Charles Bartholomew Political Cartoon Collection

Delighted!

June 11, 1910

In the top half of the image, a woman labeled Europa sits in a rocking chair fanning herself. Around the woman are an upturned tray labeled Conventionality, an overturned box labeled Established Precedent, and pieces of paper labeled Lecture, Letter, Good Bye! T.R., and Speech. In the bottom half of the image, Uncle Sam celebrates on a platform next to a body of water. A buoy is labeled Welcome T.R..

Theodore Roosevelt was returning from an extended tour of Africa and Europe. During the European leg of his tour he had given many speeches that disregarded diplomatic niceties.

See Also: Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

What Are the Wild Waves Saying?

June 10, 1910

Waves splash against a rock cliff. Numerous happy faces are drawn in the waves - caricatures of Theodore Roosevelt.

Roosevelt was returning to America from his year-long overseas trip.

See Also: Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

A Parting That Would Be Such Sweet Sorrow

June 9, 1910

The Sugar Trust, a large man dressed in prison stripes and handcuffed, is labeled with the words Dishonesty, Fraudulent, Weights - Graft, Cheating, and Crooked Methods. Beside him, a man and woman labeled Consumers, laugh as they cover their faces. A small man labeled Richard Parr holds $100,000, which has a label reading For A Good Boy.

The American Sugar Refining Company were prosecuted for fraudulent underweighing of sugar at Williamsburg piers, resulting in the United States Customs being defrauded out of millions of dollars in sugar duties. Richard Parr, Deputy Surveyor, was entitled to be awarded monetary compensation for information on the Sugar Trust.

From Hennepin County Library

Getting To Be a Big Boy Now

June 8, 1910

A very tall man labeled Progressive Representation in Congress, stands next to a woman labeled Iowa. The woman is gesturing to a short, older man labeled Eastern Congressional Leader. Behind the three people is a outline of the United States with the west labeled Progressive Territory.

Most of the western representatives from both parties were Progressives, as opposed to the more conservative easterners.

From Hennepin County Library

Go North, Young Man, And Grow With the Country

June 7, 1910

A man stands besides Uncle Sam at the bottom of the State of Minnesota. Uncle Sam holds an object reading Homesteads for the Asking and 234,000 Acres of Minnesota Land, Open to Entry, June 20. Across the top of Minnesota reads Northern Minnesota. Signs label particular areas of Northern Minnesota including 2,000 Acres Pidgeon River, 185,000 Acres Baudette River, 6400 Acres Red Lake, 22,400 Acres Cass Lake District, 4,000 Acres Leech Lake, and 13,000 Acres Cloquet.

Around 233,295 acres of Indian Reservations in Minnesota had been stolen and opened up for white settlement by the United States government. The larger portion was subject to homestead entry.

From Hennepin County Library

Still Waiting For the Second Table

June 6, 1910

Four bills, labeled Tariff Board, Postal Savings, Conservation Measure, and Railroad Bill, dine at a table. They are waited on by a woman labelled Congress. Two boys wait seated outside of the room where the objects dine. One boy is labeled New Mexico and the other Arizona.

New Mexico and Arizona were waiting to be admitted as states. They would not achieve statehood until 1912.

From Hennepin County Library

They'll Have To Show Mr. Folk

June 5, 1910

Ex-Governor Joseph W. Folk of Missouri is seen driving a donkey cart in front of a building labelled Democratic Presidential Race. The donkey is labelled Missouri Democracy and the cart wheel is labelled Tariff for Revenue Only. Standing near the cart are several prospective presidential candidates in the 1912 race, including Mayor William Jay Gaynor of New York, Governor Judson Harmon of Ohio, and Governor Thomas R. Marshall of Indiana. Looking on from the other side of the cart is William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska.

Folk was running for Senate, and had stated that tariffs should be for no purpose other than revenue, not to protect specific industries. This was in opposition to the standard Democratic platform.

See Also: William Jennings Bryan

From Hennepin County Library

The Passing Of the Railroad Bill

June 4, 1910

The Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey are dancing in the foreground in front of a passing train labelled Railroad Bill Amendment.

The bill was passed by Congress the previous day, with only a few Democrats in opposition.

