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CHAPTER XVIII
The Roosevelt-Parker Campaign

Stereograph copyright, 1904, by Underwood A Underwood New York
THE NOTIFICATION OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT  AT OYSTER BAY IN 1904.     (SPEAKER CANNON  STANDS ON THE PRESIDENT'S RIGHT.)
T
HERE was no well-defined issue in the campaign of  1904, as in the two previous ones.    In 1896 the question of sound money was  threshed out  and permanently settled.    In 1900 the people ratified the expansion policy, and the momentous national and international developments that followed our war with Spain.    In 1904 the real question was whether the people were well enough pleased with the man who had succeeded McKinley by a fateful accident to give him another four years' lease of power.
Wall Street interests were bitterly opposed to Mr. Roosevelt, because his investigation and prosecution of various trusts and corporations, and his attacks upon railroad rebates and like abuses had for the time being not only checked the prosperous schemes of many promoters, but had also confused and disturbed legitimate business,—the whole fabric of corporation finance and control being so closely interwoven. Thus Wall Street, largely under Democratic leadership, had undertaken a more positive part in politics than ever before. If only the Republicans could be prevented from nominating: a man as bold

104

A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

J>4
A VERY STOUT " STRING " TO  IT

(Apropos  of  the  struggle   over  the   Cuban   reciprocity treaty.)
From the Record  (Philadelphia)

ON   COMMON   GROUND
(President Roosevelt congratulates ex-President Cleveland
on  the  birth  of a  boy.) Prom the Ohio State Journal  (Columbus)

" brummel "   roosevelt:   "Ah!   who  is  your   fat   friend?"
(Mr. Cleveland had made a speech at the Louisiana Purchase celebration at St. Louis, in 1903, and it was thought at the time that he might possibly become a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President and run against Roosevelt, who also attended the celebration.)
From the Herald  (New York)

The Roosevelt-Parker Campaign

105

me. roosevelt :  " This is so sudden.' From the Tribune  (Chicago)

NOT   A   CLOUD   IN   SIGHT
(Except that made by tbe factory chimneys.)
From the Inquirer  (Philadelphia)
and aloof as Roosevelt, and the Democrats could be persuaded to nominate a representative of their conservative wing rather than a radical like Bryan, Wall Street would have nothing to fear from the result of the election. So the " magnates " reasoned.

uncle sam:  "Never swap pilots while crossing a stream."—Prom the North American  (Philadelphia)

106

A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

G. O.  P.:  "There's my  man; where's yours?" democracy :  " Oh,  I'm waiting for an  inspiration." From the Globe  (New York)
Thus in 1903 and early in 1904 Wall Street had done its best to aid in the movement to secure the nomination of Senator Hanna in place of Mr. Roosevelt; and as early as 1903 certain eminent legal advisers of Wall Street had selected Judge Alton B. Parker (then chief justice of the highest court of the State of New York) as an excellent representative of the so-called " safe and sane " type of Democratic candidates. All this was in no way to Judge Parker's discredit; for he was an upright judge and a public man of sound views and a well-poised mind. Mr. Bryan had been twice defeated; and Judge Parker, though of a different school of political thought and training, had maintained his party regularity at all times, just as Roosevelt on his

Sl'IKEl)
(Judge Parker spiking the  Republican campaign gun by
his gold issue telegram to the St. Louis convention.)
From the World  (New York)
side had been a Republican under all conditions.
Judge Parker was not widely known to the country, and his candidacy could not be otherwise than the merely negative one of opposition to Roosevelt. It was not possible for the Democrats to frame any successful issues. They could not ask boldly for tariff reform, because the South had become protectionist. They talked of scandals in administration, but. the country knew that Roosevelt had cleaned out the Post Office frauds with as much vigor as any Democratic President could have

STRENUOUS    VICE-PRESIDENTIAL    CANDIDATE    DAVIS   AND   WHAT   A   FRIEND   CALLS
" A   FEW   OF   HIS   STUNTS." From the American  (New York)

