Mack, Norman Edward, 1858-1932

William Stephen Devery and a saloon known as “the pump” have returned to the Democratic party with fanfare. Although the article points out that Devery had previously been removed from the Democratic party, his return has been greeted warmly by high-ranking party officials including Thomas Taggart and Norman Edward Mack. Other articles on this page include commentary on vice presidential candidate Henry Gassaway Davis’s age, the delay in the opening of the subway system, and the inspection of the boat, the Grand Republic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-03

President Roosevelt chastises Charles E. Bodkin for attempting to coerce him and other elected officials into buying the Catholic Encyclopedia so close to the election. He notes that it was especially inappropriate to send it on letterhead for Fordham University’s The Messenger, and wishes he would show this letter to the editors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-01

Elijah E. Knott would like Theodore Roosevelt to read his “humble efforts” to defend Roosevelt and has enclosed several letters. He wanted to vote for him and President William H. Taft but could not vote for the Republican party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-03

Creator(s)

Knott, Elijah E. (Elijah Edward), 1855-1923

Referring to the libel case against the New York World, District Attorney Stimson agrees with President Roosevelt’s view that it is important to prosecute the “man at the top.” However, Stimson feels that even though Joseph Pulitzer can be suspected as knowing about the libel, there is not enough evidence to actually indict him. If the federal government’s case against Pulitzer is thrown out by the courts, it would cause any future successful prosecutions against the company or the actually responsible individual to lose its significance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-11

President Roosevelt pushes off the “big stick” and says, “Don’t flinch; don’t foul” as he leans on Timothy L. Woodruff who leans on George Rumsey Sheldon who leans on Secretary of State Elihu Root who leans on J. S. Sherman who leans on Frank H. Hitchcock who ultimately leans on William H. Taft who is fighting against William Jennings Bryan. On the other side William Randolph Hearst pours a “Standard Oil” can and says, “I’ll make ’em slip.” Meanwhile, Norman Edward Mack leans against Herman Ridder who leans against William James Conners who leans against Charles Francis Murphy who leans against John Worth Kern who leans against Bryan. Uncle Sam referees.

comments and context

Comments and Context

It was impressive cartoon that readers of the Brooklyn Eagle beheld in the Election Day edition of the paper. It was, properly, not partisan or biased toward a candidate or party, published as it was on Election Day when political argumentation traditionally ceased.

In the top left, John D. Rockefeller, pours “oil” down Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell’s throat as crowds cheer, “Standard Oil, dah-de! Dah! Bryan, Bryan–Rah! Rah rah!” and “Taft’s a big man–ump-ti-de-de! He’s the guy for the pres-i-den-cee!” John D. Archbold chases down Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker as Secretary of State Elihu Root runs into the fray. William Jennings Bryan fights William H. Taft supported by individuals in their parties: Charles Francis Murphy, Thomas Taggart, Henry Watterson, John W. Kern, Norman Edward Mack on the Democratic side and President Roosevelt, J. S. Sherman, Frank H. Hitchcock, and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes on the Republican side. Uncle Sam referees.

comments and context

Comments and Context

This cartoon from the beginning of the last month of the 1908 presidential campaign offers a convenient summary of the major players, and a view likewise of the personalities involved the now nearly forgotten subplot that nearly overshadowed the main contest. The cartoonist is unknown, but the signature seems to be “Allen,” tempting one think it might be Clarence Allen, longtime political cartoonist of the Tulsa World but for the fact that he was ten years old when this cartoon was published.

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.”

