rather than an accurate portrayal of events or analysis of issues. The cartoon’s implication is that the party in June of 1903 and a year from the national presidential convention, avoids dealing with a myriad of issues. In fact, except for plainly viewing the tariff as an issue with no urgency to address, the eggs are labelled with issues, positions, and accomplishments that President Roosevelt and the Republican Party were quite willing to discuss with voters.

The rulers of “Russia,” “Germany,” “Italy,” “Austria,” “France,” and “England” are chickens trying to hatch a large egg labeled “China.” A chicken labeled “Japan” stands in the background with Uncle Sam, also as a chicken, perched on a fence in the rear.

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Comments and Context

This is one of dozens of cartoons published during the Boxer Rebellion that depicts the conflict as merely intractable or challenging rather than as an insoluble crisis. The cartoonist also perpetuates the situation as being one where the United States (Uncle Sam) is nothing more than an observer. In truth, U. S. Marines played a major role in defending the besieged legations and defeating the Chinese insurgents.

Theodore Roosevelt commiserates with Ada Hall about the rising cost of produce. He mentions that farmers are just as displeased as consumers. He hopes that those with the power to affect change will investigate the issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-15

President Roosevelt thanks John H. Johnston for the “first class prehistoric egg, with the picture of the turkey on it.” He hopes Johnston and his wife, Alma C. Johnston, enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-30

In the first section of the cartoon, “Congress” holds a “public business” basket of eggs, and sticks his tongue out at President Roosevelt. In the second section, the basket is on the ground with a number of broken eggs, and both Roosevelt and “Congress” walk away. “Congress” says, “He’ll never sass me again,” while Roosevelt says, “I beat him to a frazzle.”

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Comments and Context

This cartoon conveys a message of “a pox on both houses,” revealing bias in favor of neither President Roosevelt nor Congress.

President Roosevelt catches William Jennings Bryan stealing eggs from the “Roosevelt policies” coop. Several are cracked on the ground. Caption: Bryan to Roosevelt—Aw, why don’t you mind your own business?

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Comments and Context

Turnabout is fair play, the saying goes; but cartoonist Jay N. “Ding” Darling made the point that political and policy turnabout were foul — or fowl — play in 1908. President Roosevelt, a lifetime reformer in many ways and on various issues, during his second term had evolved to a more radical turn in his policies and prescriptions.

A small chick labeled “Prosperity” has emerged from a large egg labeled “Easter 1897.” A rooster labeled “Rep. Party” is crowing in the background and a hen with the head of President McKinley is strutting on the right. Caption: It is pretty small yet – but it is bound to grow.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1897-04-21

President McKinley stops the hand of a man wearing buccaneer clothing and holding a large sword labeled “Yellow Journalism” and a trumpet labeled “War.” On the right is a goose wearing a medal labeled “Business Revival” and a large golden egg labeled “Prosperity 1898.” Caption: Yellow journalism is more dangerous to our peace, prosperity and national honor than all the enemies outside our gates.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-04-13

A group of “fighting roosters” labeled “Russia, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, [and] England” stand around a chick labeled “Japan” from a newly hatched egg labeled “Chinese Japanese War.” The chick is crowing and standing on the Chinese flag. Caption: Chorus of Fighting Roosters–Well! Well! – who’d have thought it?

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-04-17

President Taft, as a hen, sits on eggs labeled “Reform Measures” on a nest that is infested by rats labeled “Cannon, Aldrich, Gallinger, [and] Smoot.” Caption: If the trustful hen doesn’t wake up, there’ll be nothing left but the shells.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-03-30

In the “Grand National Congressional Theatre” the performance of “Fair Promise Combination No. 47 – Great Reform Bill – Act I Tariff Reform – Act II Civil Service Reform – Act III Internal Revenue Reform” is concluding. The audience is pelting the cast with cats, eggs, onions, turnips, and other vegetables and fruits. Among those on stage are David Davis, Thomas W. Ferry, George M. Robeson, Jay A. Hubbell, Frank Hiscock, Horace F. Page, and William Mahone.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-02-28

Print shows William Jennings Bryan as a goose flapping his wings and squawking, perched on a nest with a large egg labeled “Free Silver 16 to 1.” At his feet is a bowl of food labeled “Republican Non-Interference with the Money Question.” In the background, Mark Hanna and William McKinley are standing behind a gate that leads to the White House.

