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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
In the first cartoon, William H. Taft with a large “R” on his shirt charges ahead of Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Taft says, “They can’t catch me.” In the second cartoon, William Jennings Bryan with a large “D” on his shirt charges ahead of Minnesota Governor John Albert Johnson and George Gray. Bryan says, “What an easy snap.” Caption: Winners of the trial heats.
With two weeks to go until the Republican National Convention in Chicago, and another three weeks after that before the Democrats would gather in Denver to nominate their presidential candidate, cartoonist John Colman Terry dismissed the somewhat hyperbolic suspense that fellow artists invested in commentary about the nominations. Barring genuine surprises, two Williams — Taft and Bryan — would be their parties’ nominees.
William H. Taft stands with a gavel in his hand as the delegates select President Roosevelt as the nominee. In the audience are Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes. A balloon in the top right-hand corner shows William Jennings Bryan and William Randolph Hearst holding signs that read, “Gov’t Ownership” and “Socialism” respectively as they step on Minnesota Governor John Albert Johnson.
Whether cartoonist Tyler McWhorter drew this cartoon as a prophecy or a hopeful dream, it was another cartoonist’s speculation on whether President Roosevelt would break his pledge of Election Night 1904 that he would not allow his name to be put into nomination in 1908. With its long caption, it also might have been an illustration for an article, or part of series. In any event the St. Paul Dispatch drawing was pasted in the White scrapbook, and presumably seen by the president.
An article in The American Review of Reviews reflects on the current political situation in Congress, especially lamenting that both houses are controlled by powerful cliques who work in their own interests, often at the expense of legislation that would benefit the people. In particular, tariffs and appropriations for the construction of battleships are discussed. The author also speculates about the outcomes of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions and the upcoming presidential campaign, as well as the necessity of a good man to run the Republican convention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-21
This newspaper article describes the political climate in New York as being pro-Governor Charles Evans Hughes as a presidential candidate even though they admit Secretary of War William H. Taft is the stronger candidate. On the Democratic side, there is antipathy toward William Jennings Bryan, and Minnesota Governor John Albert Johnson has been suggested as an alternate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-03
William Jennings Bryan as Orpheus, singing and playing a lyre labeled “Harmony,” attracts a motley group of wild animals identified as: G. Gray, Kern, Folk, Gompers, McCarren, Mitchell, Hearst, Guffey, Watterson, Stone, Eliot, Williams, T. Johnson, Belmont, Sullivan, Pulitzer, Conners, Ryan, Parker, Murphy, and Johnson. One unidentified animal, similar to Williams, sits in a large tree, crawling through the branches above Bryan. Caption: Orpheus Bryan and the Democratic beasts.
Orpheus was not in the underworld, but cartoonist Udo J. Keppler made the dismal swamp seem almost as pleasant in this loosely constructed allegory. The portly and unheroic-looking William Jennings Bryan had a heroic task, nonetheless, to tame the various and potentially deadly creatures.
The cast of unruly beasts pictured by Keppler is indeed a reminder of the composition of the Democratic Party of the day — not merely elements of the North and the South trying to reconcile ancient animosities.
Full color cartoon of Puck hanging two portraits for the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees. New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes is being placed in the Republican position and Minnesota Governor John Albert Johnson is being placed in the Democrat position. On the floor are other portraits, including one of Secretary of War William H. Taft.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1908-01-08
Puck arranges portrait paintings on a gallery wall, placing “C. E. Hughes” and “J. Johnson” side by side. Among the other portraits are William Jennings Bryan, Charles W. Fairbanks, William H. Taft, Mayor Tom Johnson, and J. S. Sherman. Caption: The Hanging Committee — These two would look well in a strong light.
Puck, claiming his role as the eponymous magazine’s spokesman-mascot, asserts preferred choices for the upcoming presidential race. New York’s new and reform-minded Charles Evans Hughes is endorsed despite his short time in public life, and President Roosevelt’s endorsement of William H. Taft. On the Democratic side, Puck endorses Minnesota Governor John A. Johnson, respected but relatively unknown; and less known today. Johnson was beginning his third term as governor (and would die the following year).
The portraits stacked on the floor serves as a Who’s Who of recent aspirants. Puck‘s favorite punching-bag, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, is there; and in the lower right are Cleveland’s reform mayor Tom Johnson; and Representative J. S. Sherman, who would become the vice president of Republican William H. Taft.
