Standard Oil Company

Fanny Morris Smith tells Theodore Roosevelt the break up of Standard Oil Company, as led by Attorney General George W. Wickersham, is impacting the retirement plans of her friends because they will all lose money on their investments. They believe the process is corrupt and the press is keeping silent. Smith encourages Roosevelt to “go out of the ranks” and write something for The Outlook. Smith tells Roosevelt the current administration is using the reforms he started as weapons and voices support for Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-21

President Roosevelt tells Lawrence F. Abbott of The Outlook that he is not at all concerned about reports that the magazine is controlled by the Standard Oil Company. Roosevelt also recalls his friendship with Lyman Abbott, and he lambasts William M. Laffan of the New York Sun whom Roosevelt believes started the story about The Outlook and Standard Oil.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1908-11-14

Newspaper clipping of cartoon showing William H. Taft cutting firewood. Behind a cord of cut firewood is Theodore Roosevelt holding a big stick and in front of the cordwood is an African American stereotype labeled “Southern Delegation” holding a kettle labeled “Standard Oil.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-1913

Charles Richard Van Hise speaks of the nuances present in monopolies and unrestricted competition in the American economy. Van Hise gives the railroads system as an example of successful use of commissions with no price competition. His thesis proposes there can be great economic advantage to maintain a concentration of industry and therefore those corporations should not be broken up by enforcing the Sherman Act. Instead, commissions should be created to determine prices and Van Hise provides a list of powers these commissions should have and how to achieve success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-09

Hugh Gordon Miller, former special assistant to Attorney General George W. Wickersham, strayed from his speech at the New York Credit Men’s Association’s dinner to “take a few flings” at an unnamed public official, generally assumed to be Wickersham. An excerpt from Miller’s speech is included.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-27

A circled article from the Hamilton Evening Journal notes that an unpublished manuscript criticizing Theodore Roosevelt was found in the recently-deceased Mark Twain’s belongings. The writer points out that Twain was close friends with some owners of the Standard Oil trust, and suggests he had a reason to dislike Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-06

This excerpt from C. E. Perkins’s Ode for the Fourth of July discusses how life in America has changed since George Washington with political bosses and industrial trusts. The ode closes with praise for President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905

President Roosevelt congratulates Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte for his speech at Chicago, which showed his fair enforcement of the law. His attackers use the press and their wealth to recruit powerful people, like college presidents and corrupt judges, to their side at the cost of the “plain people.” These attackers know that developments like the Hepburn Rate Law, the Sherman Anti-Trust Law, the Pure Food and Drug Act, and protections for workers have been effective against moneyed interests and criminals, but they are often lawyers or editors who answer to the corporations. The individual men to whom he refers are, however, merely puppets, and the true issue should be taken with the offenders who stand behind them and control enormous wealth. He and Bonaparte are not responsible for the economic panic, but are striving for the right “in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-23

A federal grand jury is investigating the General Electric Company and subsidiaries, and some evidence points to the companies being controlled by the “Electric Trust.” The investigation is believed to have been ordered by President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-19

President Roosevelt holds his big stick and runs toward Joseph Pulitzer and Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker who hold morning star clubs labeled “Panama” and “Brownsville” respectively.

comments and context

Comments and Context

This cartoon was drawn by the Tulsa World‘s obscure cartoonist surnamed Allen, surely not Clarence Allen, the paper’s later and longtime political cartoonist, who would have been about ten years old at this time. (Yet, his father worked for the World…) Its date suggests that President Roosevelt was about to do battle with two threatening foes, publisher Joseph Pulitzer and Senator Benson Joseph Foraker (Republican of Ohio).

Various men hold up resolutions. John D. Rockefeller holds a can of “Standard Oil” can and a paper that reads “Resolved that I’ll still do business in Missouri. John D.” President Roosevelt holds his big stick and a paper that reads “Resolved that I’ll abandon the Ananias Club.” President-elect William H. Taft reads a “my policies” pamphlet. Caption: Taft might forget Roosevelt. Herbert S. Hadley sits on top of a goblet with “the lid” and holds a paper that reads “Resolved that I will take off the lid. Hadley.” Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon smokes a “gag rule” cigar. Caption: Cannon must swear off using the same old brand. Andrew Carnegie holds a paper that reads, “Resolved that I’ll refuse to reveal any more secrets of the steel trust. Carnegie.” Arthur N. Sager holds a paper that reads, “Resolved that I’ll absolutely refuse to run for mayor.”

Comments and Context

Edward McBride’s cartoon in the reliably, and highly partisan Democrat, newspaper the St. Louis Republic features seven prominent figures referring to major news stories, disputes, and scandals. Rather than attacking the figures or seeking to persuade readers, the cartoon’s publication date reveals that it simply was a humorous treatment of New Year’s resolutions.

It then was common, and to an extent still is among political commentators and cartoonists to exploit holidays for their thematic preoccupations– in fact, sorts of holidays for themselves. The humorous New Year’s resolutions (or, sometimes, “the Millennium has come!”) presented an opportunity to show prominent figures doing things opposite of their normal pursuits.

