Legislation

A painful prophetic vision

A well-dressed, grand old woman sits in a chair, with a comb labeled “Republican Party” in her hair, and newspapers on the floor around her with headlines “Evening Reporter – Commerce Picking Up All Along the Line” and “Morning Verity – Trade Getting Brisk Since the Passage of the Wilson Bill.” She is holding the “Daily Facts – Increased Activity in Business on Account of the New Tariff.” There is a steaming pot of tea on the table next to her. She is imagining a scene where a street in the business district is filled with a procession of women shoppers carrying placards that state, “Under the Democratic Tariff We Live in a Golden Age of Business!!!”, “1896 – We, the Shopping Women of America, Favor the Democrats Because Their Tariff Bill Favors Our Pocket Books!!!”, and “Thanks to the Democrats Shopping is Now a Joy Forever.” Caption: The Republican Party sees the Democrats, in 1896, winning back their old and powerful ally, the “shopping woman.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1894-10-24

Address of President Roosevelt at Noblesville, Indiana

President Roosevelt expresses pleasure at viewing the industrial growth and natural resources of Indiana, making special note of the new free mail service in the area of Noblesville, Indiana. He addresses the rise of industrial capitalism and large-scale industrial combinations, saying that they are an inevitable and positive feature of modern prosperity. As interstate entities, they must have national regulation to ensure they serve the public good. Roosevelt also highlights the national unity created by the various military exploits shared by soldiers from all sections of the country. He closes by noting that, while good laws are important, nothing is more crucial for America’s prosperity than the “high average citizenship of the ordinary American citizen.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-23

A ticklish feat

President Taft balances a cone of papers, labeled “Administration” and showing the Republican elephant, on his nose. Struggling to get in the cone is “Ballinger” while already inside are “Elkins, Hitchcock, Wickersham, C. Taft, Crane, Dalzell, Cannon, Payne (holding on to a large question mark labeled “Tariff”), Aldrich, [and] Sherman.” Rolled-up papers in the cone are labeled “Standpat Legislation” and “Cost of Living Investigation.” Also in the cone, a dog labeled “Regulars” and a cat labeled “Insurgents” are fighting.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-08-31

The lynching problem

Print shows a southern vigilante holding a rope with a noose and a “Sheriff” holding a paper that states “2000 dollars must be paid by the county, for each lynching. Law of South Carolina.” An African American man cowers behind the sheriff. A large building labeled “Courthouse” is in the background. Caption: If motives of humanity and justice won’t stop them, may be this will.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1899-06-14

Bravo! Señor Clevelando!!

Grover Cleveland, former mayor of Buffalo and current governor of New York, is a bullfighter standing with his right foot on the head of a bison labeled “Buffalo Democracy” with one dart labeled “Veto Buffalo Fire Dept. Bill” stuck in its side. The weakened buffalo has collapsed on papers that state “Buffalo Politicians’ Demands,” and Cleveland’s red cape is labeled “Firmness.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-04-18

The attack on our outer ramparts – first the house of refuge – then the public schools – then – the Constitution!

A hapless army of clergymen assaults a fortress labeled “Non-Sectarian Institution” around a building labeled “House of Refuge” with a battering ram labeled “Freedom of Worship Bill.” One bishop is carrying a military standard labeled “In hoc signo vinces” (In this sign you will conquer) that shows a ballot box labeled “Irish Vote.” Defending the ramparts are newspaper editors, including Puck. In the middle distance is a building labeled “Public School” and in the background, atop a hill, is a statue labeled “Constitution” that states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-04-22

A sop to Cerberus

Print shows Chester Alan Arthur offering a “Bill Excluding Chinese for 10 Years,” in the shape of a Chinese man’s face, to a three-headed Cerberus labeled “Western Vote” with the heads labeled “Demagogue, Hoodlum, [and] Irish.” At Arthur’s feet is a basket labeled “Sops for Everybody,” and he holds a rope behind his back labeled “2nd Term Aspirations.” The Cerberus is guarding the narrow path through the forest to the White House labeled “1884,” which shines in the distance.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1882-05-17

Christmas at Washington

Several members of Congress stand around a large Christmas tree labeled “Tax Surplus” decorated with money bags labeled “Surplus.” The legislators carry bags in which to place the bags of surplus they pluck from the tree. Among those identified are Charles W. Jones holding a bag labeled “Naval,” William E. Chandler holding a bag labeled “Subsidies for a Merchant Steam Marine,” William Mahone holding a bag labeled “Public Buildings and Grounds,” John A. Logan holding a bag labeled “Appropriations” and reaching for a sack on the tree, Joseph W. Keifer lifting George M. Robeson holding a bag labeled “Partners in the New Naval Scheme,” John Roach holding a bag labeled “New Navy Scheme,” Henry L. Dawes holding a bag labeled “River & Harbor Bill,” Francis M. Cockrell holding a bag labeled “Improvement of Mississippi River,” Eugene Hale holding a bag labeled “River & Harbor Bill,” John J. Ingalls holding a bag labeled “More Pensions,” Benjamin F. Jonas holding a bag labeled “Improvement of Mississippi River,” and Elbridge G. Lapham who is speaking to two well-dressed women, one holding a bag labeled “Lobby.” Lapham is also depicted in the angel at the top of the tree holding a banner labeled “Help Yourself.” Uncle Sam dances with three men in the foreground and, on the right, a lone “Taxpayer” stands outside in the snow.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-12-19