Caption: Chairman Hanna–We must be careful not to take that food away from him. We wouldn’t be nearly so sure of our jobs without those eggs.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

A woman labeled “Democracy,” wearing a blindfold labeled “Stupidity,” is being pushed by Samuel J. Randall toward a “Presidenti[al] Chair.” Several eggs lie in the way on the ground, labeled “Honest Naval Appropriation, Civil Service Reform, Honest River-Harbor Appropriation, Economy, Anti-Silver Coinage, National Banking System, Tariff Reform, [and] Prompt Legislation.” Two of the eggs are broken. Among a group of men laughing, in the background on the right, are John Logan, John Sherman, and William D. Kelley.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-04-09

Print shows Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa spoon-feeding a promissory note that states “Pay the Bearer $5 When Ireland is Free” to an Irish servant girl labeled “Bridget”; on the floor between them is a hat labeled “Rossa” filled with golden eggs labeled “Money from Bridget”. On a table to the left is a large bowl filled with golden eggs labeled “Irish Contributions from Servant Girls”, and hanging on the wall at center are notices that state “Funds Wanted for Bleeding Ireland” and “Headqua[rters] of the Dynamite Coterie.” Broken eggs spill coins on the floor. Caption: Rossa “Begorra, we’ll never kill her while her appetite lasts!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-08-22

On the left, a man labeled “Egg Plunger” is standing atop a large egg labeled “Egg Speculation” that rests on top of buildings labeled “Cold Storage.” On the right, Uncle Sam has smashed the egg with an axe labeled “Pure Food Law” causing the man to plunge into the egg. Caption: Come one, come all! This rock shall fly / From its firm base as soon as I!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-12-10

Humpty Dumpty labeled “Excessive Protection” slips off a “Tariff Wall.” Many men have thrown a rope labeled “Stand Pat Influence” around his waist, hoping to prevent him from falling. Caption: Humpty Dumpty slips from the wall; Humpty’s due for an awful fall. All the Trust lobbies, with all their slick men, Will never be able to raise him again.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-03-12

Theodore Roosevelt struggles to carry a huge hen labeled “Taft” to a nest of eggs labeled “State Delegations.” Sitting on a fence in the background is a chicken with the head of Joseph Gurney Cannon. Another chicken looking like Charles W. Fairbanks pokes his head through the fence. Caption: Getting the hen on the job.

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Comments and Context

Once again — as indeed would be his lot during his entire career — William H. Taft had a cartoonist make fun at his expanse. Beyond the visual humor was the actual situation that President Roosevelt had to work hard to advance the case for his chosen successor Taft to secure the Republican nomination. There was sparse enthusiasm through the party, and Taft was not a gifted retail campaigner. So a portrayal of Roosevelt breaking a sweat just to get Taft to nurture possible delegates was prescient commentary.

A stone wall labeled “Rotten Finance” is constructed with stones showing the faces of many businessmen and financiers, including John D. Rockefeller, J. Pierpont Morgan, and Edward Henry Harriman. On the ground, in front of the wall, is a broken egg labeled “Confidence.” Caption: Humpty-Dumpty sat on a wall; / Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall. / All the Street’s horses and all the Street’s men / Can’t put Humpty back again.

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Comments and Context

Almost two months into the financial crisis known as the Wall Street Panic in 1907, Puck magazine addressed the situation. It was late, but with trenchant commentary that compensated. Indeed, during the crisis that was precipitated by the unsuccessful takeover of a copper company, a web of under-capitalized and over-extended companies, trusts, and banks became evident.

A large, mean-looking hen, wearing a large black bonnet, stands over her brood: fully-mature men and women hatching from eggs who seem intent on meeting each other.

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Comments and Context

Easter came early in 1907 — March 31 — but Puck was on time with its traditional secular theme in text, verse, and cartoons: the end of Lent. The period of self-restricted piety, at least diminished socializing and courting, as was the custom of the day, meant that dating and social engagements could commence anew. The cycle was a custom decreasingly observed, yet cartoonists like L. M. Glackens could draw uncountable inspirations from it, as in this cover drawing.