Your TR Source
President Roosevelt charges up a hill toward several men behind “postal frauds” barriers while the “Democratic press” sits in a tree.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-01
President Roosevelt holds a sword in a man’s stomach as a Democratic donkey attaches a paper that says “blame” to his clothing. At the man’s feet is a paper that reads, “Postal frauds: born during Cleveland Administration—discovered and destroyed by Roosevelt Administration.” A raccoon gestures at Roosevelt and the donkey and says, “Now wouldn’t that jar you?”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-02
President Roosevelt holds four men in his hands—”bribery,” “P.O. frauds,” “land grafter,” and “naturalization grafter”—and walks them toward the door of the jail.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-07
A woman holding a “Mother Jones” sign and a “labor problem” pitchfork rides a Republican elephant that rings the doorbell at President Roosevelt’s gate at Sagamore Hill. A sign reads, “Sagamore Hill: Positively no admission, except by invitation. T. R.” There are various signs attached to the elephant: “Ohio sandstone ring,” “postal scandal,” “Littauer glove scandal,” and “custom house frauds.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-29
President Roosevelt rolls up his sleeves as he looks at a pile of “U. S. Post Office Department” clothing that reeks of “scandal,” “corruption,” and “fraud.” The washtub is labeled “White House,” and the washboard is the “administration.” On the shelf, and in the president’s hand, is “strenuous soap.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-08
President Roosevelt pulls at a “free rural postal delivery” snake comprised of mailbags tightening around a Republican elephant. The snake is labeled as “fraud” and lets out “hot air.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-13
President Roosevelt rides a horse and directs Postmaster General Henry C. Payne riding on an “investigation” Republican elephant to go higher to the “postal frauds” mountain. In the background is a large star with the label of “Star Route frauds.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-17
President Roosevelt and Senator “Pitchfork” Benjamin R. Tillman, identifiable by their footwear, Rough Rider leggings and a farmer’s hobnail boots, are buried underneath a pile of trash as they hold up “the big stick” and a pitchfork. Various scraps of paper have words on them: “liar,” “thief,” “fraud,” and “spite work.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-14
The “editor of the New York World” and the “editor of Indianapolis News” jump in their seats as President Roosevelt tells them, “Criminal court: the next stop.” There are two newspapers on the ground, one of which reads, “New York World: Allegation of Panama Fraud.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-12
President Roosevelt brands a Republican elephant with his initials “T.R.” underneath a crown. The elephant is chained to the ground and wears “pension order” and “postal fraud” covers on its front legs. Chair of the Republican National Committee, New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell, New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, and Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge all watch from behind a fence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-17
Francis J. Heney informs Henry Martyn Hoyt that Thomas B. Neuhausen of the Interior Department investigated William C. Bristol. Neuhausen reports that Bristol’s conduct is not questionable. Additionally, Judge Cotton and attorney Joseph Nathan Teal have given statements exonerating Bristol. Neuhausen will send the report to Hoyt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-07
This portion of the Congressional Record reports proceedings of the United States Senate in which Senator Benjamin R. Tillman calls attention to a circular going around that is using his name to spread a land grant scheme. Tillman wants to publicize this fraud so that people are not drawn in by it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-19
Secretary of Commerce and Labor Straus sends Attorney General Bonaparte an excerpt from the arguments of New Mexico Attorney General Albert B. Fall in the land fraud case there. Fall describes the disparaging attitude taken towards the officials overseeing land sales. In the current case, the Territory of New Mexico will finally be able to show the facts to the public and be vindicated in court. The specific details of the sale of the lands and whether the contracts will be voided are questions for the Territory of New Mexico alone to determine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-30
Charles J. Bonaparte reports that he will return to Washington, D.C., as soon as his current case comes to trial. Bonaparte also warns President Roosevelt not to entertain the idea of a pardon for Joseph H. Cling, who was convicted of census fraud, as this would be perceived by the public as intended to prevent Sydney Emanuel Mudd’s further exposure of the fraud. Mudd was implicated in the case, although no positive evidence could be produced against him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-28
John Crosby provides information concerning T. E. Byrnes of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to President Roosevelt. He relates an 1887 case where Byrnes fraudulently induced his mother-in-law to sign mortgages, and then Byrnes altered the descriptions to include additional premises.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-24
John Campbell reports that Colorado’s delegation will support President Roosevelt at the Republican National Convention. He comments on the recent resignation of Colorado’s former U. S. Representative John F. Shafroth.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-16
A devil wearing a business suit holds a fire brand labeled “Arson” in one hand and a large knife labeled “Murder” in the other. He is accepting a payment for $10,000 from a hand labeled “Vast Sums on Uninvestigated Risks.” The hand extends from a “Fire Insurance” company with a motto that states, “We Insure Everything and Anybody” on the corner of the building. Caption: The big insurance companies, by carelessness in their selection of agents, adjusters and risks, place a premium on crime.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1895-11-20
A man labeled “Pension Fraud” holds fists full of money and stands on a stage, singing, with two musicians on the left and the “U.S. Treasury” in the background. Includes text of the song – “Now I’ve got my pension, I’m a gent!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-05-23
An old woman labeled “G.O.P.” sits on a throne with her arms around two men labeled “Monopolist” and “Fraudulent Pension Grabber” who are winking at the viewer. Caption: Mrs. G.O.P. – “These are my jewels!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-04-25
A man labeled “Bossism” carries weapons labeled “False Count,” “Fraudulent Registration,” “Intimidation,” and “Deals.” Behind him are two policemen labeled “Independent Democrat” and “Independent Republican,” who are keeping an eye on him. They each carry a billy club labeled “Votes.” Caption: “Dere ain’t no more show for me, since dem two big policemen come on de beat!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1893-12-20