Let us have a good bankruptcy law, as a protection against the “preferred creditor” swindle

Puck carries a “Petition – To the 48th Congress” at the head of a long procession of well-dressed businessmen who want Congress to enact a “Good Bankruptcy Law” that would identify fraudulent conveyances to a “Preferred Creditor” and hold swindlers accountable. They march down “Relations Row” past buildings that are labeled “Grandfather Preferred, Brother Preferred, 19th Cousin Preferred, Uncle Preferred, Sister Preferred, [and] Brother in Law.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-11-14

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

A large man labeled “Monopoly,” standing behind a panel and reaching around with his right arm, holds a diminutive figure labeled “Aldrich.” Aldrich is pointing to an image labeled, “What will happen if the Tariff [crossed-out] Currency [added] Bill is passed,” that has been projected onto the panel and shows a lean wolf prowling among the ruins of industrial buildings, banks, and homes. Uncle Sam, sitting in the foreground, his attention drawn by Aldrich, ponders the image. Caption: The Man Behind – He fell for it for twenty years on the tariff; maybe we can work it on the currency.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-11-05

The tariff triumph of pharaoh Wilson

President Wilson, as a pharaoh, rides in an Egyptian chariot drawn by the Democratic donkey. Wilson holds a small sword and ropes attached to a man labeled “Monopoly” whose arms are bound behind him, walking on his knees, and wearing a money-bag crown, a moose, representing the Bull Moose Movement, and the Republican elephant. In the upper right are two figures labeled “Underwood” and “Simmons” leading an army of Congressmen who supported the Underwood-Simmons Act.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-10-01

Cold mornings in September

A large man with a $ in his hair, wearing a bathing suit labeled “High Tariff Graft Interests,” stands in a lake labeled “The New Tariff.” He is shivering from the sudden change in the climate. A long hook labeled “Congress” is dragging his ermine robe labeled “High Protection” beyond his reach.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-09-03

The goblin will get you if you don’t watch out!

An employer and a group of laborers stand outside the entrance to a factory. The employer is directing the laborers’ attention toward a notice posted on the wall that states “Notice to Workers. If the Tariff Bill is Passed, Your Wages will be Cut.” Behind them, coming down the sidewalk, is a large, angry green “goblin” labeled “Redfield” carrying a paper that states “Notice to Employers. Department of Commerce will Investigate all Wage Reductions said to be Necessitated by the New Tariff.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-06-04

The canteen or the dive – in the name of decency and common sense, which is best for the American soldier?

An Army officer stands in a doorway with a woman labeled “W.C.T.U.”, a clergyman, and a man labeled “Timid Legislator.” They are viewing scenes in a canteen, where soldiers are playing chess and reading, and a dive where soldiers are drunk, arguing, and consorting with prostitutes. Includes a lengthy caption about “W.C.T.U.” efforts to close canteens and the government’s unwillingness to reinstate them.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-02-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Sarah Bancroft Leavitt

President Roosevelt thanks Sarah Bancroft Leavitt for the letter and is always pleased to hear of his father’s memory being kept alive. Roosevelt has had a difficult time passing certain pieces of legislation, and he cannot understand how this legislation can be opposed.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1906-04-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Governor Roosevelt presents a detailed, multifaceted analysis of his next career move. He still favors the governorship and does not want the vice presidency, but he also sees that he may lose the gubernatorial election. He takes the advice of Henry Cabot Lodge to heart throughout his deliberations.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-04-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Theodore Roosevelt understands the nurses’ bill thoroughly after receiving information from his sister. He will try to do what he can about it. Edith Roosevelt has enjoyed an excellent time in Havana, Cuba, where she stayed at the palace. She is now on her way to Santiago and then to Puerto Rico.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-03-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Governor Roosevelt asks for advice about the nurses’ bill. Roosevelt states that he is taking care of the children while Edith Roosevelt is away, and describes them as being “really very cunning.” He also discusses the daily business of governing New York.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-03-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Assistant Secretary Roosevelt asks Anna Roosevelt Cowles to purchase a particular vase from Tiffany’s for Nannie Lodge as a gift from him. He is working on his report on the personnel bill.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1897-12-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Samuel W. Marvin

President Roosevelt replies to Samuel W. Marvin’s inquiry on New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes and his position on the drafting of legislation relating to the railroads. Roosevelt gives his opinion on Hughes’ divisive effect within the Republican Party and advises that he will pass along Marvin’s letter to the New York Republican State Committee Chairman, Timothy Lester Woodruff.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-08-14