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New York Representative James Wolcott Wadsworth is said to be planning his candidacy for Congress again next year. The details of his plan to regain his seat through “pulling wires” in the Republican Party and “handicapping” Representative Peter A. Porter are given.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-05
Governor William Sulzer sits in a horse-drawn wagon labeled “Direct Primaries,” between William Randolph Hearst and President Roosevelt.
The context is a matter of “strange bedfellows” — the Progressive Roosevelt, New York Governor William Sulzer, and reformer publisher Hearst. The three were uneasy allies, especially as the radical United States Representative Sulzer was elected governor in 1912. One of his first initiatives was to strengthen New York’s weak direct Primary system by a ballot initiative in 1913 — the subject of Lambdin’s cartoon. The move was defeated, and due to Sulzer’s break with the corrupt Tammany Democrat organization, he was impeached on vague accusations and removed from office. In 1914 he sought the Progressive nomination for governor.
Thomas B. Reed, in the role of “Lohengrin,” arrives to rescue “Elsa” as the “Republican Party of New York,” with Thomas Collier Platt in the role of “Telramund” and Lemuel E. Quigg in the role of “Ortrud,” his wife. They are all at the gate of a castle and a swan labeled “Aspiration” is in a moat at far left. Caption: “The Republican Elsa would gladly be rescued from her oppressors.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-12-15
Richard Croker sits at a table, sharpening a large knife. On the table is a large turkey labeled “Patronage of Greater N.Y.” on a platter. A small dog labeled “Platt,” sitting on a hassock next to the table, is begging for scraps. A portrait of Mayor Van Wyck hangs on the wall behind Croker.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-11-24
A fashionably dressed young woman with long ribbons labeled “Greater New York” stands on a floating shell on “Political Waters” with Thomas Collier Platt and Richard Croker as mermen.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-11-10
Benjamin F. Tracy is a cat who burned his paws on a hot stove labeled “Mayoralty Campaign 1897,” on which food labeled “Budget of Greater New York 70,000,000 Dollars” is cooking. Thomas Collier Platt is a hurdy-gurdy monkey sitting on a stool in the background. Caption: The Cat–(in a tone of great pain) M-i-e-a-o-u! Mee-yow!!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-11-10
The Tammany tiger, well-dressed and sitting on top of a scale model of a building labeled “Tammany Hall,” has made a puppet by tying a stick labeled “Platt’s Dummy,” with the head of Benjamin F. Tracy, to the end of its tail.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-11-03
Thomas Collier Platt kneels on the right, praying, as a bolt of lightning labeled “Citizens Union” strikes at his feet from a storm cloud showing the face of Seth Low. He is back to back with Richard Croker, on the left, who is struck by a bolt of lightning labeled “Henry George Party” coming from a dark cloud showing the face of Henry George. The jolt knocks off Croker’s hat.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-10-27
Thomas Collier Platt stands next to a sign labeled “N.Y. State” and holding “N.Y. City Offices” under his arm, which he is planning to swap with Richard Croker, who is standing next to a sign labeled “N.Y. City” and is holding “N.Y. Legislature” in his left hand. Caption: Boss Platt is getting ready to swap the city for the state.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-10-20
Richard Croker as the Tammany Tiger holds a measuring tape up to Charles A. Dana, Oswald Ottendorfer, and A. Oakey Hall. Caption: Tammany ought to seek among its oldest and staunchest supporters for a mayoralty candidate who will come up to Seth Low’s measurements.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-09-29
Newly elected New York City Mayor William L. Strong and newly elected Governor Levi P. Morton sit on Tammany boss Thomas Collier Platt who is wearing a crown labeled “Plattism” and has a cat-o’-nine-tails labeled “Boss.” Strong and Morton confer over a paper labeled “Plans for Reform Administrations.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-12-19
