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CHAPTER X
In  the  Gubernatorial   Chair

M!

-R. ROOSEVELT began his term as governor with a message to the legislature that was ringing and statesmanlike. The people had elected a Republican governor charged with the duty of reforming conditions that the Republicans themselves had brought about. Governor Roosevelt appointed Democratic lawyers, together with engineering and financial experts, to examine into the expenditures of the canal millions. The Department of Public Works was reorganized on a practical business basis with proper men in charge.
Copyrisbt 1898 by Rockwood.
HON.  THEODORE  ROOSEVELT (As Governor of New York)
In the other departments of the State government, the process of shifting things from a political to a business basis was quietly but firmly carried out. Great improvements were made in managing charitable and penal institutions. The insurance department and the bank department, under control of the governor of New York, have to supervise the insurance companies, and the banks and trust companies, that are the most essential
and important of any in the nation.   The work of these departments was reorganized by
Governor Roosevelt," though the task cost him a stubborn fight.
A board of revision was appointed to give New York an improved charter in view of

 

" JUST  WATCH   ME,  TEDDY ! " (Mr. Platt essaying to subdue thq legislative bronco.) From the World (New York)

PLAIT'S POLITICAL  CEMETERY
From the World (New York)

In the Gubernatorial Chair

49

GOVERNOR   ROOSEVELT'S   RINGING   MESSAGE   TO   THE   LEGISLATURE

(At the beginning of liis term as Governor of New York.) From the World   (New York)
the recent consolidation of New York and Brooklyn. The educational work of the State was improved, and in many ways the social welfare of the people of the Empire State was advanced under Mr. Roosevelt's administration.
roosevelt : " Hands off, Tommy !   I'll do the driving! "
(Roosevelt decides at the very start to be an un unbossed
Governor, though accused of obeying Platt.)
From the Herald (New York)
The subject that proved in the end to have been the most influential in its bearing upon Mr. Roosevelt's future career was that of State taxation. During his early months as governor, a State senator, the Hon. John Ford, introduced a bill designed to secure for the State a proper revenue from public-service corporations, such as street railway companies and gas and electric lighting companies, which were in the enjoyment of unlimited and perpetual franchises. The

50

teddy
tf -E0-PEEF PUTT MS HOST MS SHEEP,
but he mqws whwe 70 nws> it,
IT ^L ©WE '•• FTU COMBH@ME
_       .     .._	j. _	n.n™^	J

GOVERNOR   ROOSEVELT   SHEARING   THE  PUBLIC FRANCHISES SHEEP WITH THE FRANCHISE  TAX   SHEARS,  TO  THE  DISMAY  OF   MR.   PLATT
The three cartoons on this page are from the World (New  York)

THE BOSS'S ANXIETY
mr. platt to governor roosevelt : " You wouldn't rob the Old Man, would you?"
(Mr. PJatt sees the possibility of campaign contributions from the corporations being diverted from the party by the proposed franchise taz.)

A  CRITICAL  MOMENT   FOE  BOTH
(Mr. Platt trying to lead the broncho, Governor Roosevelt, into the corporation paddock, during the extra session of the Legislature called to deal with the matter of a franchise tax.)

In the Gubernatorial Chair

51

 

" NO CHOICE BETWEEN ROTTEN APPLES "
(The apples stand for the Franchise tax; one is labeled " Roosevelt plan," the other " Ford plan "— both equally distasteful to Mr. Platt, the marhetman.) From the World  (New York)

I'LATT'S TUMULTUOUS TIMES  WITH  TEDDY
platt, the " easy Boss's/' latkst utterance : " Peace is beautiful, but visionary. It is not for this age."
From the World  (New York)

street railway lines, particularly those of New York City, had been formed into a vast monopoly, capitalized at hundreds of millions of dollars by the issuing of inflated securities.
Most of the issues of stocks and bonds were based upon the commercial value of these franchises, rather than upon tangible property. Senator Ford held that such franchises ought to be assessed at their market value, just as real estate is assessed for purposes of taxation.
Public   opinion   and   the   best  newspapers  supported  him,   and   Governor  Roosevelt

 

RECEIVING A LESSON IN HARMONY
(Mr. Platt, who had some talent for harmony, both musical and political, is here shown as giving Roosevelt a lesson.)
From the Herald (New York)

IN AMBUSH FOR THE ROUGH RIDER
(Croker with a club labeled " To hell with reform," and Platt with one labeled " The public be damned.")
From the World (New York)

52

A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

TEDDY TO THE RESCUE OF REPUBLICANISM (The importance to the Republican party of the Ohio campaign of 1899, for its bearing on the nomination of President McKir.ley for a second term, caused the party managers to draft a large number of distinguished officeholders, including Governor Roosevelt, of New York, for speeches in that State.)
From the Verdict (New York), October 30, 1899

THE CANAL STEAL PUZZLE
Will Governor Roosevelt interpose between fraud and Justice (in the matter of the expenditure of the Barge Canal appropriation) ?
From the Verdict  (New York), January 2, 3899

 

ROOSEVELT'S   IDEA   OF   REORGANIZATION (Governor Roosevelt dealing with the question  of the reorganization   of   the   Police   Department   of   New   York City.)
From the Verdict (New York), March 13, 1899

EXCELSIOR TEDDY " Try not the Pass, the Old Man said." (Mr.   Roosevelt   desired   a   second   term   as   Governor. The  nomination   " Pass,"   however,   was  guarded   by   Ms political enemies—hence Mr. Platt's warning.) From the Verdict (New York)

In the Gubernatorial Chair

53

THE STATE SENATE HAS TURNED TURTLE, SWAMPING THE TUG REFORM
Prom the Herald  (New York)

gave Senator Ford the backing of his support in so far as the principles involved in the Ford bill were concerned. Senator Platt's Republican machine and Mr. Croker's Tammany machine were alike opposed to the Ford scheme of taxing corporation franchises. Both political organizations derived a great part of their pecuniary support from the contributions they were accustomed to exact from the very set of corporations which it was proposed to tax under the Ford scheme.
" LOOK  OUT  FOR  THE   COP!" (Tammany  Hall  trying  to  rush  a  rapid  transit plan through " Legislature Avenue."    Roosevelt,  as the cop, ready to smite it when it comes up for his approval at Governor Street.)
From the World  (\ew York)
Mr. Roosevelt was urged in high and influential quarters not to support any form of franchise tax. But he stood by the plan, called an extra session of the legislature, and with the masses of the people behind him, put the bill through the Senate and Assembly, gave it his signature, and made it a law. This action was typical of his brilliant administration as governor.
When the legislature assembly in January, 1900, Governor Roosevelt presented to it an annual message of great scope and statesmanlike ability, in which he discussed the problem of commercial monopolies and so-called trusts, and dealt broadly with the policies in which it seemed to him the State of New York should point the way for other commonwealths. He was looking forward to renomination as governor in the autumn of that year, in order that in a second term of two years he might complete the program he had laid out for himself as chief of the government of the State of New York.

54

A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

He breaketh loose from college

He turneth up his toes in the race for Mayor

He cow-puncheth

He worketh the Civil Service racket

lie maketh the Police Board like unto       He becometh part of the whole thing     He   leadeth  Rough  Riders  who  never
a dentist's shop	.	in the Navy Department	rode

He  announceth  independence  of Platt     He  giveth  the jay  information  about     He worketh the tread-mill for T. Platt
the canal steal
THE CAREER OF TEDDY.—From the Verdict (New York), November 6, 1899