Shepard, Edward Morse, 1850-1911

An elderly woman labeled “Democracy” stands next to a trunk labeled “Old Issues” and with a tag that states “To the White House.” Standing at the curb are several cab drivers labeled “Parker, Olney, Johnson, Shepard, Gorman, [and] Watterson” hoping to pick up a fare, and two other drivers labeled “Cleveland” and “Bryan” sitting on their carriages. Cleveland does not appear interested, though Bryan, on his cab labeled “16 to 1,” holding up his hat, calls out above the others.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Political cartoons, when well designed, not only present issues and events clearly, but also convey subtexts, background information, and nuances that speak to readers of their time, and to subsequent students of history.

An old woman labeled “Democratic Party” stands in the “Democratic Intelligence Bureau” managed by “J.K. Jones” who is sitting behind a desk. She is “looking for help” and taking a good look at several prospective candidates, from left: David B. Hill “No objection to dirty work,” William Jennings Bryan “Used to waiting,” Richard Olney “Old but regular,” Edward M. Shepard “Will do anything,” Alton B. Parker “Neat and quiet,” and Arthur P. Gorman “Willing and obliging.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

A common theme of the time among political cartoonists, even Democrat cartoonists, is the weak field of national candidates. In Pughe’s variation, this Puck cartoon pictures the old-maid Democrat lady looking for household help — a presidential candidate for the following year.

An old woman labeled “Democratic Party” turns a wheelbarrow to dump politicians labeled “Bryan, Olney, Gorman, Hill, Shepard, [and] Johnson” into a sandpit labeled the “Democratic Dumping Ground” where only the feet of other, previously discarded, Democrats are visible.

comments and context

Comments and Context

What makes this cartoon particularly interesting to students of history is that the cartoonist Pughe was not criticizing Democrats from “across the aisle” or from an adversarial point of view. Puck Magazine was Democratic, and beseeched its own leaders, or moss-bound leaders of recent years, to clean house. Except for Grover Cleveland, there had been no Democratic president since before the Civil War. It is interesting that the cartoonist did not even label the politicians’ issues that failed to excite voters (free trade, bimetallism, anti-expansion), suggesting the leaders themselves had worn out their welcomes. Even Tom Johnson, reform mayor of Cleveland, is among the deplorables in Pughe’s cartoon.

Edward Morse Shepard, with papers extending from his back pocket labeled “Reform” and “Tammany,” stands in front of an old woman labeled “Democracy” who is holding a piece of paper labeled “Bryan’s Recommendation.” She is turning him down, just as the New York City voters did in the mayoral election. Caption: Miss Democracy — You must have a better reference than this, Mr. Shepard, if I’m to consider you.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Edward Morse Shepard, unfortunately, was typical of New York Democrats in the age of Tammany Hall, the pendulum-swings of reform and corruption, the internecine New York Democrat fights between rural and New York City factions, the influence of Bryanism on local loyalties, and such. Shepard was a reform Democrat from Brooklyn (and then New York City after consolidation in 1897) who occasionally allied himself with Citizens Union and Republican reformer Seth Low. Within New York Democracy (that is, the Democratic Party) in 1902 an endorsement from William Jennings Bryan was not necessarily a golden recommendation. Shepard never attained a major nomination for mayor or governor; he got closest in a gubernatorial convention in 1911. The Democrat convention was deadlocked for 74 days, after which a Shepard opponent was nominated. Shepard died a few weeks afterward.

Several men, identified as “Hill, Jones, Olney, Clark, Bailey, Shepard, Watterson, [and] Lamont,” carry planks of lumber which are identified as Democratic policies from previous election platforms and proposed new planks. As they construct the new “Democratic Platform,” Puck points to a plank they have forgotten, “Tariff Reform,” which sits on a platform in the background on the right. In the background on the left stands William Jennings “Bryan” holding a “Free Silver” plank of rotten wood. Caption: Puck — You are neglecting the only plank you ever did win with, – and the only one you ever can win with!

comments and context

Comments and Context

Ever since President Grover Cleveland devoted his Annual Message to downward tariff revision (and the result of high tariffs, government surpluses, which Cleveland regarded as immoral) the Democratic Party was generally the party of low tariffs and free trade. Former Speaker of the House Samuel J Randall was one Democrat who generally favored high tariffs. But the implied point of Keppler’s cartoon is not that the Democratic Party cooled on the issue of tariff rates, but that “new” issues like anti-imperialism and standard positions on civil service reform provided the middle ground between the hoary populism of William Jennings Bryan and the tired arguments for tariff reductions could attract voters. Generally, they did not: the Democrats would lose the 1904 presidential election, to Theodore Roosevelt, by record margins.

Edward Morse Shepard, an acquaintance of Ansley Wilcox’s, has falsely quoted Roosevelt as saying that “almost every captain of industry should be put behind bars.” Roosevelt does not consider Shepard of enough importance to respond to him directly, but considers this part of a larger pattern of financiers and their supporters spreading misinformation about him to undermine his policies. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-08

President Roosevelt reports that Henry C. Payne had a breakdown over the article published on the Post Office. Roosevelt is fairly confident in winning Connecticut and West Virginia but is worried about New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-02

Ansley Wilcox urges President Roosevelt to use moderation in handling the current financial crisis, “with all earnestness and friendliness.” Many of Roosevelt’s friends and supporters may not say so as loudly, but they agree with a recent speech by Edward Morse Shepard which was very critical of Roosevelt’s handling of the financial crisis. While he understands the need to punish wrongdoers, Wilcox fears that too much change at once will strain the business and social affairs of the country. He warns that statements made by Roosevelt and his associates have intensified feelings of social unrest, undermining public confidence in financial institutions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-05

The Lincoln Farm Association invites Theodore Roosevelt to attend the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial Hall. Includes a card about special trains, an invitation from Governor Augustus Everett Willson, and a list of officers and trustees of the Lincoln Farm Association.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-09

Edward M. Shepard made a speech in support of the local democratic ticket in Brooklyn, New York, in which he denounced President Roosevelt for making speeches that create fear about future business conditions and sow discontent between the classes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-04

David B. Hill is caught in a large claw-type animal trap labeled “Nomination for N.Y. Governorship.” A sign posted next to the trap states, “This trap was set by David B. Hill to catch an Anti-Snapper.” Two groups of men are standing to the right and left. Among them are Charles S. Fairchild, Carl Schurz, Edward M. Shepard, William R. Grace, and Oswald Ottendorfer. They are laughing at him.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1894-10-17

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

This clipping presents a reaction statement to Edward Shepard’s speech in defense of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, particularly as regards African Americans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-04