William Randolph Hearst—newspaper magnate and congressman—born 150 years ago today. Cartoonist Clifford Berryman depicts the multimillionaire as trying to pass himself as a man of the people during a possible presidential run.
Newspaper publisher and multi-millionaire William Randolph Hearst was viewed as a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 1908. This illustration entitled, “Hearst’s New Make-up”, by cartoonist Clifford Berryman, appeared in the Washington Evening Star on June 5, 1907 and shows Hearst attempting to convince the common man that he is their friend. Hearst was born on April 29, 1863.
Hearst’s New Make-up by Clifford Berryman, 6/5/1907, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 6010707)
Congress in the Archives will feature monthly staff posts on our blog. Today’s post comes from Adam Berenbak.
Today is Opening Day in DC and all eyes are on the Nationals, especially their new mascot based on William Howard Taft. Taft is being celebrated as an addition to the ‘Presidents Run’ not only because he was an accomplished statesman and President, but because he is recognized as the first president to ever throw out a ‘first pitch’ on Opening Day, April 11, 1910.
Though the game is mostly remembered for Taft’s first pitch, Walter Johnson was the star, pitching within one hit of a no-hitter for Washington. Frank ‘Home Run’ Baker (who earned his nickname the following year with two dramatic home runs in the World Series) was the one batter to luck into a hit off of Johnson that day. In the fourth inning, Baker came to bat and lined a foul ball towards the President’s box. Though the ball missed Taft, it careened into the adjacent box, narrowly missing Vice President James Sherman before hitting Secretary of the Senate Charles Bennett in the head. Luckily for all involved, the ball “had spent its force when it landed in the box,” leaving everyone uninjured. Later reports and references to the incident, though, incorrectly refer to Bennett as the Secretary of State (and report that he was knocked out!).
As Secretary of the Senate, the chief legislative officer in the Senate, Bennett helped to usher the Senate into the modern era. In doing so, he was one of the first to collect and publish the various procedures of the Senate into a concise guide for Senators. He also enjoyed frequent outings to Boundary Field, and then National Park (later Griffith Stadium), to watch baseball.
Though no mascot of Bennett will be around during this year’s opening day game, their story reminds us all to watch out for the foul ball!
Will the Base Runner Start for Third? by Clifford Berryman, 8/17/1906, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 6010644)
(of course that’s Teddy debating whether to break for third, but it looks like Taft is visible as one of the potential hopefuls in the stands.)
Here’s to the first day of spring!
This untitled illustration by cartoonist Clifford Berryman, which appeared in the Washington Evening Star on March 12, 1908, shows Miss Spring hesitating at the gate before making her entrance.
Untitled by Clifford Berryman, 3/12/1908, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 6010748)
Tracks to the Union Station, 03/14/1908
Washington DC’s Union Station opened in 1907 and was officially complete in 1908. However it would not be connected to the local streetcar system until later that year. Until then, the only “tracks” were those made by harried travelers through the mud and snow.
Mrs. Battaglia, Tessie (age - 12 years), Tony (age - 7 years), 170 Mulberry St. Rear house, 5th floor. Garment workers. Husband crippled by a fall, tends to basement. Mrs. Battaglia works in shop except Saturdays, when the children sew with her at home. Get 2 or 3 cents a pair finishing men’s pants. Said they earn $1 to $1.50 on Saturday. Father disabled and can earn very little. New York. 01/25/1908
From the series National Child Labor Committee Photographs taken by Lewis Hine
“On the tenth day of Archives an archivist brought to me:
Ten messengers playing poker
nine Metlakahlta baseball players
Eight Navy officers
seven of Mrs. Hicks’s eight children,
six tiny thorn carvings,
five sisters from Alaska,
four boys hanging out at the Fletcher aircraft school,
three happy girls at a West Virginian celebration,
two San Francisco children painting,
and one astronaut in space.”
“8 p.m.: Flashlight photo of messengers absorbed in their usual game of poker in the ‘Den of the terrible nine.’ (Waiting room for Western Union Messengers, Hartford, Connecticut.)” March 5, 1909, ARC Identifier 523167.
