Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

A fire at the Treasury Building is billowing clouds of smoke labeled “Deficit.” Nelson W. Aldrich is the fire chief, and he is telling firefighters Stephen B. Elkins, Joseph Gurney Cannon, Sereno Elisha Payne, and Jacob H. Gallinger to send a fire engine labeled “Lower Tariff” back to the station. President William H. Taft and Elihu Root carry a large fire extinguisher labeled “Corporation Tax” and race up the steps of the building, attempting to extinguish the blaze. Caption: Chief Aldrich (at the great Treasury blaze) — Send that engine home! We’ll put her out with the extinguisher!

comments and context

Comments and Context

Udo J. Keppler’s cartoon, for all its drama while debates over tariff legislation were raging in the Capital, betrays a certain ambiguity. Editorially, Puck frequently through the years occasionally was ambiguous about its position on tariffs and trusts. So were the political parties, despite the Republicans (who received the cartoonist’s attention here) generally being the party of big business and high tariffs. President Roosevelt had begun to warm to the concept of “fair trade” and reciprocal trade agreements, on a country-to-country basis. Such concepts would be strongly advocated by President William H. Taft, particularly with the Philippines; and famously with Canada. He was to stake — and lose — much of his political capital, urging Canadian reciprocity.

William Jennings Bryan and William H. Taft stand aboard a ship applying for the job of “First Mate” to “Captain” Uncle Sam. Bryan has a pocketful of “Promises,” whereas Taft has “Records” of his world travels to prove his experience. Caption: Captain Sam — Yes, I’ll be wanting a First Mate, and a good one. I’m off for a rough, hard v’yage, and the man who’s had experience is the Mate for me.

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Comments and Context

“The Safer Choice” might be one of the softest endorsements in American political history, perhaps second only to the reluctant editorial about Theodore Roosevelt on the eve of the 1904 presidential election, simply: “Theodore, with all thy faults…”

Puck, as the attending physician to the birth of Uncle Sam’s child, emerges from the birthing room. Caption: Uncle Sam — Well? / Dr. Puck — It’s a boy, and his name is Bill.

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Comments and Context

There was a week to go before election day, and Puck cleverly dealt with the perennial (or quadrennial) intersection of the advance deadlines of weekly magazines and election-day returns. The father of cartoonist Udo J. Keppler, Puck‘s founder Joseph Keppler, drew complicated and clever compositions showing the figures representing parties shaking hands “over the bloody chasm”, hiding caricatures of several politicians within trees and jagged mountains; a Judge Magazine cartoonist once drew an elaborate election-day subject, leaving the face of the victor blank until the last minute, printing presses awaiting.

A large broom labeled “Election” sweeps up the trash of campaign slogans, signs, and symbols of William Jennings Bryan and William H. Taft.

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Comments and Context

Consistent with its virtual neutrality during the 1908 election campaign, the traditionally partisan and ferocious political-cartoon magazine made few comments on the election outcome — the election of William H. Taft to the presidency — positive, negative, or even of a balanced middle view, through the end of the year.

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary tells Hiram Johnson that Roosevelt is in Syracuse, New York, for the William Barnes libel suit. The secretary details Roosevelt’s plans for his upcoming trip to San Francisco, and asks Johnson to help ensure that Roosevelt’s visit to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in that city not overlap with that of President Woodrow Wilson or William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-05-06

President Roosevelt praises General Luke E. Wright’s service in the Philippines. Roosevelt wants the governance of the Philippines to be kept on a “plane of patriotic efficiency.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-19

President Roosevelt honors General Luke E. Wright on his return from the Philippines. Roosevelt praises both the state of Tennessee and Wright. Roosevelt gives several examples of how the United States is once again a whole entity, using especially Wright’s conduct as acting governor of the Philippines. He also discusses the United States’ actions and duties in the Philippines, and addresses charges of wrongdoing against the U.S. Army. He notes that while the U.S. has made some steps towards allowing self-government for the Filipinos, it would be more dangerous to move too quickly towards self-rule than to move too slowly. This is the press copy of Roosevelt’s speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-19

