Charles Bartholomew Political Cartoon Collection

A collection of Political Cartoons from the Minneapolis Journal, all written by Charles Bartholomew. From the Hennepin County Library Digital Collections, with permission. They will be published daily, with dates exactly 116 years ago.

[1900scartoons]

John - Maybe It Won't Strike

July 16, 1910

John Lind sits in a chair outside a house with the Democratic donkey in the front yard. From a stormy sky comes a lightning bolt labelled Dem Gubernatorial Lightning while the Scientific Journal, the newspaper Lind is reading, has a headline saying 'Don't worry you probably wont be hit! Little danger from lightning after all.' On Lind's chair is a sign, 'John Lind -NOT- a candidate for Gov.'

Lind was rumored to be willing to accept the Democratic party nomination for Governor of Minnesota, but the papers reported on July 15 that Lind had declared that he was not a candidate. Lind had served as Governor from 1899 to 1901.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8157/rec/2734

[1900scartoons]

Why Not?

July 15, 1910

The Republican elephant carries an empty seat on its back, labelled Governorship of N.Y. New York G.O.P. President Taft pulls the elephant forward by the trunk, Theodore Roosevelt pulls the elephant backward by the tail, and New York State Governor Hughes stands to the elephant's side with his arms crossed. William Loeb, Jr. ponders the empty seat and carries a ladder, a briefcase labelled Custom House Job and a sign saying For Governor.

Taft had urged Loeb, Collector of the Port of New York and former secretary to President Roosevelt, to accept the New York State Republican party nomination to the governorship, but Loeb told Taft he would rather remain in his current job.

See Also: William Howard Taft; Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8171/rec/2733

[1900scartoons]

These Can 'Come Back'

July 14, 1910

A smiling farmer strides past a fence on the Montana side of the U.S.-Canada border, having leapt the fence as several other farmers are doing. Another farmer holds a sign saying 15,000 U.S. Farmers Return from Canada to the United States and a large number of farmers are seen approaching the fence from the Canadian side.

There was an increase in the immigration of United States citizens returning from Canada, including farmers.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8188/rec/2732

[1900scartoons]

Mr. Bryan -- Now, What Ails the Critter?

July 13, 1910

William Jennings Bryan walks a bulldog, labelled County Option, on a country road near a barn. On a nearby knoll is the Democratic donkey snorting and kicking its heels toward Bryan.

Bryan had censured nine Nebraska state senators for being unfaithful to the Democratic Party because they opposed his effort to adopt the initiative and referendum regarding county option to regulate the sale of liquor.

See Also: William Jennings Bryan

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8059/rec/2731

[1900scartoons]

Back To the Old Favorite

July 12, 1910

Theodore Roosevelt is taking down a large club labelled Practical Politics from his mantle, having set aside a tennis racket, an ax for chopping wood, and a hunting rifle. Uncle Sam looks on from a portrait on the wall, while the Republican elephant, labelled N.Y. G.O.P., peers in from the doorway with a pitchfork labelled Hay Making.

Roosevelt was becoming increasingly involved in politics after his year-long safari.

See Also: Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8071/rec/2730

[1900scartoons]

At Work

July 11, 1910

A scientist wearing an apron labelled Tariff Board is working at a bench and holds a test tube labelled High Tariff while on the bench sits a beaker labelled Scientific Tariff and on the floor is a large vessel labelled Low-Tariff and boxes labelled Tariff for Revenge Only and $250,000 for Tariff Research. On the wall is a sign, 'Get the Truth Regardless of Whom it Helps or Hurts. Pres. Taft.' Looking into the room through the back window are the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant.

On July 11, the New York Times reported that insurgent senators were near reaching agreement on the inclusion of $250,000 for the expenses of the Tariff Board.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8085/rec/2729

[1900scartoons]

Spectators

July 10, 1910

William Jennings Bryan, Theodore Roosevelt, and Uncle Sam are attending a baseball game in which the batter is the Republican elephant and the catcher is the Democratic donkey.

Bryan was nominated by the Democrats in 1908, and Roosevelt had finished his second term as president in 1908. Both had just returned from trips abroad, and were unofficially retired from politics. Meanwhile, a midterm election was upcoming.

See Also: William Jennings Bryan; Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8053/rec/2728

[1900scartoons]

Let It Rain!

July 9, 1910

A farmer dances in the rain while holding up a hat labelled The Northwest as various crops (corn, potatoes, etc.) with faces dance around him. Falling among the raindrops are coins.

Recent rains had ended a drought.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8104/rec/2727

[1900scartoons]

"Progressive"

July 8, 1910

A giant Theodore Roosevelt, accompanied by a smaller Senator Albert J. Beveridge of Indiana, who is labelled Sen. Beverage, strides past a signpost labelled To Indiana.

