Trusts, Industrial

President Roosevelt rests on his “my policies” big stick as “trust” men dance around him. Roosevelt’s hat reads, “the presidential trust.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

“Artistic license” is a phrase that covers a multitude of sins — or opportunities — for the political cartoonist. In the profession’s bag of tricks are exaggeration, hyperbole, and even falsehoods. Some cartoonists trafficked in ad hominem attacks — unfair or vicious attacks unrelated to debate or persuasion. Usually the better cartoonists managed to make cogent statements of such, despite the lack of facts — Thomas Nast’s personal attacks on Horace Greeley are examples; Homer Davenport’s libels on Marcus Alonzo “Dollar Mark” Hanna are others. Strong graphic presentations and repetitions lent gravity to their abstractions.

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.

comments and context

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.

President Roosevelt stands in front of several pictures of himself, the “trusts,” and the Republican elephant with the title, “in the same frame & same game.” A picture of “Fairy Bank” is below. Roosevelt stands on the “Constitution” and “Declaration of Independence” and wears a “big stick” saber and “Baron Littauer’s brand” gloves. Two ultimatums are in his belt. To his left is his “letter of acceptance” that includes a number of statements, “signed — ‘we’ per ‘I.'”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-24

A figure representing a combination of trusts—”bank trust,” “coal trust,” “sugar trust,” “steel trust,” “tobacco trust,” “insurance trust,” “oil trust,” “paper trust,” “beef trust,” and “railroad trust”—puts a “campaign funds” gag over President Roosevelt’s mouth.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10

President Roosevelt holds a sign out the window that reads, “We will bust no trust.” Meanwhile, Chair of the Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou rolls a “J.P. Morgan bar’l” through the “back door” of the “National Republican Headquarters.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-12

Voters watch as August Belmont points to an illustration of Alton B. Parker who wears a “trusts” chain around his chest on the side of a circus tent. Verbiage reads, “The Democratic giant guarantees to break the chain by chest expansion.” In Parker’s hands are two weights, “sound money” and “clean politics.” Similarly, Henry Gassaway Davis holds a barrel that reads, “millions for the purification of politics. Not.” Verbiage around him reads, “The Hercules of West Virginia.” David B. Hill sits by a “ballot box” and holds a paper that reads, “After this performance, I shall retire from the show business. D. B. Hill.” Several men hide in the tent, including Parker, who holds a “political graft” weight; Thomas Taggart, who holds “gambling trust magnate” cards; Davis, who holds a “West Va. Coal Trust price” rock; Grover Cleveland; and Arthur P. Gorman.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-15

“The trusts” walk a lamb with President Roosevelt’s head on it toward the United States Capitol. Roosevelt wears a crown.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-12

Several Democratic leaders pull at ropes tied together. Senator Arthur P. Gorman and Representative William Bourke Cockran pull against each other on the “tariff question,” William Jennings Bryan and Grover Cleveland pull against each other on the “money question,” and August Belmont and William Randolph Hearst pull against each other on the “trust question.” Caption: Think of Gorman agreeing with Cochran on the tariff question. Think of Bryan agreeing with Cleveland on the money question. Think of reconciling the words of their platform and their candidate on the Philippine question. Think of Belmont harmonizing with Hearst on the trust question.—Senator Beveridge’s Tomlinson Hall Speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-10

On the left side, Alton B. Parker stands in the front while David B. Hill, Patrick Henry McCarren, Thomas Taggart, and August Belmont are in the back. Caption: July: (veiled) Hist! Keep the push in the background. The people may get wise! On the right side, Hill, McCarren, Taggart, and Belmont stand in the front while Parker stands in the back. Caption: October: (unveiled): The people are wise. We might as well admit we are it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-28

Alton B. Parker throws a paper on the ground that reads, “Money from the trusts. Deny it! Alton B. Parker.” Meanwhile, Chair of the Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou and President Roosevelt stand in front of a “campaign funds” vault. Cortelyou holds a “Trust Secrets compiled by G. B. Cortelyou” book.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-02

Alton B. Parker holds a “safe and sane democracy” shield and a sling that he uses to hit the head of a trust giant. President Roosevelt and Chair of Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou stand behind a “stand pat wall” and hold up their hands in horror.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-05

A large man labeled “The Trusts,” with his pockets bulging with money, is being held at gunpoint by George B. “Cortelyou.” “Teddy” Roosevelt stands behind Cortelyou with his gun holstered, but wielding “The Big Stick for Campaign Funds.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-05

An illustration of President Roosevelt has images and captions in it, including “settlement of the coal strike,” “protection against foreign labor,” “gold standard,” and “U.S. Supreme Court.” Meanwhile, Alton B. Parker is surrounded by Democratic leaders and is tied down by “sugar trust,” “Standard Oil,” and “rail-road franchise” ropes. Caption: Why Parker “Because he is perfectly safe.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-06

President Roosevelt pops out of the “White House” and speaks into a megaphone: “falsehood,” “absolutely false,” “wicked falsehood,” and “monstrous.” A Republican elephant, William Loeb, and Chair of the Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou, who holds a “Trust Secrets compiled by G. B. Cortelyou” book, run away.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-06

A number of trusts—”coal trust,” “railroad trust,” “National Bank trust,” “oil trust,” “ice trust,” “steel trust,” and “rubber trust”—all dance around President Roosevelt, who waves his hat at them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-09

President Roosevelt holds a “Morgan trust magnate” dressed in a gown filled with dollar signs close while he motions for a man holding a “Standard Oil Co.” document to leave. Caption: “The (just before election) comedy.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-08

“Corporations” lies on the ground with a broken “organized capital” sword nearby as President Roosevelt stabs him with a “trust buster” sword. Caption: The Hero: “Take that, and that, villain!” Villain (aside): “Oh, Theodore, stop it, you’re tickling me so!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-08

President Roosevelt, dressed in his Rough Rider uniform and brandishing a cavalry saber, attempts to defend the “Republican hennery” from a number of chickens labeled “race equality,” “strikes,” and “trusts.” A “postal frauds” chicken attempts to skirt around Roosevelt, while an “imperialism” chicken has already snuck past Roosevelt and is entering the coop.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09

President Roosevelt, holding a “big stick,” and Charles W. Fairbanks ride a horse toward the United States Capitol building. There are a number of rocks ahead of them: “grafting officials,” “disregard of Constitution,” “trusts,” “secret pension list,” “Army appointments,” “blunder,” and “social equality.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-09

A “trusts” bull chases President Roosevelt—who is dressed in bullfighting attire—away. There is a sign on the wall that reads, “Great bull fight. Senor Roosevelt will kill the bull in four years if elected. Admission: 1 vote.” A caption at the bottom reads, “As it has been fought the last two years.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-10