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Photograph shows 19 portraits of prominent orators (politicians and businessmen) superimposed over an audience comprised of men. Caption reads, “our prominent political orators in action. The efforts of these men will anchor the floating vote, make converts and win the election.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1908-08-29
Hamilton Fish recounts a confrontation between former President Theodore Roosevelt and labor leader Samuel Gompers at a July 6, 1917 reception for a delegation from the new Russian government of Aleksandr Kerensky. Fish personally witnessed the confrontation, and claims that it resulted from Gompers’s denunciation of African American strikebreakers in East St. Louis, Illinois. Roosevelt criticized Gompers for his message and the “meeting became a riot,” and Roosevelt had to be escorted to safety.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1975
The Lincoln Farm Association invites Theodore Roosevelt to attend the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial Hall. Includes a card about special trains, an invitation from Governor Augustus Everett Willson, and a list of officers and trustees of the Lincoln Farm Association.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-09
Theodore Roosevelt discusses the charges brought upon Samuel Gompers and Harrison Gray Otis in the Los Angeles Times.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-17
An article detailing Theodore Roosevelt’s denunciation of Harrison Gray Otis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-19
Excerpt of a forthcoming editorial by Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor. Gompers is responding to what he calls the “open shop brazen hypocrisy” sparked by President Roosevelt’s action in the case involving William A. Miller of the Government Printing Office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-29
President Roosevelt sits on “the dinner pail” with a big stick that has the label of “editor” and a book opened up to two pages: “The Outlook” and “The pen is mightier than the big stick.” He wears a “labor” hat. John Mitchell and Samuel Gompers look up, “I wonder would he pay his fine, or go to jail?”
Cartoonist Edward Joseph McBride seemingly makes a point about Theodore Roosevelt’s choice of a post-presidential profession, somewhat sarcastically implying that a magazine editor is in the ranks of a laboring man, or least a potential union member. Of course Roosevelt had written for many publications previous to, and during, his presidency; and surely would be a salaried executive, not an hourly employee, as contributing editor of The Outlook magazine.
Samuel Gompers and William Jennings Bryan bow to one another as President Roosevelt holds a paper that reads: “What are Mr. Bryan’s views on the injunction plan in the Democratic platform? T. R.” Gompers says, “Allow me to tell him what you believe in, my dear Alphonse!” Bryan replies, “‘Tis well! A thousand thanks, my dear Gaston.”
This is an early cartoon by McKee Barclay, one of two Barclay brothers who drew for the Sunpapers in Baltimore (his brother Tom also drew political cartoons, and to avoid confusion he often signed his drawings “Tom Bee.”). There are two keys to the cartoon that might unlock its meaning to readers of a later time.
William Jennings Bryan pushes William H. Taft away from the “ballot majority” as Samuel Gompers, Thomas E. Watson, and William Randolph Hearst try to get their hands in. President Roosevelt comes running with the “big stick.”
The Atlanta Georgian never was that city’s major newspaper but fashioned itself into a Muckraking and reform journal, crusading against the convict-lease system, child labor abuses, and such. Four years after this cartoon ran — a reflection of its extreme political partisanship — William Randolph Hearst bought it and added it his growing chain of papers. The city’s major voice, The Constitution, was allied with publisher Joseph Pulitzer.
In this detailed cartoon, a variety of individuals try to figure out if Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell—who has run off—touched second base, which has a container of “oil” on it. Uncle Sam stands in the center of the diamond and says, “It’s a draw.” A large group of people congregate just off the first-base line, including William H. Taft, Samuel Gompers, William Jennings Bryan, Norman Edward Mack, William Loeb, President Roosevelt, William F. Sheehan, Alton B. Parker, and George von Lengerke Meyer. A variety of people are around the field: Charles Francis Murphy, Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, New York Lieutenant Governor Lewis S. Chanler, William James Conners, and Patrick Henry McCarren. John D. Rockefeller, John D. Archbold, Henry Huttleston Rogers, and James Roscoe Day all watch from the side. In another section of the audience, the Democratic donkey and Republican elephant fight. A handwritten note is included: “Mr. President: This is so good I have to send it to you.”
Frequently political cartoons have a subtext related news events, gossip about figures being caricatured, and the shadowy realm of the interests and agendas of publishers. All these factors were play in the genre scene composed by cartoonist Thomas E. Powers, nominally about Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell.
Haskell was also Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, with financial responsibilities in the presidential campaign of William Jennings Bryan. “Touching second base” or not, as the oil can with Standard Oil’s dollar sign, sits on the base that Haskell clearly avoids, is the nub of the cartoon.
