Charles Bartholomew Political Cartoon Collection

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

Trying To Help Him Out Of the Hole

May 25, 1910

Minnesota Representative James A. Tawney extends a board labeled Tariff Board to a man in water labelled The Tariff. The body of water is labeled with the words Selfishness and Politics. A donkey stands in the background looking onto the two men.

Tawney was a Republican Representative responsible for drafting an amendment to provide the necessary funds for the tariff board as recommended by President Taft. Discord in the Republican Party was increasing over the issue of tariffs.

From Hennepin County Library

Long Live the King

May 24, 1910

The Panama Canal connects to the Pacific Ocean. A large dove, dressed as Uncle Sam, stands on one piece of land labeled Unfortified Canal. The dove holds a book with a label that reads Disarmament Rules and wears a hat with the word Peace across it. The chicken holds a scepter with the word Peace above it.

The Panama Canal was intended to be open to all nations.

See Also: Panama Canal

From Hennepin County Library

The Eclipse Of the Moon As Viewed In Minneapolis

Mat 23, 1910

The moon is being eclipsed by a new Union Station. In the foreground, five men are celebrating.

A new Union Station was part of a Civic Center Plan to help beautify the city of Minneapolis. There was also a lunar eclipse on May 24.

From Hennepin County Library

Isn't It Possible That There Are Too Many Leaders For the Old Party, Now?

May 22, 1910

The Republican elephant has just been divided into front and back ends by the two wings of the Republican Party represented by a man waving a Progressives pendant (in front), and another man waving a Stand Patter pendant in the rear.

The Republican Party was being torn between the progressive and conservative wings, on the issue of tariffs.

From Hennepin County Library

The Party Wants It, But His Keepers Object

May 21, 1910

House Leader Sereno Payne fends off a worker Ames who is holding a giant bundle of hay labelled 'Closer Trade Relations with Canada' with 'Presidential Endorsement' 'Party Support' Letters, and Petitions. The Republican elephant is eating grain from a small bundle labelled Payne Tariff 'Best Ever'.

Payne was a conservative republican who had gone out of his way to sabotage tariff reform, by providing minor changes but nothing of substance.

From Hennepin County Library

Spots On the Son

May 20, 1910

Standing by a fence labelled Alaskan Coal Bin, Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger wears a coal-stained sailor suit with his toes pointing at each other awkwardly. He is joined by a little dog who is labelled coal interests and Uncle Sam who looks on with a bemused expression with his hand covering his mouth.

Secretary of the Interior Ballinger had been accused of having interfered with an investigation into the legality of certain private coal-land claims in Alaska.

From Hennepin County Library

At the Cannon's Mouth

May 19. 1910

Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon is yelling from a podium, blowing so much wind that three figures are blown off their feet: the Republican elephant; a rifle-toting Insurgent representing those who oppose Cannon's speakership; and Uncle Sam who is on the ground proclaiming 'I am for disarmament.'

By 1910, Cannon had alienated enough Democrats and Republicans to provoke a revolt as reformers sought to break the hold of the establishment in Congress. An effort to declare the speakership vacant failed, however, allowing Cannon to continue in that position until 1911.

See Also: Joe Cannon

From Hennepin County Library

Portrait Of Secretary Ballinger As Painted By Himself

May 18, 1910

An artist with a palette labeled glowing colors is standing by a portrait. The painting is of a man standing by the capital, labelled 'The Nation's Need' clouds in the painting are labeled High ideals and Noble qualities. He stands beside a pedestal labelled 'Self-sacrifice' topped with '$20,000 worth to the nation' The painting is labeled 'The Ideal Public Servant.'

Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger was being investigated by congress for supposed corrupt practices, but was defending himself.

From Hennepin County Library

Look Pleasant, Please

May 17, 1910

A person with a globe for a head is standing on a cloud with a camera looking at Halley's Comet in the sky.

Rain had cleared the atmosphere, so people were excited about viewing Halley's Comet.

From Hennepin County Library