William Jennings Bryan shoots off fireworks labeled “Nomination, Platform, Enthusiasm, Permanent Organization, Keynote, Issues, Nominating Speech, Second Speech, Vice Presidency, Resolutions, [and] Temporary Organization” while indicating that George Gray and John Albert Johnson should stand back for their safety, reminding them of “what happened to Alton” Parker in 1904, who is standing in the background with his arm in a sling. Caption: “Stand back, boys! You’re too young and inexperienced! Remember what happened to Alton!”
At first glance the Puck cover drawing for the Fourth of July appears to be standard patriotic theme, and because it coincides with 1908’s Democratic presidential nominating convention, the prominent role of William Jennings Bryan seems logical.
The convention was set to open one week after this issue’s cover date, but if Bryan’s starring role in the drawing is logical, cartoonist Frank A. Nankivell constructed layers of trenchant commentary.
Presidential hopeful John Albert Johnson, as a logger, struggles to break free a jam of logs labeled “Reactionary Democracy, Wall Street Interests, Plutocracy, High Finance, Ryanism, Conservatism, Safe & Sane Fake, [and] Stand Pat Democracy,” which are preventing him from presenting his political agenda at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Caption: “If it weren’t for these cussed logs, I could get my drive down to Denver.”
Lost to history is the reform governor of Minnesota John Albert Johnson. To the extent he is remembered, it is a minor and last-minute challenger to William Jennings Bryan for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1908.
The three-term governor was one of a handful of emerging honest and earnest reformers across America in the nineteenth century’s first decade. He deserves to be remembered for substantial reforms he championed, yet is seldom mentioned in lists of counterparts like Mayor Tom Loftin Johnson of Cleveland; Mayor “Golden Rule” Jones of Toledo; and Senators Albert Beveridge and Robert M. LaFollette.
President Roosevelt introduces an enclosed letter summarizing the conclusions of the recent White House Conference on the Care of Dependent Children, and a program of its attendees. One conclusion was that Roosevelt should send each governor a copy of the proceedings for state governments to reference. While the proceedings are being published, Roosevelt sends these enclosures for immediate use. He hopes that the governors will actively promote the Conference’s cause. The names of the governors who received this letter are then listed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-02
President Roosevelt writes to Ambassador Thompson to introduce Minnesota Governor John Albert Johnson. Roosevelt hopes that Thompson will introduce Johnson to Porfirio Diaz, the president of Mexico.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-21
President Roosevelt assumed that he should send his letter to Minnesota governor John Albert Johnson, because he was head of the state. He encloses a copy of that letter to John W. Arctander. Roosevelt also thanks Arctander for his copy of “Three Orations,” which he enjoyed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-29
Otis P. Briggs writes to Theodore Roosevelt concerning Minnesota’s efforts to create a compensation act in the state’s legislature after Roosevelt discussed the matter in his publication, The Outlook. Briggs details the efforts led by Governor John Albert Johnson before his death, and the proceedings of Minnesota’s Labor Commission, and discloses that the commission was not able to come to agreement before the session closed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-17
Paul V. Collins, having learned that Theodore Roosevelt is presently traveling to Chicago, sends him a copy of a message he recently sent to his New York address. Collins discusses the position of Minnesota and Minnesotan farmers regarding the tariff and reciprocity with Canada. Collins believes the current proposed reciprocity deal would be very harmful to farmers, as it would result in free trade of agricultural products–opening farmers up to competition with Canadian farmers–while still protecting everything farmers have to purchase. It seems to Collins that much of the support for the current measure comes from railroads, who would stand to make a great deal of money, and from manufacturers, who incorrectly assume it would benefit them. Collins hopes to speak with Roosevelt about the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-06
Asa M. Steele reports that Wall Street forces hostile to President Roosevelt are planning to precipitate a panic. He urges Roosevelt to consider running for president, because the current Republican contenders do not have his popularity or support from the people.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-14
Mining executive John Campbell Greenway sends President Roosevelt the correspondence between citizens of Bovey and Coleraine and Minnesota Governor John Albert Johnson during the recent strike of the Western Federation of Miners. Greenway believes these cities are the first to condemn the federation as “a criminal organization committed to anarchy,” to which Johnson failed to respond.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-19
Attorney General Moody writes to President Roosevelt first discussing material that Moody found objectionable in The Sexual Life, a book by Dr. Malchow. Then Moody goes on to discuss a legal case involving Malchow and his book. Moody mentions several key figures, including physicians, who have petitioned for a pardon for Malchow.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-09