The Roosevelt-Parker Campaign

107

TtKfltjo
shown. They could not denounce Roosevelt as a foe of trusts and corporations, because the major part of the Democratic party had always professed to be far more deeply opposed to monopoly and corporate aggrandizement than the Republicans.
In short, the logic of the situation was with Roosevelt. The people of the country, regardless of party, liked both the man and his policies. As the campaign progressed the Democratic managers denounced the Republicans as collecting large campaign funds from the very trusts and corporations that Mr. Roosevelt was supposed to be righting. Moreover, Wall Street quickly lost confidence in itself as a political Warwick, and was inclined to disavow Judge Parker's candidacy as of its choosing. Doubtless various corporation interests contributed to both campaign funds; and it is unquestionably true that the greater part of the responsible business men of the country thought it better to keep Roosevelt and the Republicans in power than to bring in the Democrats on a dubious platform, with no knowledge of the make-up of a prospective Democratic cabinet.
Associated with Mr. Roosevelt was Secretary Hay, in charge of our foreign affairs; Mr. Root (who had just been succeeded by Mr. Taft), in charge of the War Depart-

" WHAT IS ONE MAN'S MEAT IS ANOTHER
MAN'S POISON"
(The cartoonist wishes to convey the idea that Roosevelt wants to talk and that Parker is quite happy to be silent.)
From the News (Baltimore)

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AS A PHRENOLOGIST " It is difficult to find out from our opponents what are the real issues upon which they propose to wage this campaign."—Roosevelt's letter of acceptance.—From the News (Nashville)

INDORSED  BY THE MAINE  FARMERS (Referring   to   the   large   Republican   majority   in the Maine election of 1904,  which came before the general elections of November.)
From the Evening Telegraph  (Philadelphia)

108

A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

Th«r« wi       youngs cm wl^MK TW fwc «o/T*ned   The h«drT cf "lit
J will wMier. a»d.«m;l«, For I knew *fl 1ti« while-. I could make it 0 K wilH iWcow.
ment and our island dependencies ; Mr. Knox, brilliantly heading the judiciary department ; and that remarkable campaigner, the Hon. Leslie M. Shaw, who had succeeded Mr. Gage as Secretary of the Treasury.
The President's Secretary, Mr. Cortelyou, had been secretary to President Cleveland, then to President Mc-Kinley ; and three successive Presidents testified to his ability and faithfulness. He had political tact, administrative skill, and absolute honesty. He it was whom Mr. Roosevelt selected to conduct the campaign, and to serve as chairman of the National Republican Committee. One of the notable achievements of Mr. Roosevelt's first administration had been the creation of the new Department of Commerce and Labor, and Mr. Cortelyou had been promoted to the cabinet as Sec-

HOW TO MILK THE BEEF TRUST
(The Democrats regarded the Garfleld report on the Beef Trust as very inoffensive,   and found  political reasons.)
From the World (New York)

personal order* substituted for i acts of congress.
The issue.—From the World  (New York)
Two views of the President.—From tho Eagle  (Brooklyn)
TWO   DEMOCRATIC   CARTOONS   ON   THE   " MILITARY "   ROOSEVELT

The Roosevelt-Parker Campaign

109

THE  TWO   ROOSBVBLTS
(The Roosevelt as real history will picture him—and—the Roosevelt as the demagogues now paint him.)
From Judge
retary of this new department.    Mr. Roosevelt had advanced his assistant secretary, Mr. William Loeb, Jr., to succeed Mr. Cortelyou as Secretary to the President.
Of the bureaus grouped together under the  Secretary of Commerce  and  Labor,  the

THE  ATTORNEY-GENERAL  HAS   A  NEW   JOB
knox : " Mr. Roosevelt, you'll have to get somebody else to tend to this pig, because Mr. Penn wants me to go to work (or him."
From the Journal (Kansas City)

the peesident (to Mr. Paul Morton, the new Secretary of the Navy) : " You have done so well with the cars, now let's see what you <?an do with the ships."
From the Leader  (Cleveland!

