Lorimer, William, 1861-1934

A poem by Reverend Stubenvoll that refers to Theodore Roosevelt as “teddy bear” and recounts his accomplishments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-07

The author brands the sixty-first congress as “almost a complete disappointment,” as the legislature was largely tied up in partisan filibusters and broadly failed to pass any sort of constructive legislation. The Republican Party is now in crisis as the public watches whether it is able to “demonstrate in a striking and convincing manner its progressiveness, its responsiveness, its courage of leadership, and its constructiveness.” The article notes, however, that President William H. Taft is aware of this situation and is treating it seriously by calling a special session of Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-06

Creator(s)

Unknown

The Houston Chronicle comments on a pair of Texas-related items. The first of these, the involvement of Senator Joseph W. Bailey in keeping Senator William Lorimer in the Senate, notes Lorimer’s political alliance with Bailey in opposition to Canadian reciprocity, and mentions the political corruption and bribery Lorimer has been accused of which led to his election. The second looks at the creation of the Rice Institute, which was created using funds provided for in the will of William Marsh Rice. While construction of the institution is taking a long time, it is being built for the future, and will be a great place of learning.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-02

The writer of the article draws parallels between corruption and graft in politics and the corrupt practices that allow big businesses to accumulate and control most of the money in the country. The article quotes heavily from an article in Everybody’s Magazine by Lincoln Steffens that criticizes the few rich businessmen who control most of the capital of the country. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-10

The writer of the article decries The Outlook for repeatedly calling for Senator William Lorimer to be ousted from the Senate following allegations that he purchased his seat. Theodore Roosevelt is accused of striking a deal to secure Utah’s electoral votes in exchange for allowing Senator Reed Smoot to be re-seated. The writer argues that the allegations against Lorimer are not as bad as those against Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-04

Fred L. Eaton advises Senator Elihu Root how to handle William R. Lorimer’s election to the Senate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-05

Extracts from numerous letters address the need to act against the ills of the day, including political corruption, partisanship, influence of money in elections, and the attack on democratic electoral principals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-24

Alfred Borden would normally support the Republican ticket and stand behind Theodore Roosevelt’s preferred candidates, but expresses reservations because of several issues. He asks Roosevelt why he did not take up the matter of the tariff while president, and why he condemned Senator William Lorimer for scandal while seeming to be agreeable with Ohio political boss George Barnsdale Cox. Borden also asks why Roosevelt paints all men who work as financiers on Wall Street “as dishonest men who would work your own over-throw in any fashion that was possible,” as he himself is a stockbroker and can vouch that there are many honest men.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-10-25

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased with the arrangements that Governor Hadley of Missouri has suggested, but mentions that Hadley will not need to furnish any cars because The Outlook will be providing Roosevelt a travel account. Roosevelt is glad that Hadley approves of the action he took in the matter of Senator William Lorimer, and hopes that he saw a recent speech Roosevelt gave about labor riots in Columbus, Ohio.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-09-13

In the first cartoon, William Lorimer holds up some cash and tells Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, “Betcha million you’re wrong, Joe!” Caption: He will bet on the Speaker’s decisions. In the second cartoon, Lorimer holds up cash as he watches President Roosevelt play tennis and says, “Betcha million he misses the ball!” Caption: A fine chance to wager a few on Teddy’s game. In the third cartoon, Lorimer plays crap with two men and says, “Fade you for a million!” Caption: What a chance on the crap games!” In the fourth cartoon, Lorimer looks at a horse race from the dome of the United States Capitol and says, “Fifty million on Azelina!” Caption: He can see the Bennings races from the dome of the Capitol. In the fifth cartoon, Lorimer points to an umbrella a man is holding and says, “Betcha million it don’t rain today!” Caption: Betting on the weather.

Comments and Context

Ferdinand G. Long, who drew for several newspapers in the United States and England, but most regularly for the New York World (where he created Sunday and daily strips including the seminal Mr. Peewee) drew this daily political genre-cartoon for the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph in 1908. Unfortunately its title was clipped off by the scrapbook compiler at Theodore Roosevelt’s White House. The Telegraph (1864-1918) was a minor newspaper but with an Associated Press franchise, the reason that publisher Cyrus Herman Kotzschmar Curtis purchased it, then killed it, in 1918.

The five vignettes, without the cartoon’s published caption, appear to address William Lorimer, the corrupt Republican United States congressman from Illinois. He was a notorious gambler and reputed influence-peddler and briber. When associate was later asked about charges against Lorimer, he said that he supposed “a million dollars,” spread around, would not have changed an election’s outcome. In fact Lorimer would be elected United State senator — by the state legislature; in the days before direct election of senators — and was subsequently expelled from the senate for having bribed his way into office.

John Callan O’Laughlin sees no improvement in the Republican political situation and shares his thoughts on various issues with Theodore Roosevelt. He discusses the insurgents’ relationship with President William H. Taft and his recent appointments to the Supreme Court and other administrative agencies. Taft swung around to the tariff commission plan, recognizing it as an important issue for the upcoming campaign. O’Laughlin does not think the ship subsidy bill will pass, although there is an appropriation for constructing fortifications for the Panama Canal. The national committee will not meet next month. The administration knows Taft’s renomination depends upon Roosevelt’s approval or his refusal to be nominated. The Japan question is “muddled,” and there are various “pin pricks which cannot but be harmful” to the countries’ relationship. O’Laughlin disagrees with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge about Senator William Lorimer’s case and asks Roosevelt for a statement on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-31

John C. Shaffer suggests that the President be notified that a special wire was received indicating that it was Roosevelt’s wishes that Illinois Governor Richard Yates not be allowed to win the convention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-09

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Admiral Cowles for the letter and is in agreement “from reciprocity down.” In a postscript, Roosevelt expresses his admiration for Admiral Sperry but is reluctant to write about private matters in The Outlook. He agrees that Senator Lodge gave his speech at an unfortunate time.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1911-02-10

A disagreement has broken out among Republicans who were working to construct a tower labeled “Republican Harmony.” They have broken off into small factions clustered around building blocks labeled “Progressivism” with the Republican elephant sitting against it sniffing “Smelling Salts,” “Radicalism” over which “Munsey” and “Woodruff” are engaged in a discussion, “Conservatism” on which President Taft sits gesturing toward “La Follette” who is standing on his head and “Pinchot” trying to make a point to “Barnes” who is facing a diminutive “Job Hedges,” “Standpatism” around which “Cummins, Cannon, Sherman, Penrose, [and] Root” are involved in a heated discussion, and “Meism” upon which Theodore Roosevelt is jumping up and down and gesturing wildly. Others present are “Dixon [and] W.B. McKinley” who appear about to come to blows, as are “Perkins [and] Garfield.” “Lorimer,” wearing a bandage labeled “Vindication,” addresses “Lodge [and] “Gov. Stubbs” and, in the background, on the right, the man standing on a block addressing a crowd may be Charles W. Fairbanks. The few tools visible sit idle. Caption: Sad finish of the Republican tower of Babel.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-06-12

Senator William Lorimer, seated and wearing a kimono, with both hands raised, suggests that he will not consider “Political Hara-Kiri” and will not “Resign” as ways to resolve his political crisis.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1911-05-17

In this 1912 speech, Theodore Roosevelt confronts President William H. Taft’s criticism and challenges Taft’s platform and record of service to the American people. The first four pages of this speech are missing.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912

Paul Morton discusses the status of the Republican National Convention delegate support for President Roosevelt in Illinois, Colorado, California, and Pennsylvania.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-01