Wealth

Secretary of War Taft explains why he partially disagrees with President Roosevelt regarding the tariff. Taft also requests the privilege to differ from Roosevelt regarding the Interstate Commerce Commission and “the issue of bonds and stocks of interstate railways.” Taft hopes to return from his trip to Berlin via the Siberian Railway and wants Roosevelt’s advice before making arrangements.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-06

This is a prose poem that describes the will of Charles Lounsbury, a fictional wealthy Chicagoan who went insane and died in a mental institution. Williston Fish writes as if he were Lounsbury and wishes for good things to happen to adults and children.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-22

British Foreign Secretary Grey informs President Roosevelt that Ambassador H. Mortimer Durand will be replaced, and while he understands Roosevelt’s desire to have Arthur Lee in his place, that is politically impossible. Temporarily, Esmé Howard will be sent to Washington as Councillor to the Embassy. Grey appreciated Roosevelt’s explanation of his telegram to German Emperor William after the Portsmouth Peace. Grey explains that his foreign policy is not anti-German, but to be independent he feels it necessary to strengthen the entente with France and come to an agreement with Russia. Grey believes that his generation has had enough of war, and the British people feel a special bond with the United States. Grey hopes the dispute between Canada and the United States over Newfoundland will soon be settled. He also adds that many in Great Britain are upset over reports of slavery and plunder in the Belgian Congo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-04

President Roosevelt examines various social premises in American society that are inherently unequal for African Americans. Roosevelt calls on white Americans to seek out the good in neighbors, regardless of race, and with the goal of improving life and prosperity for all Americans. Roosevelt believes that skin color detrimentally impacts the black population’s ability to live free without the threat of violence, achieve a good education, and acquire a good paying job. The mob mentality that adversely targets African Americans must be rooted out. In relation to capital and labor, Roosevelt again criticizes the mob mentality that excites violent class hatred against the wealthy. It is not in America’s interest to elect anyone whose platform is built on “violence and hypocrisy.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-30

In this translated piece of correspondence, Datu Piang wishes prosperity upon President Roosevelt in both material wealth and military power. Piang further declares his loyalty to Roosevelt, whose government he says has “the wisest of laws, the greatest of riches and most compassion to its subjects.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-24

A poem by Milo Deyo on the corrupting influence of money and weath.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-15

These short lyrics calls Theodore Roosevelt to come back, as “times are getting harder, there’s nothing in our larder,” as compared to the plentiful times that existed before he left office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-27

Alton B. Parker pushes his head against a large statue labeled “36 years of Republican rule.” A “nomination” paper in his top hat. The statue includes a number of events that have occurred during Republican rule: “established the gold standard,” “prosperity,” “all the anti-trust legislation,” “protection,” “the construction of the Panama Canal a certainty,” “expansion,” and “Sherman law enforced by a Rep. president.” The statue has a woman—”freedom”—at the top which overlooks the United States Capitol building.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07

The ghosts of Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley put their hands on President Roosevelt’s shoulders as he uses the “Republican record” and “prosperity” reins. Caption: “The shades of Lincoln and M’Kinley are guiding the nation in the way it should go!” Tenor of President Roosevelt’s Speech of Acceptance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-27

President Roosevelt rides a bicycle around the “prosperity loop” to a “2nd term.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-18

An elephant that sits on a “prosperity” stool uses “public opinion ink” to write Roosevelt’s name on a sign as Uncle Sam tries to hear what the crowd is saying.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01

Uncle Sam carves a “reciprocity” turkey on a bed of “prosperity” lettuce at a table where President Roosevelt and “Cuba” are seated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-26

“Prosperity” and “progress” cannons are pointed at “Port Parker” where a Democratic donkey and Alton B. Parker stand. Their two cannons—”charges of blackmail” and “attacks on Roosevelt”—are damaged. President Roosevelt looks up at them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-05

German Emperor William II has accepted David Jayne Hill, President Roosevelt’s nominee for the American Embassy in Berlin, thereby ending a recent embarrassing incident involving the posting. Part of the Emperor’s reservation in accepting Hill’s posting in Berlin was due to Hill being less wealthy than Charlemagne Tower, the outgoing American ambassador. The author of the article praises Hill’s qualifications, and agrees with Roosevelt’s insistence “that merit must go before millions,” but notes that in practice this can sometimes result in uncomfortable positions and suggests that states provide their ambassadors with ample means if they are not already independently wealthy in order that they are able to present themselves with the appropriate dignity and gravitas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-01

The article discusses President Roosevelt’s address at the Jamestown Ter-centennial Exposition. America has risen as a nation through business and industry, rather than through military might, and thus is likely to last longer than other nations which have risen by the latter. Roosevelt traces the origins of the nation beyond the arrival of the Mayflower, all the way back to the dreams of Sir Walter Raleigh. The writer wonders what Raleigh might think of the second half of Roosevelt’s address, in which he expressed the problem of the danger of wealth – a common theme in the President’s speeches.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-27

A large flaming hand labeled “Guilt” emerges from dark clouds pointing to a man’s downfall. Institutions labeled “Business Reputation, Financial Standing, Social Position, Respectability, [and] Church Membership” that he has worked to build up crumble, as lightning bolts labeled “Public Enlightenment,” revealing his corrupt practices, strike them. Caption: The old-time defenses no longer defend him.

comments and context

Comments and Context

“The Man Highest Up” illustrates Puck‘s evolution from focusing on parties and politicians to systemic ills and injustices in America.

President Roosevelt addresses an audience at the South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition, commonly known as the Charleston Exposition. Roosevelt feels that the invitation for him to speak at the exposition emphasized how completely the United States has been reunited. The unity of the Nation became “instantly and strikingly evident” during the Spanish-American War and Roosevelt felt it was satisfying to see the sons of Union soldiers and Confederate soldiers serving together. Roosevelt details the accomplishments of several former Confederate soldiers within his own administration. He also praises South Carolina’s efforts to engage the West Indies in an industrial exposition, as the West Indies should “occupy a far larger place in our national policy” in the future. Roosevelt also praises the work the U.S. has done in Cuba, which will soon be a free public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-04-09

In his travels across the country, Theodore Roosevelt is impressed by the essential unity of citizens. Divisions based on “wealth, occupation, or locality” are “false and un-American.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-22

President Roosevelt discusses “the trusts” in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He discusses the control and regulation of trusts, including recent legislation. Speech has applause noted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-03

A wily, destitute, European noble, with papers extending from his pockets labeled “Laundry Bill, Hotel Bill, Livery Bill, [and] Tailor Bill,” seeks a fortune among young American heiresses, as he “hypnotizes” them with the crown of his nobility and they, in their weakened state, kneel before him offering bags of money, to the chagrin of young, well-to-do, American men.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-10-02