110

A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

CONGRATULATIONS IN ORDER
roosevelt : " De-e-lighted to hear that you have a cinch."
packer : " Allow me to congratulate you. I understand there Is no longer any doubt but that you will be elected to the high office to which you aspire." From the Journal (Minneapolis)

POPULIST  CANDIDATE  WATSON  CHALLENGING   THE  OTHER  PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO TALK From the Post  (Washington)
THE CALLING OF THE SECOND HAGUE PEACE
CONFERENCE
roosrvelt : " 'Twill help to make the pot boil." From  the  Eagle   (Brooklyn,   New  York)

most important was a new one called the Bureau of Corporations. Mr. Roosevelt placed at the head of this bureau the Hon. James R. Garfield, transferring him from the post of Civil Service Commissioner. These are the names of a very few of the strong and able men with whom Mr. Rooseyelt was surrounded. Mr. Hitchcock, of St. Louis, Secretary of the Interior, was exposing and prosecuting land frauds in the West, while the new Bureau of Corporations was investigating the Beef Trust, the Standard Oil Trust, and other corporations accused of violating the Sherman anti-trust law. Under the circumstances, Mr. Roosevelt's overwhelming triumph at the polls was to have been expected. All sections of the country seemed to be contented with the outcome, and Judge Parker,

The Roosevelt-Parker Campaign

111

AS THE CAMPAIGN  WAS ENDING
(Parker   sits   dejected   at   the   foot   of   the   Roosevelt pedestal.)

caesar platt  (to Brutus Odell) :  " Et tu, Brute?" This was the most unkindest cut of all ; For when the noble Ceesar saw bim stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquished him : then burst his mighty heart; And, in his mantle muffling up his face, Even at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell." Prom  the World   (New York)

HE'D    SINK   EITHER   OF   THEM
(Neither party,  this  year,  wishes to run  the  risk of associating  itself with   the  trusts.) From the North American (Philadelphia)

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A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

THE GREAT TRIUMPH OP 1904 From the Evening Star  (Washington)

though badly defeated, was regarded as having lost no important States which Roosevelt might not have carried against any possible Democratic nominee.
Mr. Roosevelt felt that his victory was not of a strictly partisan nature, and that the country was entitled to know in just what spirit he accepted it. On the night of his election, therefore, he issued a statement declaring that under no circumstances would he be a candidate or accept a nomination in 1908.
There was already much political talk to the effect that Mr. Roosevelt had merely been serving out Mr. McKinley's term, and that his acceptance of another nomination in 1908 would not be in violation of the tradition that limits an American President to two consecutive terms. His friends and his

TH EOOO R E, Yo U V E
ESTABl-LSWED A HARD
RECORD    FOR  Mt TO
KEE.P UP WITH.
**,

AFTER THE AVALANCHE OF NOVEMBER 8  (1904).—From the Post (Washington);

The Roosevelt-Parker Campaign

113

 

KOPING THE  PRESIDENTIAL  STEER From Coras y Carctas  (Buenos Aires)

" HERE WE AKE AGAIN ! "
(Apropos of Mr. Roosevelt's triumphant election and subsequent visit to the world's fair at St. Louis.)
From the World   (New York)

opponents alike had been thus looking forward to the next contest. Mr. Roosevelt won the approval and renewed confidence of the country in the decisive announcement he made. It was believed that with no ambition to secure another nomination, he could give the more devoted and patriotic attention to the service of the whole people in his high office.

 

ROOSEVELT'S   VICTORY
i A cartoon of the day after election)
uncle sam : " Now we can get up steam asain.''
From the North American  (Philadelphia)

AFTER THE BATTLE
uncle sam : " I'm glad the election is over.    I'll sweep out and get to work."
From the Times  (Washington)

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A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

ALWAYS   INCISIVE,   DECISIVE,  AND   PRECISE!
(Referring  to   Roosevelt's  election  night  statement   of   1904   renouncing   a   third   term.)
From Judge
There was nothing more remarkable than the contented acquiescence of the Democratic press in the result. The people of the South showed their approval in many ways that could not be mistaken, and flooded Mr. Roosevelt with invitations to visit their respective States and cities. It had been the good fortune of Mr. McKinley, in a period of declining partisanship, to be regarded as the President of the whole country without regard to section or party; and this general good-will was transferred to Roosevelt even as the mantle of Elijah had in ancient time fallen upon the shoulders of his successor.

Copyright by Underwood & Underwond
TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE AT WASHINGTON  ON MARCH 4, 1905