Indian clubs

President Roosevelt wears a shirt with a Republican elephant on it and uses the “Constitution of the United States” as a boxing bag. On the ground is a “jingoism” hobbyhorse, “big stick foreign policy” Indian clubs, and “high tariff, high prices” weights. William McKinley eyes Roosevelt from a picture frame on the wall. Caption: “I then stated it was my purpose to carry out his principles and policies. * * * To the best of my ability I have kept the promise thus made.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-29

President Roosevelt holds “the new diplomacy” Indian clubs and points them toward “Central” America and “South America.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-30

Uncle Sam stands beside President Roosevelt and points to the “Post Office Scandal U. S. Mail” punching bag. On the ground are dumbbells, a barbell, and Indian clubs—”vigor” and “energy.”

Comments and Context

This cartoon was clipped from the Memphis Commercial Appeal for the White House cartoon scrapbook, but it originally appeared in the New York Herald, drawn by their longtime staff cartoonist William Allen Rogers.

In a way it was atypical for a Rogers cartoon, half of which were not political cartoons but editorial cartoons illustrating current events. The inspiration for this cartoon was the breaking Post Office scandal. Long brewing ands widely rumored, it unfolded as a multi-faceted web of corruption, favors, and bribery. It was largely under the watch of a longtime department bureaucrat, a former Congressman whose subsequent career included a stint as Postmaster General and many other offices. At the time of this scandal’s exposure he was “on watch,” but not able to watch — ancient, partly paralyzed, and blind — unaware of corruption around him.