The New York Times reported that Roosevelt expected to meet with a group of progressive insurgent senators including Beveridge, who was one of the Republican senators who were most likely to be defeated in November.

See Also: Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8105/rec/2726

[1900scartoons]

The Dem Donk -- I Wish I Had

July 7, 1910

On the lawn outside the U.S. Capitol, the Republican elephant sits in a lawn chair smoking a cigar and reading a document labelled Safe and Sane having laid down other documents labelled Tariff Board, Railroad Legislation, Postal Savings, Statehood, and Conservation Laws, while the Democratic donkey stands on crutches with head and limbs heavily bandaged amid spent fireworks labelled Opposition, Vote for High Tariff Schedules, and Vote Against Postal Savings.

The Republicans had passed several popular bills over democratic opposition.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8137/rec/2725

[1900scartoons]

The New Specimen

July 6, 1910

William Jennings Bryan stands in a garden with trowel and magnifying glass in hand, eying a flower labelled U.S. Senatorship Defeat. Next to that flower another flower is labelled 1912 while in Bryan's shoulder satchel, which is labelled Political Defeats are three other flowers labelled 1896, 1900, and 1908 along with leaves labelled Presidential Nominations.

Bryan was considering a senate run in Nebraska.

See Also: William Jennings Bryan

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8096/rec/2724

[1900scartoons]

Can't Let Go

July 5, 1910

President Taft and Uncle Sam look on as Sec. Ballinger receives an electric jolt from cables attached to the Interior Department. Emanations are coming from the Interior Department, labelled Criticism, Investigation, and Unpopularity.

There was increasing demand in congress for the resignation of Secretary of the Interior Ballinger, who was viewed as corrupt. Roosevelt had even weighed in against him.

See Also: William Howard Taft

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8098/rec/2723

[1900scartoons]

All There

July 4, 1910

While a boy holds out his fingers and toes for his teacher to count, she holds an itemized statement and checks off his body parts on the list, including 1 nose, 2 eyes, 10 fingers and 10 toes. The table is labelled Sane 4th Fourth. Written on a sheet of paper on the floor is 'Having tried one of your sane Fourths we will use no other.'

According to the Wikipedia entry on July 1910, a safe and sane public education program leading up to the holiday reduced the number of serious injuries and deaths during the Fourth of July by more than 40 percent.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8064/rec/2722

[1900scartoons]

He Laughs Best Who Laughs Last

July 3, 1910

Two panels show 1) the Democratic donkey braying No! in response to the Republican elephant's long list of 'Party Pledges to be Redeemed including Postal Saving, R.R. Legislation, Statehood, Tariff Board and Conservation'; and 2) the Republican elephant laughing at the Democratic donkey who is falling down a hole labelled Where the Democratic Platform Stood. Signs strewn around the ground nearby say Vote against the Tariff Board, Vote against Govt. Control and Vote against Postal Savings.

The Republicans had pushed through several bills over Democratic objections

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8156/rec/2721

[1900scartoons]

Safe And Sane?

July 2, 1910

Theodore Roosevelt stands in a store which is selling fireworks and other merchandise for the upcoming Fourth of July celebration. He stands in front of the Safe and Sane Counter which displays patriotic literature and American flags, but his head is turned to the Political Fireworks table which includes The Big Noise Cracker. Roosevelt's facial expression regards the firecrackers covetously. Uncle Sam is the shopkeeper and looks on benignly.

Roosevelt had promised on returning from his African safari to stay out of politics, but was increasingly being pulled towards the spotlight.

See Also: Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8174/rec/2717

[1900scartoons]

Been Somebody Here

July 1, 1910

A giant William Jennings Bryan holds an umbrella labelled Robinson Crusoe Bryan as he stands upon a map of the United States of America. Looking at the ground, he appears surprised and distressed to see a giant footprint labelled T.R.

During the previous month, Roosevelt and Bryan had each returned from visits to Great Britain. Roosevelt's return had had much more of an impact than Bryan's.

See Also: William Jennings Bryan; Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8162/rec/2716

[1900scartoons]

If He'd Kept Still Another Minute He'd 'A Burst

June 30, 1910

Theodore Roosevelt stands with his hand over his mouth and the other holding his coat shut as the words Politics, Direct Primaries, Little Interviews, and Political Suggestions eject from his mouth and the buttons pop off his coat. His hat jumps off of his head. A donkey and elephant stand behind him laughing. An oyster with arms and legs holds a piece of paper that reads No Politics for Two Months T.R.. A tag hangs from the oyster that reads 'The Oyster of Oyster Bay.'

Roosevelt had returned from his African safari, and vowed to stay out of politics for two months. After just two weeks, he was having difficulty keeping his promise.

See Also: Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/8062/rec/2715