Today’s posting consists of cartoons by artist Homer Davenport, all but one from the 1900 cartoon collection, The Dollar or the Man?

Above, “Many hats that fit to one head”, showing Republican nominee (for 1900) & President (since 1897), William McKinley, being held aloft by the Corporate Monopolies/”Trusts”, who have their man for the White House. In the background, tossed up in celebration, are the hats of various corporate entities — Standard Oil, the Coal Trusts, the Sugar Trusts, and the checkered $ hat of of Republican political operative and $-man, always busy selling the G.O.P. to the Corporate Elite, Mark Hanna. (Hanna was the Karl Rove of his day.)

Click on the above & below cartoons, to view them in greater detail.

Above, They’re off!, depicting 1900 nominees McKinley and his new V.P. pick Teddy Roosevelt, riding atop the G.O.P. elephant (with $-sign riding blanket) — both candidates embraced/held in place by the one of the Goliath-like giant barbarians that Davenport frequently used to represent corporate monopolies. More corporate Goliaths (to the American people’s David) can be seen partying in the background, New Orleans-style, dancing & playing instruments, celebrating their new candidate. Wealthy monopolist & political operative Mark Hanna, is shown in his suit made of $-signs (as ususally depicted by Davenport, as well as by others), leading the celebratory parade.

Beneath, But something happened on the road!. The Tammany Tiger (symbol of the corrupt Tammany Hall organization, which frequently allied with NYC Democrats), has disrupted the parade, by tying firecrackers to the G.O.P. elephant, highlighting Republican ties to Corporations/Trusts, and charges of imperialism (for McKinley’s grab of island territories in the Spanish-American War).

Next, from the 1897-published book, Cartoons by Davenport (and yes, I have shown the below cartoon before), “Mark, it don’t look as if the rest of the procession were coming.”.

Back to The Dollar or the Man? for the last two cartoons today.

A heart to heart talk and a doubter on the threshold, above, shows McKinley in the lap of the Trusts, with the Law standing outside the door, and peeking in, concerned about what he is watching.

As they go to the polls, below, pictures the Corportate Trusts leading William McKinley and Mark Hanna off to the new election, making their way towards Justice and the Law. From behind.

Doug Wheeler

ElectionComics T.R.