The author of the article analyzes Republican losses and the Democratic victory in Indiana following the 1908 election, where James E. Watson was defeated in his Senate race. This defeat is attributed to a number of things such as the local temperance movement and Governor J. Frank Hanly’s determination to call an ill-advised special session of the legislature. However, more broadly the author points to a lack of unity within the party, poor organization on the part of the Republican party, and a resistance to machine rule.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-07
Seth Low, president of the Civic Federation, recently met with a committee from the American Federation of Labor, including President Samuel Gompers, on the subject of amending the Sherman anti-trust act to exclude labor organizers. While they did not reach a definite decision, they made progress on forming a measure to introduce to Congress. Low also recently spoke with President Roosevelt about this issue.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-06
The Conciliation Committee of San Francisco has called for an industrial peace conference with the encouragement of President Roosevelt. The gathering will propose to organize a branch of the National Civic Federation, led by Benjamin Ide Wheeler. Many labor leaders and some cabinet members are expected to attend.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-20
A collection of editorials by Alfred H. Holman in The Argonaut covers politics and industrial topics in the San Francisco Bay area. Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz is on trial and control of mayoral power lies in the balance. Strikes affecting streetcar and telephone service are losing steam, with employers claiming that the unions are acting in bad faith. The involvement of Rudolph Spreckels and Patrick Calhoun in the prosecution of Schmitz is examined. Holman has little faith in the industrial conciliation meeting to be held in San Francisco. Holman also makes recommendations regarding fire safety and railroad management.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-29
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Guy Emerson on the importance of industrial preparedness. Justice Charles Evans Hughes has not taken a position on either military or industrial preparedness. Roosevelt wants the military preparedness of General Leonard Wood, the business efficiency of Mr. Du Pont, the labor recognition of Samuel Gompers, and the farmers to be represented as they are by Charles Simon Barrett (head of the Farmers Union).
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-16
Samuel Gompers finds it outrageous that a cash bail is being required for the release of Santiago Iglesias Pantin when Sidney S. McKee has “responsible securities” to offer. Gompers requests that the matter be brought to President Roosevelt’s attention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-18
Terence Vincent Powderly knows the secret of Edward F. McSweeney’s power over Samuel Gompers. The statement on Chinese ports of entry on the Canadian border will be ready soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-10
An annoyed Uncle Sam sits against a full moon with his hands over his ears. He is caught between the noise of the “G.O.P. Salvation Army” with William H. Taft on the bass drum and James S. Sherman on the cymbals, and “The Bryan Volunteers of America” with William Jennings Bryan also on the bass drum, Samuel Gompers on the cymbals, John W. Kern singing, Alton B. Parker with a large bell, and Henry Watterson with a tambourine, among others. Uncle Sam has papers labeled “Agricultural Prospects” and “Industrial Reports” spread across his lap, “Crop Forecast” in his pocket, and is sitting on papers labeled “Resumption of Business.”
In 1880, Joseph Keppler, founder of Puck and father of Udo J. Keppler, who drew this cartoon, published a similar drawing of partisans of Ulysses S. Grant as the “Political Army of Salvation” — annoyingly singing, banging drums, and parading on behalf of a third term for Grant.
William Jennings Bryan and Samuel Gompers, looking worried, fly in a hot air balloon labeled “Labor Vote.” They are caught in an electrical storm with lightning labeled “Revolt” and are being driven by winds to an uncertain fate.
Samuel Gompers, the immigrant cigar maker who formed the American Federation of Labor and guided the organized-movement for decades, stamped his personality and views on the role of unions in American life. He generally was conservative, at least beating back, often, radicalism within and without his AFL “large tent.” He sometimes supported Republicans, and Democrats, and usually kept his union non-partisan. He supported the Spanish-American War and immigrant-exclusion acts and American intervention into World War I when many unionists were Socialists and opposed intervention.
William Jennings Bryan offers a bowl of “Anti-Injunction Cream” and William H. Taft offers a sprig of “Anti-Injunction Catnip” to a cat labeled “Labor Vote” that has the face of Samuel Gompers. Bryan and Taft are dressed as children learning how to get along with cats without getting scratched. Includes eight lines of verse.
Samuel Gompers, the founder of the American Federation of Labor and immigrant (British, born Shmuel Gumpertz) cigar-maker, prodded his movement to be more and more politically active, especially in 1906 when a list of legislative reforms was presented to Congress. None was adopted, but Gompers had his hearings, and the AFL was marked as a player in electoral contests, not only in labor or union disputes.