John D. Rockefeller sits in a rocking chair and talks to a group of children–President Roosevelt, Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte, Ida M. Tarbell, Frank B. Kellogg, Thomas William Lawson, and a “muck rake” cat. A “Standard Oil” lamp lights the room. Caption: “Now, children, I’ll tell you the story of my life.”

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Comments and Context

“Spin Doctors” and the machinery of public-relations campaigns are not new to the twenty-first century. John D. Rockefeller had become well known and well off — reportedly the world’s richest man — since discovering oil in western Pennsylvania as a young man. He then discovered, as did others, what could done with oil, gas, gasoline, petroleum, and many byproducts. On his path to wealth, he controlled and often monopolized other businesses, in “vertical” and “horizontal” means; as well as people, banks, and politicians.

President Roosevelt sits at a desk labeled “Associate Editor” and filled with papers. On the ground is a bear skin rug and two papers: “Onward Standard Soldiers” and “The Science of Rebating.” There are three other offices: “Mr. Rogers, Managing Editor,” “Mr. Rockefeller, Editor and General Manager,” and “Mr. Archbold, Stenographer.” Rogers says, “Tell Teddy to put a four line head on that story defending our rebates!” Rockefeller says, “Tell Teddy to write an editorial on the persecution of the trusts!” On the wall is a picture of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis and a sign that reads, “In oil we trust.” Roosevelt’s big stick is in the corner.

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Comments and Context

Two weeks after the presidential election of 1908, political cartoonist Camillus Kessler of the extreme anti-Republican Women’s National Daily returned to attacking President Roosevelt, who still had approximately four more months to serve in the White House.

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.

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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.

William H. Taft and William Jennings Bryan race to the finish line in cars shaped like a Republican elephant and Democratic donkey respectively. “Trusts” are behind Taft in the car as President Roosevelt tries to jump in while John Worth Kern is behind Bryan. In the background “Standard Oil” says, “Rah! Rah! Brace up!” while a “farmer” and “businessman” cheer on Bryan’s car. Caption: The leading candidates and their friends are at the home stretch in the greatest game of them all.

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Comments and Context

The Atlanta Georgian‘s political cartoonist J. R. Willis drew an election-day cartoon that, for a brief moment at campaign’s close, was remarkably free of rancor.

In one section of the cartoon, President Roosevelt stands beside William H. Taft who wears a sign that says, “Vote for Bryan.” People look on and laugh. Taft asks, “What’s everybody laughing at?” In another section, a donkey and an elephant sit on the tops of two towers. In the middle section, “Willie Hooligan Hoist” holds up a “Standard Oil” scarecrow that scares Roosevelt, Taft, and William Jennings Bryan. Two men run away, leaving their hats: “Foraker” and “Haskell.” In the bottom left section, Roosevelt and Taft attempt to push Bryan’s house with him in it on the ground. In the bottom right section, Bryan shocks Roosevelt who shouts, “Loeb! See if you can locate this malefactor!”

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Comments and Context

In a Hallowe’en tour de force, Cleveland cartoonist Johnny Gruelle — later famed as the creator of Raggedy Ann — rounded up the closing presidential campaign with humorous vignettes.

President Roosevelt begins to chop down the “Bryanism” tree with branches of “bank guaranty law,” “radicalism,” “government ownership of railroads,” and “sensational issues.” A cat or raccoon that has the face of William Jennings Bryan is trapped up in the tree. On the ground are several wood chips: “Standard Oil controversy,” “Define your attitude toward labor.–T.R.,” and “Haskell incident.”

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Comments and Context

This cartoon possibly was drawn by a young Frank Godwin, who was born in Washington, D.C., to a newspaperman father. Frank was 15 (four years before this cartoon’s publication) when he secured his first job as an artist. He lived around Philadelphia, and in New Jersey, most of his life. 

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.

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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.

William Jennings Bryan holds Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell depicted as an infant and sucking from a “Standard Oil” bottle. Bryan tells Roosevelt, “You shall not touch the che-e-ild!” Roosevelt replies, “Have a care! You will rue this day!”

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Comments and Context

Herbert Johnson was destined to be a cartoonist with a national following, with enormous “reach” as political cartoonist for The Saturday Evening Post for years. In 1908 he secured his first major position as political cartoonist for the Philadelphia North American, whose publisher Edwin A. Van Valkenburg was an early and consistent supporter of Theodore Roosevelt. This cartoon, although clipped from a Montana newspaper for the White House scrapbook during Roosevelt’s presidency, likely first appeared in the North American, which operated a fledgling syndicate at the time. Johnson also drew humor cartoons for Life magazine at this time.

William Jennings Bryan attempts to ride a bucking donkey that has a “Standard” oil can attached to its tail. In the background, President Roosevelt and William Randolph Hearst cheer.

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Comments and Context

Albert Turner Reid was one of the breed of cartoonists whose signatures routinely were more elaborate than their drawings. From his home base in Kansas he drew for several publications throughout his career; and was widely reprinted. He had a handsome style and a flair for caricature, if not for accurate animal locomotion.