Parker, Alton B. (Alton Brooks), 1852-1926

Take that plank back!

The top left-hand corner includes a cartoon from the New York Herald on July 9, 1904, in which William Jennings Bryan takes the “money” plank away from a platform where William F. Sheehan and David B. Hill are nailing different planks down. In the larger cartoon, Alton B. Parker tells Bryan to return the “money” plank. Sheehan, Hill, Charles Francis Murphy, Thomas F. Grady, William Bourke Cockran, and a Tammany tiger look on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-12

Creator(s)

McCay, Winsor

Spiked

Alton B. Parker uses a “courage” and “honor” gavel to hold down a “St. Louis telegram” on a cannon. Meanwhile, President Roosevelt holds a string to pull the trigger on a “Republican campaign gun” to which Dame Democracy is tied by a rope.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-13

Creator(s)

Bush, Charles Green, 1842-1909

The council at Esopus—The learned doctors and the ailing mule

A number of men stand around an ailing mule with two brands: “W. J. B. 1900” and “W. J. B. 1896.” Alton B. Parker tries to feed the mule “Parker golden corn” and ponders, “I wonder will he swallow this?” William Francis Sheehan has a telegram, August Belmont holds “clippers,” William Bourke Cockran has “ginger,” David B. Hill holds a “whip,” and Patrick Henry McCarren holds a “knife.” Henry Gassaway Davis comes running toward the mule and says, “I’ve got the remedy.” The train at the “Esopus Station” has smoke that reads, “from West Virginia.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-17

Creator(s)

Booth, Franklin, 1874-1948

All are on the band wagon

A number of men are in a wagon driven by a donkey. General Nelson Appleton Miles looks backward while the trusts hold Alton B. Parker in his lamp. August Belmont and David B. Hill are up front directing the donkey. A Tammany tiger sits beside Parker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-21

Creator(s)

Davenport, Homer, 1867-1912

Judge Parker servant of party, not master, says Mr. Littleton

A heron wearing a “Parker” crown picks up a frog with the face of Martin W. Littleton. Other frogs watch, including Joseph W. Bailey, South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman with his pitchfork, William Jennings Bryan, David B. Hill, and Charles Francis Murphy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-22

Creator(s)

Rogers, W. A. (William Allen), 1854-1931

Wolfert’s Roost

David B. Hill stands in a tree labeled “Wolfert’s Roost” and looks out. There is an “exit ladder” leaning against the tree and a nearby sign that reads, “If you really want to aid Judge Parker, pull in your ladder for four months.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-22

Creator(s)

Berryman, Clifford Kennedy, 1869-1949

All ready for the campaign

A giant “the trusts” man, dressed in a grass skirt, holds Alton B. Parker in his arm. David B. Hill looks away as a much smaller August Belmont stands beside “the trusts.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-23

Creator(s)

Davenport, Homer, 1867-1912

“I wonder where I’ll be a year from today?”

A number of men sit or stand in a “political waiting room—the presidential possibilities and impossibilities”: President Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, William Jennings Bryan, Arthur P. Gorman, Alton B. Parker, William Randolph Hearst, Chicago Mayor Carter H. Harrison, Missouri Senator Francis Marion Cockrell, and George Gray. The date—March 4, 1904—is on one wall while another wall has a sign that reads, “Smoking allowed.” Roosevelt reads “How to Ketch a Catamount” while Cleveland’s book—”Fish I Have Caught”—is upside down. There are some hand-drawn additions by “REL.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-04

Creator(s)

McCutcheon, John T. (John Tinney), 1870-1949

In Babel

The “Democratic Tower of Babel” features a number of Democratic hopefuls for the presidency. Alton B. Parker, William Jennings Bryan, holding a “commoner 53 cent a year” paper, and David B. Hill who wears a “I am a Democrat” feather are on the left of the tower. Cleveland Mayor Tom Loftin Johnson and Maryland Senator Arthur P. Gorman, who tries to catch a “bee,” are in the center. Grover Cleveland sits at the top of the tower with “lunch” and “bait” and tries to catch a boot that Henry Watterson holds up.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11

Creator(s)

Unknown

The handwriting on the wall

Several men—David B. Hill, William James Conners, Charles Francis Murphy, William Jennings Bryan holding a “reform” paper, Roger C. Sullivan, Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, and Alton B. Parker—read the handwriting on the wall: “(Extract from Taft’s letter of July 20-’07) I don’t care for the presidency if it has to come by compromise with Senator Foraker or anyone else in the matter of principle. Taft.” Caption: What a contrast.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-23

Creator(s)

Darling, Jay N. (Jay Norwood), 1876-1962

Did Haskell touch second?

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.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-25

Creator(s)

Powers, Thomas E., 1870-1939

Rise up, Judge!

Democratic presidential candidate Alton B. Parker struggles under the weight of a number of miniature Democratic political leaders like David B. Hill and Richard Olney brawling on his back. The fighters hold sticks and various signs: “Tammany Hall,” “Brooklyn Democracy,” and “Petty Factions.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-19

Creator(s)

Rogers, W. A. (William Allen), 1854-1931

President Roosevelt’s letter

Uncle Sam looks at “President Roosevelt’s letter” and sees David B. Hill, Alton B. Parker, and August Belmont stuck in “tanglefoot.” He says, “That’s what I call first-class flypaper.” Caption: “President Roosevelt’s letter of acceptance is proving the best campaign document ever issued in any campaign. It is being widely circulated and is making a deep impression everywhere.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-25

Creator(s)

Davenport, Homer, 1867-1912

Uncle Sam:–“Not good enough for me!”

Uncle Sam holds “Parker’s Letter” and looks disgusted. Caption: Uncle Sam:—”Not good enough for me!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-27

Creator(s)

Davenport, Homer, 1867-1912

Should he get the chance?

An old war veteran reads a sign stating, “If elected I will revoke that order. Alton B. Parker.” (Parker wished to revoke an executive order of President Roosevelt’s which granted pensions to veterans, instead preferring that such matters be resolved through Congressional legislation)

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-01

Creator(s)

Davenport, Homer, 1867-1912

Still cautious!!

Alton B. Parker faces two different ways. On one side, he stands up straight. On the other, he puts his hand to his head. Caption: “From the Judge is expected cautious deliberation; from the candidate, inspiration, energy, promptness and aggressive impulse.” —Advice from a Parker enthusiast.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-26

Creator(s)

Davenport, Homer, 1867-1912

And This is Democratic Harmony!

Alton B. Parker and Henry Gassaway Davis hold sheet music and sing two contradictory songs about protectionism and free trade to Uncle Sam. Caption: Special engagement of Alton and Gassaway, the celebrated team of musical daologueists. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-29

Creator(s)

Davenport, Homer, 1867-1912

Riding for a fall

Circus performers Alton B. Parker and Henry Gassaway Davis shakily stand on two galloping horses, labeled “free trade” and “protection.” August Belmont walks along as the ringleader, while David B. Hill watches as a clown.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-05

Creator(s)

Davenport, Homer, 1867-1912

This very quiet presidential campaign

President Roosevelt holds “the strenuous life” big stick as he looks at a Republican elephant lying on the ground. Similarly, Alton B. Parker holds “The Constitution” and looks at a tired donkey. Caption: Roosevelt and Parker—”Wonder how I can get some life into the pesky animal?”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-08

Creator(s)

Carson, W. A. (William A.), 1862-

The old donkey sulks

David B. Hill, Arthur P. Gorman, and Alton B. Parker pull a donkey in several different directions in an attempt to get it off Thomas Taggart, who has been flattened on the ground.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-06

Creator(s)

Davenport, Homer, 1867-1912