Stevenson, Adlai E. (Adlai Ewing), 1835-1914

William Jennings Bryan stands in the stirrups of his mount, a donkey labeled “Democracy,” directing the honor guard led by Adlai E. Stevenson, and including Henry R. Towne, Joseph Pulitzer, and Carl Schurz carrying a large flag with a portrait of Emilio Aguinaldo under the heading “The George Washington of the Philippines.” Also included are Oswald Ottendorfer, Edwin Lawrence Godkin, William Bourke Cockran, John Peter Altgeld, and William Sulzer.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Emilio Aguinaldo’s revolutionary campaigns for Filipino independence from Spain began in the 1890s, variously as a guerilla and conventional armed insurrection, through the Spanish-American War, ultimately with and against the victorious American liberators. As a rebel leader his forces sustained and committed atrocities. He was captured and then released by President Theodore Roosevelt as part of the United States’ general amnesty, a putative end of hostilities. Aguinaldo became a hero to his countrymen and a symbol for the cause of American anti-imperialists. Of William Jennings Bryan’s ragtag “army” on this political issue, their professions provide a hint of the American movement’s constituents: Stevenson was Bryan’s running mate, committed to the Democrat party plank; Pulitzer, Schurz, Ottendorfer, and Godkin were editors and publishers; Towne was an industrialst (Yale locks); Bouke Cochran a politician and orator of unorthodox consistency; Altgeld the radical Governor of Illinois (famous for partiality to the Haymarket bombers); Sulzer a New York politcian who eventually became Governor, only to be impeached. Cartoonist Pughe clearly considered the leadership of Bryan (on an undersized donkey) and the number and prowess of the “guard” to be targets of ridicule.

William Jennings Bryan holds a large bellows labeled “Bryanism,” which he is using to fan the flames of a small campfire labeled “Imperialism.” On the left side of the fire is Carl Schurz and on the right, kneeling on the ground, is Adlai E. Stevenson. They blow on the fire as well, to no effect.

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Comments and Context

Published days before the 1900 presidential election, this cartoon depicts the frustration of Democratic candidate Bryan, his running mate Adlai Stevenson, and the prominent German-American reformer Carl Schurz. At first glance, per the label, they might be thought to attempt a revival of imperialism, but imperialism fails to catch fire as a hot issue. In fact the opposition to the new territorial possessions of the United States, after the Spanish-American War, was the only important new plank in Bryan’s platform since 1896. And the public proved either indifferent to the objections… or quite in favor of America’s new place in the world.

William Jennings Bryan carries a banner that states “16 to 1 will help you,” and Adlai E. Stevenson carries a banner that states “I ran with Cleveland, vote for me.” They stand in front of a gigantic farmer who has swelled to enormous proportions on profits from wheat, cotton, and other farm produce.

comments and context

Comments and Context

In 1896, with a devastating depression in recent memory, the Presidential campaign arguments of Democrats and Populists were largely economic. However, they lost in large numbers to the Republican Party. Again the nominee, William Jennings Bryan found his old message irrelevant in the face of the McKinley prosperity. Cleveland’s second Vice President, Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois, was put on Bryan’s 1900 ticket, in hopes of appealing to more conservative Democrats.

President William McKinley stands on the steps to the U.S. Capitol, holding up two flags, one labeled “Expansion” and the other labeled “Sound Money.” Tiny figures at the foot of the steps show William Jennings Bryan and his “Anti-Expansion” and “16 to 1” followers trying to dislodge the flag poles.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Puck never shed its Democratic roots more than in campaigns where William Jennings Bryan was its party’s nominee, especially in 1900. The portrait of McKinley virtually is hagiographic. Even with two major issues, the Democrats found scarce traction with voters. The Anti-Expansion “pigmies” include Carl Schurz, left; and Joseph Pulitzer, right. Two of the “16 to 1” (free silver) opponents are Senator George Frisbie Hoar, left; Adlai E. Stevenson, with the straw hat; and Bryan, with the banner.

Leonard Schlup examines the vice presidential candidates in the 1900 presidential campaign: Theodore Roosevelt for the Republicans and Adlai E. Stevenson for the Democrats. Schlup explains that Roosevelt was a younger, more dynamic figure than his running mate President William McKinley while Stevenson was an older, more reserved personality than his running mate William Jennings Bryan. Schlup looks at the background of each candidate, and he notes their approaches to the office for which they were vying. He highlights their very different positions on the topic of imperialism, with Stevenson adopting an anti-imperial position.

A Republican campaign poster, a photograph of Stevenson, and two political cartoons from the 1900 campaign illustrate the article. A listing of the leadership of the Theodore Roosevelt Association appears on the second page of the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

This edition of “News and Notes” opens with a report on the 1989 Theodore Roosevelt Public Speaking Contest for the New York Public Schools. It highlights the growth of the program, notes the involvement of members of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA), and lists the judges and administrators of the annual contest. R. W. Apple, Jr. of the New York Times, compares President George Bush with President Theodore Roosevelt and writes that the two men had some similarities, such as serving in wartime, but that Bush is less flamboyant than Roosevelt. The column notes that Bush had Roosevelt’s portrait placed in the White House Cabinet Room and his bust placed in the Oval Office.

