Freedom of the press

George von Lengerke Meyer writes to President Roosevelt about troubles in Russia, including the mutiny of the battleship Potemkin and marines in Libau who rebelled. Meyer notes that as soon as Czar Nicholas II of Russia makes a move in the right direction he is countered with obstacles in the press or in bureaucracy. He is “surrounded by men who are not in sympathy with needed reform.” Meyer feels education, freedom of the press, and a representative government will raise standards for citizenship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-01

Creator(s)

Meyer, George von Lengerke, 1858-1918

Puck directs a large floodlight to illuminate a cave. Charles H. Dietrich, Joseph R. Burton, and J. Edward Addicks shy away from the light. Pennsylvania governor Samuel W. Pennypacker, as a court jester, holds up a large sheet of paper labeled “Press Gag Law.” A man running to the right holds a paper labeled “R.R. Rebates.” Another man, possibly John D. Rockefeller, stands next to containers labeled “Paper Trust, Oil Trust, [and] Gas Trust,” and a diminutive figure, possibly New York State Senator Thomas F. Grady, stands behind Pennypacker, holding up a paper labeled “Anti-Cartoon Bill.” An octopus labeled “Mormonism” is visible at the entrance to the cave on the left.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1905-01-25

Samuel W. Pennypacker, governor of Pennsylvania, wearing a fools’ cap, tries to block the light of “Publicity” with a sheet of paper labeled “Pennsylvania Gag Law.” The light from a lantern held by a hand labeled “Press” is exposing Matthew S. Quay, a senator from Pennsylvania.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-06-03

Robert Sanderson McCormick reports events taking place in Russian regarding striking workers and the government. The workers have refused to return to work despite having their hour and wage demands met as they are now making political demands such as free press, free speech and a constitutional government. Political agitators are believed to be behind the problems. Armed forces are ready to step in, depending on what happens with the workers. The problem is described as of great importance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-04

Creator(s)

McCormick, Robert Sanderson, 1849-1919

General Elwell S. Otis, wearing a military uniform and holding papers labeled “Plans of Campaign,” is confronted by a swarm of press reporters as mosquitoes labeled “Yellow Journalist.” One of the reporters is holding a paper that states, “If you don’t let us run this business, we’ll run you out.” Several of the mosquitoes at bottom have gotten caught on a fly-paper labeled “Press Censorship.” Caption: General Otis–If it wasn’t for that “tanglefoot” fly-paper those insects would pester the life out of me!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1899-08-16

Creator(s)

Dalrymple, Louis, 1866-1905

Theodore Roosevelt, then a state assemblyman in New York, advocates killing a bill that would have the effect of gagging the press. He says in part, “I think it is a great deal better to err a little bit on the side of having too…virulent language used by the press, rather than to err on the side of having them not say what they ought to say, especially with reference to public men and measures.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1883-03-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919