From Hennepin County Library

The Farm School Is a Need In Minnesota

June 3, 1910

A school building with a sign, State of Minnesota Farm School and a pendant flying, Agricultural School. Two students approach the school, a Minneapolis carrying a book on buttermaking, and Minne's Brother carrying books on Dairying and Soils.

Minnesota's farm school had record attendance.

From Hennepin County Library

There Are Some People Who Will Be Glad To Know That the Cars Are Not Always Crowded

June 1, 1910

Two scenes of street cars are depicted: In the first, Official photograph taken at eleven A.M. - by Street Railway Co. - for Council Committee. A handful of people enjoy a journey with plenty of room in the car.

In the second, Snap shot, by most any of us, at time we have to use the street cars, the car is crammed full of people with a line to board.

Streetcars provided transportation in the Twin Cities from 1875 through 1954.

From Hennepin County Library

Yes, but I'm going through chronologically, so I won't be posting them for 4 more years. You can find them here:

Taking the Bull By the Horns

May 31, 1910

Theodore Roosevelt grasps a bull by the horns. The bull is labelled John Bull and its tail is an upright flagpole flying a British flag and a pendant labelled British Rule in Egypt. Uncle Sam looks on with binoculars in the background.

Roosevelt had given a speech in London on British Rule in Africa, in which he had roundly criticized the British occupation of Egypt for its lenience in not indiscriminately murdering those who stood against it.

See Also: Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

Lest We Forget

May 30, 1910

A young man holding a bouquet of flowers with a ribbon labelled 'the rising generation' is standing next to an American flag-draped grave marked 'Sacred to the Memory Hero of the Civil War July 3 1863' while the hand of Uncle Sam, holding a wreath, is seen entering the frame.

The cartoon was published on Memorial Day, and the date on the grave refers to the end of the Battle of Gettysburg.

From Hennepin County Library

The Western Progressive - Now Dance To My Music!

May 29, 1910

Three men drink in the Politics bar, the Southern Democrat and Eastern Stand-Patter are forcing The Tariff to get drunk. The Democratic donkey and Republican elephant tend bar. A sign on the wall reads "If you don't see what you want - ask for it!" A gunfight dressed in western attire holding two guns labeled Reform and wearing a hat labeled Western Progressive holds up the men. He says "Nuff's enuff - I'll pull the old fellow out of this if its the last thing I do!."

Western Progressives of both parties were fighting for tariff reform against the conservative wings of both parties.

From Hennepin County Library

Room On the Side

May 28, 1910

A Settler and farm animals stand on a piece of land outlined in the shape of Minnesota. Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Canada are also outlined. A sign in the State of Minnesota reads 233,000 acres in northern Minnesota open to entry. In North Dakota, a sign reads The Wheat State. In South Dakota, a sign reads Good Farms for Good Farmers. In Montana, a sign reads, Just being opened to agricultural development.

The caption reads "The Settler - 'I Don't See Any Use Of Going Over the Line.'"

Minnesota had opened more land to agricultural development.

From Hennepin County Library

Isn't It Most Time School Was Out?

May 27, 1910

President Taft stands in front of the United States Capitol Building. An elephant stands beside President Taft. The front of the United States Capitol Building is divided into two sides. The left side is labeled the Senate. On that side a bill labeled Railroad Bill stands in a window. On the right side, which is labeled House, a bill labeled Postal Savings stands in a window. In the middle of the United States Capitol Building, a flag flies labeled Congress School and two men stand in a doorway.

Congress would remain in session until June 25th.

See Also: William H. Taft

From Hennepin County Library

What Helps a Tariff Might Help a President

May 26, 1910

President Taft sits tied to a chair surrounded by tape or ribbon labeled with the words Cabinet Snarl, Political Speech, Politics, Investigation, Justifications, Political Entanglements, Vindications, Congressional Tangle, and Political Trips. Taft says "Well, old chap, you ought to make a pretty good tariff now you are free from politics." The Tariff stands in front of Taft holding a bundle labeled $250,000.00 from Congress and a case and other items labeled Scientific Investigation. He replies "And what a good president you would make if you would just cut loose!."

Taft had signed an order creating a tariff board that would have the power to investigate the differences in the cost of production abroad and in the United States. Meanwhile, he had to deal with his own political problems.

See Also: William H. Taft

From Hennepin County Library