The column reprints letters from John A. Gable and Theodore R. Kupferman from the TRA leadership and lists various speaking engagements undertaken by Gable. A section examines the history of vice presidents running for the presidency after assuming the office and notes that Roosevelt was the first to be elected after the death of the president under whom he served. The column closes with a reminder for TRA members to purchase a new edition of the Theodore Roosevelt Cyclopedia and to purchase past issues of the TRA Journal on microfiche.

Photographs of the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, TRA President Theodore R. Kupferman, and two of Roosevelt on horseback appear in the column along with an illustration of both sides of the TRA medallion.

Songbook supporting the Republican presidential campaign of 1900. A slogan that appears on the cover, “Rough on DemocRATs,” is a play on words related to a popular anti-rodent product, Rough on Rats.

Collection

Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection

Creation Date

1900

Presidential candidates are on display in a gallery for the press. Among the candidates are Jerry Simpson, William A. Peffer, Robert E. Pattison, David B. Hill, James E. Campbell, William C. Whitney, William E. Russell, Adlai E. Stevenson, Levi P. Morton, Robert T. Lincoln, William B. Allison, Thomas B. Reed, William McKinley, and Benjamin Harrison who is standing next to a stack of books and a sign that states, “My Friends Say I Am Not A Candidate.” Down the center of the gallery are several newspaper editors, some with magnifying glasses and telescopes. Among them are Joseph Pulitzer, Charles A. Dana, Whitelaw Reid, Henry Watterson, Joseph R. Hawley, Murat Halstead, and Evan P. Howell, and an unidentified reporter for the Chicago Inter Ocean newspaper.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-11-20

Members of the U.S. Senate look down on five diminutive members seated in the front. They are identified as “Hill Repudiated by New York,” “Murphy Repudiated by New York,” “Gorman Repudiated by Maryland,” “Brice Repudiated by Ohio,” and “Smith Repudiated by New Jersey.” Among the senators present are Adlai E. Stevenson, William M. Stewart, George F. Hoar, Charles A. Boutelle, John Sherman, Daniel W. Voorhees, William E. Chandler, John M. Palmer, Justin S. Morrill, John P. Jones, Matthew S. Quay, and William A. Peffer.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-12-11

A cherub labeled “1894” smashes a bottle of champagne as he launches a large, modern ship, the Ship of State, under the banner “Tariff Reform,” with Grover Cleveland and members of his cabinet standing on the bow waving their hats. In the background, the specter of “1893” hovers over a sailing ship labeled “McKinley Tariff.” Among those with Cleveland are Walter Q. Gresham, John G. Carlisle, Richard Olney, and either Daniel S. Lamont or Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1893-12-27

A group of Democrats, identified as “Hill, Murphy, Vest, Bland, Matthews, Morgan, Harris, Crisp, Tillman, Altgeld, Campbell, [and] Stevenson,” stand near a bier labeled “Dem. Free Coinage Platform” on which lies the expired “Democratic Party” donkey. A ladder labeled “Chicago Convention” has been placed against the bier and the “Chicago Nominee,” wearing the black shroud of a widow, climbs to the top. Benjamin R. Tillman places more straw on the bier with a pitchfork, while John Peter Altgeld and James E. Campbell use torches to ignite fuses to burn the donkey. David B. Hill and Edward Murphy console each other.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-07-08

Grover Cleveland lifts a heavy weight labeled “Silver Question.” He has several medals pinned to his chest. With him are “W.E. Russell,” David B. Hill, Robert E. Pattison, Adlai E. Stevenson, James E. Campbell, and William R. Morrison. On the right, refusing to touch any of the weights labeled “Silver Question, Tariff Question, [and] Cuban Question,” are William McKinley, Shelby M. Cullom, Levi P. Morton, Robert Todd Lincoln, Thomas B. Reed, Benjamin Harrison, [and] William B. Allison. Uncle Sam is part of a large audience seated in the background. Caption: One strong man has shown his ability to lift the heavy weight; – now let’s see what the others can do.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-05-13

A ringmaster labeled “Harrity Chairman Dem. Natl. Com.” stands on the left, offering an opportunity to ride the Democratic Donkey which wears a saddle labeled “1896” and “$50,000 a year for the man who can ride on this donkey to the White House.” Several reluctant man observe from the grandstands. They are identified as “Stevenson, Hill, Pattison, Olney, Matthews, [and] Campbell”, and William R. Morrison. In the background, riding on the Republican Elephant labeled “1896” are “McKinley, Morton, Reed, Allison, [and] Quay.” McKinley holds a pennant labeled “Protection.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-04-15

Score for a march celebrating the 1900 presidential election. A pen inscription on the top right corner of the front cover states, “Lucy Comstock 1900.”

Collection

Gregory A. Wynn Theodore Roosevelt Collection

Creation Date

1900

Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna Roosevelt updating her on the status of things with their alcoholic brother Elliott who is now in Virginia. Elliott continues to be difficult. Roosevelt recently dined with the “barbarian” Vice President Stevenson and Secretary of the Interior Smith. Representative Reed and Senator Lodge made good speeches about the tariff debate.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1894-02-04