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Cartoon shows President Roosevelt carrying a large rolled paper “Message.” A man labeled “Sugar Trust” carries an umbrella labeled “Reciprocity” as a storm cloud “Tariff Revision” looms overhead. At the men’s feet is music “Ain’t dat a shame, a meas-ly shame”.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902
Cartoon shows a boxing sugar beet “Producers” punching President Roosevelt labeled “Reciprocity Champion” with fists labeled “Teller Investigation” and “Reciprocity Resolution Cuban Congress Nov. 28, ’02.” Roosevelt wears boxing gloves “Quesada” and “Bliss” representing Cuban ambassador to the United States Gonzalo de Quesada and Tasker Howard Bliss, Special Envoy to Cuba. In the corner of the ring is a man labeled “Sugar Refining Trust.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902
Cartoon shows a wealthy man “Sugar Trust” holding a cloth (?) labeled “Reciprocity” in his fist. Republican House Majority Leader Sereno Elisha Payne, a skeleton representing Cuba, and President Roosevelt all pull on a portion of the cloth. Roosevelt wears a sword “Tariff modifications.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902
Cartoon shows a wealthy man “Sugar Trust” seated in a chair ‘[paragraph] 209 16 Dutch” smoking a pipe “Sec. 4 Tariff Law 1897” from which issues smoke labeled “Reciprocity.” A man “Beet Sugar” pulls on the back of the chair as President Roosevelt, holding a “Special Message,” and Democratic Congressman James D. Richardson spur on an elephant and a donkey hitched to a harness connected to a footstool “Duty on dark colored sugar” under the feet of the man.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902
President William H. Taft has recently given a speech in Michigan. The article speculates whether Michigan Republicans and Michigan farmers will vote for Taft and whether their concerns regarding reciprocity agreements with Canada will affect their faith in the Republican party.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-21
Newspaper article from the Chicago Tribune discussing the publics’ opinion of President William Howard Taft following his visit to Michigan in September 1911. The article discusses at length various peoples’ opinions of Taft. The article specifically touches on reactions to his recent support for a reciprocity agreement with Canada, which has weakened support for him especially in rural areas and among farmers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-21
Newspaper article from the Chicago Tribune discussing the public’s opinion of President William Howard Taft during his campaign stops in Michigan. The article is focused on the Taft’s handling of wool tariff policy and the Canadian reciprocity deal. The correspondent interviews several Michigan voters, who discuss their opinions of Taft’s economic policy and personal character.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-23
In their fourth installment on President William H. Taft’s reelection campaign, The Tribune discusses Taft’s reception in St. Louis, Missouri. According to The Tribune staff correspondent, Taft made a generally positive impression on the public in St. Louis. They supported Taft’s handling of the recent tariff issue in Congress and are willing to overlook the failure of reciprocity. While in the city, Taft attended a baseball game and received a positive reception from the crowds. The correspondent interviewed attendants at the game, a grocer, a baker, and a steel worker, who discussed how the President’s actions have affected the cost of living.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-25
The Chicago Daily Tribune continues their dispatches from President William H. Taft’s campaign tour in the midwest. The reciprocity deal with Canada continues to be a central issue for Taft. Generally, urban voters support reciprocity, but farmers and agricultural workers oppose it. In this article, The Tribune correspondent interviewed men in Illinois’s rural communities to gauge their opinion on Taft. The reporter found that, despite their criticism of reciprocity, most rural voters in Southern Illinois are still planning to support for Taft. The men interviewed also discussed the rising cost of living, Taft’s connection to Wall Street, and the stalled tariff bills. Most men also responded positively to Taft’s recent speech at the St. Louis Coliseum. The article ends with a quote from Illinois congressman, William A. Rodenberg, who is optimistic about Taft’s support amongst Republican voters.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-26
The Chicago Daily Tribune continues their series following President William H. Taft on his reelection campaign in the midwest. Following a campaign stop in Kansas City, The Tribune’s correspondent spoke with the public on their impression of Taft. They spoke on reciprocity, tariff policy, and Taft’s personality. Tariffs will likely be a deciding factor for many voters in this area; if Taft is able to lower tariffs, he will win their support. If Woodrow Wilson runs against Taft, “insurgent Republicans” are predicted to vote for Wilson. The split in the Republican Party was evident at the conservative congress where Taft gave a speech. Many praised Taft’s speech and his emphasis on intensive farming. Critics of Taft noted that the President failed to speak on the topic of Alaska development and national resource conservation. The Tribune’s correspondent interviewed men at the Kansas City Board of Trade, who disagreed with Taft’s stance on reciprocity and the wool bill. The correspondent also spoke with retail managers, who critiqued the President’s handling of trusts and passage of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-27
