The Man Hunt

Back to The Election of 1912

Creator:
Harry J. Westerman

Publication:

Cartoons

Publication Date:
September 1912

Description:

The 1912 Presidential election was a three-way contest:

• WilliamHoward Taft, the incumbent president, represented the Republican Party,symbolized by the Elephant.
• WoodrowWilson, the reform governor of New Jerseyand former president of Princeton University, was theDemocratic candidate, symbolized by the Donkey.
• TheodoreRoosevelt, the former Republican president (1901-1909), ran on theProgressive Party ticket, symbolized by the Bull Moose.

As a third party, Roosevelt and his Progressives had to find supporters within both existing parties. Facing a divided Republican Party, the Democrats smelled victory for the first time in twenty years. Because of these factors, there was an intense effort to get voters during the 1912 campaign.

Source:
The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library