Morton, Paul, 1857-1911

Rear Admiral Presley Marion Rixey looks on as President Roosevelt fires at two targets shaped like a lion and elephant with the names “Foraker” and “Tillman” respectively on them. Two rabbits–“Mellen” and “Paul Morton–as well as a wolf–“E. H. Gary” also watch. Beside them is “the spear that knows no brother.” Caption: Prepare targets similar to those shown above, lead the Faunal Naturalist to the rifle range and he will do the rest.

comments and context

Comments and Context

McKee Barclay’s drawing represents, in cartooning terms, a mixed metaphor, calling upon several thematic and political threads in one image. President Roosevelt appears to be readying himself for his upcoming African safari by target practice; yet he concentrates by labelling two of targets with the names of two of the most persistent of the president’s critics, Senators Joseph Benson Foraker and “Pitchfork” Benjamin R. Tillman.

President Roosevelt paints whitewash on “Dear Old Platt,” “Good Old Lou,” and “Bully Paul!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-14

President Roosevelt uses an “appointment” sponge to clean Elihu Root with “equitable corporations” water. Roosevelt stands beside a “Roosevelt’s patent purifier” barrel. Behind Roosevelt and Root are two outfits for Paul Morton and Acting Secretary of State and a “Secretary of State’s chair.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-07

President Roosevelt rows a boat with “Morton” and “Loomis” paddles with an “H” flag while John D. Rockefeller rows a boat with “tainted money” and “rebates” paddles with a “Y” flag. In the background is a “higher ideals” buoy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-30

Judson Harmon and Frederick N. Judson stand outside of the “Department of Justice” with a paper that reads, “Instructions—Give everybody a square deal. T. R.” Meanwhile, Attorney General William H. Moody and President Roosevelt hold a sheet that Paul Morton climbs out from under. He holds a suitcase that reads, “P. Morton—New York—When in Rome of the Romans.” On the side of the Department of Justice is a sign that reads, “Let no guilty man escape. U. S. G.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-20

President Roosevelt uses “official whitewash” to paint Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton and First Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis. A man who has a “dismissal” paint can attached to himself runs away.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-22

Paul Morgan sits on Thomas Fortune Ryan’s lap while Herbert H. Vreeland sits in a “T. F. R.” box. Caption: Mr. Ryan, the ventriloquist—Now, Paul, speak up for the policy-holders! Paul—I accept this position on the understanding that I have an absolutely free hand.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-12

President Roosevelt sits at a table with members of his cabinet. He gestures at Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton. Beside Morton is a newspaper with the headline: “A.T. & S.F. R.R.’s Secret Rebates—Paul Morton Traffic Mangr.” There is also a “suit of armor formerly worn by Sec’y Morton” with a locomotive engine for a helmet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-03

President Roosevelt is tied to an “official chair” like his “big stick” is tied to the wall. Both are attached to a “November 9 time lock.” There is a pile of papers in front of Roosevelt, and he looks out the window at a “Democratic mass meeting” where Alton B. Parker is giving a speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-04

Senator Knox tells President Roosevelt he understood that Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton and Illinois Representative George Edmund Foss were in favor of the Chicago side for the naval training station. He also tells Roosevelt about once entering a horse in the Madison Square horse show in the trotting class, and although everyone acknowledged it was were the “best horses on earth,” Colonel Lawrence Kip’s horses won the prize.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-23

This memorandum thanks Paymaster General Harris for being willing to continue his duties until a replacement is able to take over. Following Harris’s suggestions of suitable candidates to succeed him, it was determined that Rear Admiral Eustace Barron Rogers would be the best candidate, and inquiries were made regarding his willingness to accept the position. Rogers has notified Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton of his acceptance, to take effect later in the year. Roosevelt personally thanks Harris for the excellence of his administration, and suggests that he have his resignation take effect on November 1, 1905.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-21

George Albert Converse, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, issues a memorandum responding to a prior memorandum by Commander Cameron McRae Winslow. While Converse agrees with the conclusions Winslow makes, he takes issue with several comments concerning the design of warships and alleging that line officers who would actually be captaining the ships had not been consulted in their design. Converse defends the method of designing ships upon the recommendations of the General Board, and does not believe it is necessary for Congress to intervene in the process, as the greater amount of time required for the process would exacerbate the danger of beginning construction on ships that are immediately outdated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-19

Acting Secretary of State Adee includes a draft of a telegram to Russian embassy secretary Arthur Paul Nicholas Cassini regarding the Russian cruiser Lena, which is stranded in San Francisco. The telegram states that President Roosevelt has only authorized the minimal repairs necessary for the ship to be seaworthy enough to make it to the nearest home port.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-14

Acting Secretary of State Adee assures President Roosevelt that all three departments in San Francisco are acting in accord regarding the Russian cruiser Lena. He believes that the Russians will disarm the ship as repairs are made if they are asked. Adee includes the text of messages between himself and the Russian Ambassador Arthur Paul Nicholas Cassini regarding the situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-13

Harold Irwin Cleveland congratulates President Roosevelt on his time in office. He thinks the West is still shocked about the appointment of Postmaster Henry C. Payne, but trusts that Roosevelt’s choice is right. He shares that Paul Morton is pleased with Roosevelt’s take on irrigation, and George Ogden is also regularly saying good things. Jack Raftery, now at the St. Louis Exposition, is still loyal. Cleveland hears that Roosevelt is “shaking the dry bones up in fine style”, but also hears that Secretary Lyman J. Gage and Secretary Wilson behave quite anxiously. He feels that Roosevelt will go forth in courage and honesty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-20

President Roosevelt believes Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton was unfairly attacked and wishes him well. Roosevelt looks forward to discussing the Russian-Japanese situation with Anna Roosevelt Cowles.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-06-25

President Roosevelt is frustrated with Attorney General Moody for speaking to Anna Roosevelt Cowles after already addressing a particular situation with him. Roosevelt hopes that Moody and Secretary of the Navy Morton do not discuss it further on their own and he has written to each to explain this. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. will study with a tutor rather than go back to Groton so that he can enter Harvard next year.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1904-08-30

President Roosevelt has appointed Admiral George Converse and tells of taking Secretaries Morton and Moody out to Rock Creek for a strenuous walk that both men underestimated. Roosevelt is enamored with Washington, D.C., and with his wife Edith Roosevelt, who delights in an unusual variety of activities there. As the election approaches, Roosevelt reflects on his legacy and the importance of his work in office and in life.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1904-07-30

This French newspaper article cites several scandals that had occurred in President Roosevelt’s cabinet, and asks where in American politics is a healthy portion that can help guard the other areas of democracy. The British writer James Bryce lamented that Americans themselves agree about the corruption of their system of democracy, and notes that cities are particularly able to fall under the sway of political bosses. William Travers Jerome is noted as being a good municipal officer, and while a Democrat on the national scale wishes to avoid being tied to a party in local issues.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905

President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Bucklin Bishop to discuss Bishop’s judgment of Elihu Root and Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton. Roosevelt believes Bishop has been too hard on them and explains why he believes they are good men and valuable to the administration. Roosevelt gives Bishop permission to show his letter to Frederick W. Whitridge and Nicholas Murray Butler, who have expressed similar views.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-06-15