The Chicago Daily Tribune continues their series on President Taft’s re-election campaign in the midwest. Following Taft’s campaign stop in Hutchinson, Kansas, the Tribune’s correspondent spoke with the public on their opinion of Taft. Generally, the insurgent Republican force is strong in Kansas. Kansans support the progressive wing of the Republican Party, favoring conservation policies and increased regulation of trusts and railroads. Kansas farmers oppose the Payne-Aldrich tariff act bill and reciprocity with Canada. Compared with other parts of the midwest, Kansan were more seriously considering Robert M. La Follette for the Republican nomination. Senator Joseph L. Bristow is a leader of the progressives in this region. As the progressive moment gains strength in Kansas, there is an increasing possibility of the Democrats carrying the state in the next election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-28
A staff correspondent for the Chicago Tribune reports on President William Howard Taft’s recent visit to Kansas. Governor Walter R. Stubbs honored the president and accompanied him everywhere. Taft made friends with his smile and good humor, but there does not appear to be much change in political opinion after Taft’s visit. Many Progressives do not agree with his recent actions and policies as President such as the Payne-Aldrich tariff law, vetoing the wool, cotton, and farmer free list bill, and his Canadian reciprocity treaty. There is much opposition to Taft in Kansas, but it is not clear who else might have the vote in Kansas, perhaps Robert M. La Follette, Woodrow Wilson, or Albert Baird Cummins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-29
A staff correspondent reports on President William Howard Taft’s recent visit to Iowa. Taft was respectfully received and listened to, but it is not clear that public opinion was affected by his visit. Many farmers and small business owners were interviewed for their opinion and there was not a consensus for or against Taft among Republicans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-30
A staff correspondent writes of the political situations in Kansas and Iowa developing around the potential presidential nominees and senators from each state. Many possibilities and political stances are suggested including the idea that Senator Albert Baird Cummins would be a compromise for Republicans who are split between William H. Taft and Robert M. La Follette, though Cummins is a solid supporter of La Follette and will not run against him. Many believe a third party might arise amongst the division.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-02
A staff correspondent following William H. Taft as he travels through Nebraska writes of the response citizens have after Taft leaves. Many of the accounts shared are favorable, unlike reports from Kansas and Iowa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-04
The article describes a speech on the Senator floor, in which Senator Robert M. La Follette attacked President William H. Taft for ignoring former president Theodore Roosevelt’s policies. La Follette argued that Taft was elected by promising to continue Roosevelt’s agenda, but has not done that. In particular Taft took issue with the firing of Gifford Pinchot, the reciprocity bill, and the Taft administration’s railroad legislation. He also noted that Taft barely mentioned Roosevelt in his first message to Congress.
The article includes underlines and comments from Mary E. Wiswell, who mailed the clipping to Theodore Roosevelt.
Following a number of legislative items, including voting on an amendment to a bill and a motion to investigate participation in international expositions, Senator Robert M. La Follette delivers a speech beginning with proposed tariff reciprocity with Canada, but quickly turning to his view that President William H. Taft has abandoned his campaign promises to continue the progressive policies of his predecessor Theodore Roosevelt. La Follette excoriates Taft on his stances on taxes and conservation, among other issues.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-15
George C. Batcheller, in the newspaper article “Reciprocity vs. forefathers,” discusses the New York Commercial’s attitude towards reciprocity between Canada and the United States.
August Belmont holds a whip as a Republican elephant jumps over a large barrier with slats that read, “Panama Canal,” “coal strike settlement,” “open door in China,” “reciprocity with Cuba,” “curbing of trusts,” “Dept Commerce and Labor,” and “Alaskan boundary decision.” A donkey jumps through the space just above the “curbing of trusts” slat.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-14
President Roosevelt stands on “neutral ground” in the center of a variety of fights. Some of the fights include New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt and New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell; “Stand Pat” and “Reciprocity”; “Russia” and “Japan”; and “Uncle Sam” and “the trusts.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-27