President Roosevelt honors Luke E. Wright on his return from the Philippines. Roosevelt praises both the state of Tennessee and Wright. Roosevelt gives several examples of how the United States is once again a whole entity, using especially Wright’s conduct as acting governor of the Philippines. He also discusses the United States’ actions and duties in the Philippines, and addresses charges of wrongdoing against the U.S. Army. He notes that while the U.S. has made some steps towards allowing self-government for the Filipinos, it would be more dangerous to move too quickly towards self-rule than to move too slowly. This is the press copy of Roosevelt’s speech with edits and applause noted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-19

President Roosevelt honors General Luke E. Wright on his return from the Philippines. Roosevelt praises both the state of Tennessee and Wright. Roosevelt gives several examples of how the United States is once again a whole entity, using especially Wright’s conduct as acting governor of the Philippines. He also discusses the United States’ actions and duties in the Philippines, and addresses charges of wrongdoing against the U.S. Army. He notes that while the U.S. has made some steps towards allowing self-government for the Filipinos, it would be more dangerous to move too quickly towards self-rule than to move too slowly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

William H. Taft and William Jennings Bryan play on a seesaw. Bryan, on the upper half, holds papers labeled “Speech in reply to Taft,” and Taft, on the lower half, is writing “Memo for reply” on a pad of paper.

comments and context

Comments and Context

A month before the presidential election, and the nominally (or traditionally) Democratic magazine Puck continued to tweak the Republican William H. Taft and the Democrat William Jennings Bryan with equal middle-distance solicitude and, basically, gentleness. The journal never could accept Bryan’s radical policies nor his lack of political sophistication; and it had cordially endorsed many of President Theodore positions, which Taft implicitly pledged to continue if elected.

William H. Taft rides on horseback during a tour of the American West where he is making a campaign stop to address a gathering of cowboys, farmers, lumberjacks, and businessmen. Taft’s clothing and the horse’s brand, saddle, and bridle are emblazoned with “TR,” the initials of Theodore Roosevelt, suggesting Roosevelt’s endorsement of Taft in the upcoming presidential election.

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Comments and Context

Will Crawford, illustrator and cartoonist of Western and Native American subjects invariably depicted sympathetically, became around this a major member of Puck Magazine’s art staff. In this double-page cartoon he calls upon his familiarity with the old and new American West to make a subtle but devastating comment on the inept Republican presidential candidate William H. Taft.

Uncle Sam shaves with a razor labeled “Taft.” On the vanity is a straight-edge razor labeled “Roosevelt” showing the face of Theodore Roosevelt, also a cup of lather labeled “My Policies.” Caption: Uncle Sam – Well, I’ll give this here safety-razor a good fair trial, and then, if I don’t like it, I’ll go back to the old one.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-10-27

Six policemen labeled “Chafin, Taft, Debs, Watson, Hisgen, [and] Bryan” gather around a young boy labeled “Reactionary Voter” standing on “Radical Ave.” The boy appears confused by all the political parties represented by the various candidates – Eugene W. Chafin of the Prohibition Party, William H. Taft of the Republican Party, Eugene V. Debs of the Socialist Party of America, Thomas E. Watson of the Populist Party, Thomas L. Hisgen of the United States Independent Party, and William Jennings Bryan of the Democratic Party. Caption: Chorus of Kindly Cops — Don’t you know where you belong, little boy? / The Waif — No-o-o! I’m a-all turned round. Boo-hoo!

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Comments and Context

“The Lost Child” is a curious cartoon in the Puck Magazine canon, and in its portrayal of the contemporary political situation. S. D. Ehrhart, who had been moonlighting or freelancing for a small radical publication The Square Deal, presents an unusual scenario in the double-page cartoon.