Newsies selling at the Hudson Tunnel Station, Jersey City. Boy on left is Patrick Drohan, 12 years old. Next to him is Stanley Fazurowski, 9 years old. Largest boy is 13 years old. Jersey City, N.J., 12/21/1909
From the series National Child Labor Committee Photographs taken by Lewis Hine
“On the ninth day of Archives an archivist brought to me:
nine Metlakahlta baseball players
Eight Navy officers
seven of Mrs. Hicks’s eight children,
six tiny thorn carvings,
five sisters from Alaska,
four boys hanging out at the Fletcher aircraft school,
three happy girls at a West Virginian celebration,
two San Francisco children painting,
and one astronaut in space.”
Image: “Metlakahtla Baseball nine.” ARC Identifier 297658
Spinners and doffers in Lancaster Cotton Mills. Dozens of them in this mill. Lancaster, S.C., 12/01/1908
Lewis Wickes Hine, photographer. From the series: National Child Labor Committee Photographs taken by Lewis Hine
“This is my day to be heard”
-the “Silent Voter”
Three nervous Presidential candidates peer over the shoulder of a character representing the silent voter, wondering how he will mark his ballot on Election Day, 1904. President Theodore Roosevelt is the Republican incumbent, opposed by Judge Alton B. Parker, the Democratic candidate and Thomas Edward Watson of the People’s Party.
More on the Bull Moose Party and the Election of 1912, courtesy of our colleagues in the Center for Legislative Archives:
Congress in the Archives will feature monthly staff posts on our blog. Today’s post comes from Jessie Kratz.
The 1912 presidential election was a three-way contest among former President Theodore Roosevelt for the Progressive (Bull Moose) Party, New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson for the Democratic Party, and incumbent President William Howard Taft for the Republican Party.
As the election neared, Taft, who had given no major campaign speeches in the months leading up to the election, was living up to the moniker that Roosevelt had given him in September - “a dead cock in the pit.” Despite his lackluster campaign performance, Taft’s campaign managers continued to argue that he was still a contender in the race. They even announced a prediction for the election outcome: Taft would win with 280 electoral votes.
In this cartoon, published just weeks before Election Day in the Washington Evening Star, the Democratic donkey and the Bull Moose are shown laughing hysterically. In the general election, held on November 5, 1912, Taft gained a mere eight electoral votes compared with Roosevelt, who gained 88 and Wilson—the winner—who gained 435.
G.O.P Bulletin by Clifford Berryman, Washington Evening Star, 10/18/1912, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 6040976)
“‘Twas a Hard Old Week!”
Wall Street is in sorry shape and surrounded by a myriad of remedies following the stock market crashes of the Panic of 1907 in this untitled illustration by Clifford Berryman on October 27, 1907. The fallout from the events would ultimately lead to the creation of the Federal Reserve System in 1913.
Exempt from exclusion
Chu Hoy, a merchant with the Kwong Sun Chong & Company of 30 Mott Street in New York City, left Seattle for China to bring his wife and children into the United States. As a Chinese merchant he was exempt from the immigration laws that prevented Chinese from entering the country. This exemption also applied to his wife, Chin Hong Sze, and his son, Chin A. Chiao, who left Har Low in the Sun Woey district, traveled through Canada, and entered the U.S. at Malone, New York in November 1906.
Photographs of Chin Hong Sze, wife and Chin A. Chiao, son of Chu Hoy., 10/17/1906
via DocsTeach
Life on the Mississippi, 10/02/1907
From the Clifford Berryman Political Cartoon Collection
President (and riverboat pilot) Theodore Roosevelt is forced to navigate a variety of hazards, including Standard Oil and Railroad Trusts, along with his steadfast sidekick, Teddy Bear.
Drawing of a Device by Which a Person Can Fly
Inventor (and aspiring poet?) Fredfrick (sic) Merrill Shaw sent this drawing of a handheld flying machine to President Theodore Roosevelt on September 18, 1902.
via DocsTeach