Comments and Context

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 Enquirer praises President Roosevelt’s recent speech condemning “the great and sinister moneyed interests,” and writes that in addition to breaking off ties to the Standard Oil Company the Republican party should sever ties with other trusts as well. The article further calls for the Chairmen of both parties to transparently publish receipts and expenditures from all national and state committees to show where donations are coming from. A following article praises William Randolph Hearst for showing the necessity of an Independence party by showing the sorts of relations the Republicans and Democrats have to corporations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-01

Representative Parsons thanks President Roosevelt for the kind words. He is proud to have led those loyal to Roosevelt. Parsons describes the “terrorism” and “thuggism” that occurred during the recent district polling.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-19

Moses C. Wetmore and Norman E. Mack carry a shoulder pole labeled “For Contributions” from which hangs a tiny bag. They explain to William Jennings Bryan, as Moses, seated with Henry Watterson, John W. Kern, and Alton B. Parker around him, that there is very little money flowing into the Democratic campaign coffers. Standing on the left are Thomas F. Ryan and Perry Belmont. Caption: And they returned after forty days, and they said unto Moses: “Surely it is a land flowing with milk and honey, but there is nothing doing in collections.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Puck Magazine’s artists, and many cartoonists of the era, frequently relied on Biblical analogies and stories as contexts for their drawings; and mythology, operatic narratives, legends, and Shakespeare as well. “The Return of the Scouts,” with Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan as Moses, is based on the Book of Numbers, Chapter 13.

Vignettes depict the presidential candidates for the 1908 election, each learning their fortunes regarding the outcome of the election. Norman Edward Mack as a palm reader tells William Jennings Bryan that his “line of ambition is phenomenally long. Likewise your line of talk. You can’t lose.” Frank H. Hitchcock as a seer gazing into a crystal ball, which shows the face of Theodore Roosevelt, tells William H. Taft that he sees “nothing but success.” Thomas L. Hisgen is reading cards labeled “W. R. Hearst.” Thomas E. Watson sees the word “Cinch” in the stars. Eugene W. Chafin is reading tea leaves. Eugene V. Debs is dropping hot lead into a cauldron showing the White House.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Puck had grown comfortable with double-page cartoons comprised of vignettes on a theme, and ran them approximately once a month. This cartoon is a rare three-man “jam,” the central drawings by Will Crawford. In keeping with the magazine’s routine depictions, Republican William H. Taft is happy and confident; his Democrat rival William Jennings Bryan is unkempt, seedy, and in need of a shave (the power of subconscious graphic subtleties!)

An ark labeled “Democratic Principles” has run aground in the receding waters of the flood near a landscape labeled “Republican Power.” The ark is full of Democrats labeled “Wilson, Parker, Watterson, Shepard, Johnson, Owen, Gray, Havens, Harmon, Tillman, Clark, Mack, Williams, Gore, Folk, [and] Gaynor.” Flying toward the ark is the Democratic donkey as a dove carrying a large tree branch labeled “Democratic Victories, Revolt Against the Tariff, [and] Reduced Republican Majorities.” Caption: It ought to be obvious by this time that the waters are receding.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-10-19

A galley labeled “Government Of, By, and For the People” sails past rocks labeled “Bossism” where other ships have wrecked, drawn by “Party Solidarity” sung by Republican sirens “Connors, Aldrich, Cox, Penrose, Woodruff, [and] Lodge” and “Partisanship” sung by Democratic sirens “Mack, Conners, Murphy, [and] Taggart” sitting on rocks above the crashing seas. Caption: The old stuff doesn’t go any more.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-06-01

A nurse labeled “Mack” opens a window to the “Democratic Maternity,” outside of which are several storks carrying newborns labeled “Gaynor, Bryan, Douglas, Harmon, Clark, Wilson, [and] Underwood,” as well as what appears to be the Democratic donkey.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-06-26

Woodrow Wilson, as Moses, stands on a rock with his left arm raised at the parting of the seas labeled “Republican Split,” through which a horde of Democrats labeled “Marshall, M’Combs, Bryan, Kern, Williams, O’Gorman, Harmon, Mack, Gore, Underwood, Clark, Watterson, [and] Harvey” escape the “Predatory Pharaohs” caught on the far shore as the sea closes between them. Caption: The walking is good to the Promised Land.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-07-31

Norman Edward Mack, Democratic committeeman from New York, proposes Grover Cleveland as the Democratic presidential candidate with a platform of tariff for revenue only. Mack believes that Cleveland can win New York against President Roosevelt and that William Jennings Bryan would support a nominated Cleveland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-13