Vignettes depict the presidential candidates for the 1908 election, each learning their fortunes regarding the outcome of the election. Norman Edward Mack as a palm reader tells William Jennings Bryan that his “line of ambition is phenomenally long. Likewise your line of talk. You can’t lose.” Frank H. Hitchcock as a seer gazing into a crystal ball, which shows the face of Theodore Roosevelt, tells William H. Taft that he sees “nothing but success.” Thomas L. Hisgen is reading cards labeled “W. R. Hearst.” Thomas E. Watson sees the word “Cinch” in the stars. Eugene W. Chafin is reading tea leaves. Eugene V. Debs is dropping hot lead into a cauldron showing the White House.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Puck had grown comfortable with double-page cartoons comprised of vignettes on a theme, and ran them approximately once a month. This cartoon is a rare three-man “jam,” the central drawings by Will Crawford. In keeping with the magazine’s routine depictions, Republican William H. Taft is happy and confident; his Democrat rival William Jennings Bryan is unkempt, seedy, and in need of a shave (the power of subconscious graphic subtleties!)

A chariot race is underway, with “Miss Democracy” driving a team of donkeys labeled “Dem. Congressional Campaign” and President “Taft” driving a team of white horses labeled “Rep. Congressional Campaign.” A chariot labeled “Payne-Aldrich Tariff Mess,” driven by Nelson W. Aldrich, has crashed in front of Taft, possibly derailing the Republican campaign in the upcoming Congressional election. Uncle Sam, a woman wearing a red liberty cap, and Puck, among others, watch from a platform in the center of the racetrack.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-08-24

President Taft balances a cone of papers, labeled “Administration” and showing the Republican elephant, on his nose. Struggling to get in the cone is “Ballinger” while already inside are “Elkins, Hitchcock, Wickersham, C. Taft, Crane, Dalzell, Cannon, Payne (holding on to a large question mark labeled “Tariff”), Aldrich, [and] Sherman.” Rolled-up papers in the cone are labeled “Standpat Legislation” and “Cost of Living Investigation.” Also in the cone, a dog labeled “Regulars” and a cat labeled “Insurgents” are fighting.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-08-31

President Taft, as the biblical Aaron, pushes a goat labeled “Cannon.” Caption: “And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities … and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.” Leviticus XVI, 22.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-10-12

President Taft sits on the seashore with a cluster of seashells around him that are labeled “H. Taft, Sherman, Knox, Aldrich, Ballinger, Root, [and] Cannon.” He is holding two labeled “Chas. Taft” and “Wickersham” to his ears, listening for the sound of waves. A large wave, labeled “The People” and showing the face of Uncle Sam, rolls toward shore. Caption: Shells give a good imitation; but, just for a change, why not listen to the real thing?

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-07-27

On the left is Theodore Roosevelt, hand resting on a sledgehammer labeled “My Policies,” standing at the entrance to his shop “T. Roosevelt Horseshoer & Wheelwright” with “Dr. Abbott” at his side. A sign on the wall states, “Autos, Air-ships & Bicycles Repaired.” Road signs labeled “Republican Turnpike” are pointing into the background. At center and right is a jumble of ruined vehicles. A small wagon labeled “Direct Primaries” is being pulled in opposite directions by “Gov. Hughes” and “Wadsworth.” “Beveridge” gestures toward a wagon labeled “Indiana Campaign” that has lost a wheel. President Taft is driving a sulky labeled “Aldrich Tariff,” drawn by the Republican elephant, that has lost the rim to one wheel. A woman labeled “Woman’s Suffrage” is holding a bicycle with damaged tires. “La Follette” is pointing to the foot of a horse labeled “Wisconsin Campaign.” “Parsons” and “Woodruff” are in an automobile that has had an accident, while “Murdock” appears to be kicking one of the tires. An airplane labeled “Conservation,” with “Pinchot” and “Garfield” on board, has crashed into a tree labeled “Ballinger.” Also in the mix is a man labeled “Poindexter,” and in the background is “Penrose” walking away from an automobile accident labeled “Pennsylvania.” In the lower left corner is the shadow of the Democratic donkey.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-08-03

Judge Thomas McDonough reflects on his first three months in the Philippines. He is surprised at the “remarkable progress” and shares his thoughts on the friars’ question. McDonough is struggling with what to do with the land of the friars and the friars themselves.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-04