The Tammany Tiger lies on its back on a bed, apparently dead. A notice on the wall states, “The Tammany Tiger Executed by the People, November 6, 1894.” Archbishop Michael Corrigan kneels at the bedside, cranking “Corrigan’s Battery” which is connected to the front paws of the Tiger by wires that spell “Church Influence.” Thomas Collier Platt stands at the foot of the bed, cranking on a battery labeled “Headquarters of the Republican ‘Boys'” which is connected to electrodes in the back paws of the Tiger by wires that spell “Political Deals.” A bucket of water and a sponge lie on the floor at the foot of the bed, and the New York State Capitol at Albany is in the background. Caption: Despite the efforts of prelate and politician the cat will not come back.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-12-12
In the aftermath of a battle, David B. Hill is draped over a cannon, while Charles A. Dana and many New York politicians, identified as “Croker, Grant, Hinckley, Sheehan, Gilroy, Murphy, McLaughlin, Smyth, [and] Divver,” as well as the Tammany Tiger, appear to have some wound or injury. Puck is standing on the right holding a military standard that states, “The Principles We Fought For. Free Raw Materials – Civil Service Reform – Honest Money – Economical Government.” Caption: Puck–It is for the benefit of any party to be purified of its baser elements!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-11-21
Puck bows to Governor Roosevelt who is sitting in a chair at a desk with a bust of George Washington on it, as well as papers labeled “Canal Investigation, Civil Service Reform, National Guard, [and] Police Reform.” Caption: Puck–A happy New Year, Mr. Governor! Now, just get to work and show us all what good stuff you’ve got in you.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1899-01-04
New York political bosses Thomas Collier Platt and Richard Croker appear as Roman centurions, wearing armor and carrying swords labeled “Bossism.” They are daintily shaking hands with the New York state capitol building labeled “Albany” in the background.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1898-11-16
Thomas Collier Platt offers his sword labeled “N.Y. Republican Boss” and a paper labeled “Nomination for Governor” to Theodore Roosevelt who is dressed as a Rough Rider. A pistol at Platt’s feet is labeled “Corrupt Legislation” and the holster he is wearing is labeled “Bribery.” Behind Platt, on the left, is a tent with flag labeled “Camp Platt” and behind Roosevelt, on the right, is a tent with flag labeled “Montauk.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1898-09-14
Supporters of a “Square Tariff Deal,” carried in an ark by “Folk, Clark, Gore, Harmon, [and] Beveridge,” march on Jericho, blowing ram-horns labeled “The Voice of the People” causing the walls of Jericho labeled “Graft Tariff” and “Standpat Republicanism” to crumble. Among those marching are “Bacon, Borah, Bristow, Clapp, Dolliver, La Follette, [and] Wilson” and on horseback “Cummins.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1910-10-05
Theodore Roosevelt is pictured as an evangelist preaching from “My Policies” in a tent with “Sherman, Cannon, Aldrich, Ballinger, Aldridge, Barnes, [and] Woodruff” sitting on the left, and “Depew, Lodge, [and] Odell” sitting on the right. “Crane”, who had been sitting on the right, has gotten up and is walking out. “Beveridge” is standing in the back at the entrance to the tent, and Dr. Abbott is next to Roosevelt, playing a piano. Across the tent hangs a banner that states, “Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour, but look out for the 8th of November.” Caption: And the sinners who won’t be saved.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1910-09-07
President Taft balances a cone of papers, labeled “Administration” and showing the Republican elephant, on his nose. Struggling to get in the cone is “Ballinger” while already inside are “Elkins, Hitchcock, Wickersham, C. Taft, Crane, Dalzell, Cannon, Payne (holding on to a large question mark labeled “Tariff”), Aldrich, [and] Sherman.” Rolled-up papers in the cone are labeled “Standpat Legislation” and “Cost of Living Investigation.” Also in the cone, a dog labeled “Regulars” and a cat labeled “Insurgents” are fighting.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1910-08-31
Joseph Gurney Cannon, on a bucking bronco labeled “Insurgence,” just barely hangs on with one hand while holding the “Party Whip” with the other. The saddle, labeled “Speakership,” is held in place by a strap labeled “The System.” The bridle is labeled “Patronage.” Caption: He can’t come back.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1910-08-31