As we continue our post-election close-out, we look at the 1916 book, The “I Did It” Club. By artist Clifford K. Berryman — who was Republican — The “I Did It” Club was published by the Gridiron Club of Washington. D.C., for it’s post-Election dinner, and offers a basically Republican-slant on why Democratic President Woodrow Wilson won re-election in 1916, by caricaturing persons who “helped Wilson win”.

(NOTE: Berryman was at some point President of the Grid-Iron Club — though whether he was President of the club when this item was published, I do not know — none of the many sources mentioning this honor that I’ve found, bother to say in what year(s) Berryman held that position.)

Above, a horde of job-seekers, all claiming that they had helped re-elect the President.

Below: apparently certain offered excuses for losing are eternal… This Berryman cartoon suggests that Wilson was re-elected because of cash giveaways (or, “gifts”). In this case, to farmers. (As opposed to “gifts”, say, to Wall Street, or, wealthy donors, or, industrial polluters, or, the military industrial complex, or…). I guess whether something is labeled a “gift” or a “policy” — in politics — depends on which party your sympathies are with.

Above, Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War, urging Mexican Revolutionary Leader Pancho Villa and Mexican President Venustiano Carranza, to make nice until after the Presidential Election… (as if they would do that). So, as we see from the past, it matters not whether international incident occurs, or doesn’t — either way, the losers will claim the incident (or lack thereof) to be an election conspiracy… (In March 1916, President Wilson sent 10,000 U.S. troops into Mexico, intervening in the Mexican Revolution, after Pancho Villa crossed the border and raided U.S. Army barracks. U.S. Troops were still in Mexico during the election, fighting occasional skirmishes with Villa — I guess Wilson’s opponents were hoping something bad enough would happen to turn the 1916 election in their favor…)

Beneath, Senators Thomas J. Walsh of Montana, and Willard J. Saulsbury of Delaware.

Above, George Brinton McClellan Harvey — a former friend of Wilson, turned political enemy, who claimed in the month before the 1916 Election, that Wilson would be overwhelmingly defeated; and then after the election, pointed a decade back to statements he’d made when was friends with Woodrow Wilson, to claim he knew all along…

Beneath, another sour grapes Republican claim of “gift giving”…

Above, William Jennings Bryan, claiming to have helped Wilson win because of the speeches he made for him. And, Bryan may well have helped, just as Bill Clinton very obviously helped President Obama win re-election. Gee, I wonder why Republicans didn’t bring out their last President to make speeches, and “help” Mitt Romney… ???

Below, Utah — which had been one of the few states to vote for G.O.P candidate Taft in 1912 — went Democratic in 1916.

Above, John M. Parker, who was the Bull Moose Party‘s vice-Presidential candidate for 1916. Teddy Roosevelt (peeking out from behind the tree, and muttering “Traitor!”) had by 1916 left the Party he’d founded, and returned to the Republican Party. Without T.R., the Progressive Party faded to just another third party. Given the facts, I find the above Berryman cartoon, confusing.

Beneath, James Middleton Cox, Democratic Governor of Ohio.

Above, Rhode Island Senator (Democrat) Peter Goelet Gerry. Why he’s depicted in Native garb, I have no idea.

Below, T.R.

Doug Wheeler

ElectionComics