Merely another figurehead
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Merely another figurehead
Merely another figurehead. Caricature showing Richard Boss Croker nailing figurehead of M Clellan to ship Tammany. Date 1903 Oct. 28. Merely another figurehead. Caricature showing Richard Boss Croker nailing figurehead of M Clellan to ship Tammany. Date 1903 Oct. 28
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Media ID 7259311
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10588157
EDITORS COMMENTS
Merely Another Figurehead: A Political Caricature of the Time This intriguing political cartoon, titled "Merely Another Figurehead," was published in Puck magazine on October 28, 1903. The image depicts a figurehead being nailed to the bow of a ship labeled "Tammany," with the caption "M. Clellan." The figurehead is being nailed in place by a man identified as Richard Boss Croker, who was a prominent figure in New York City politics at the time. The Tammany Hall political organization, which was based in New York City, was known for its extensive influence in local and state politics. The group's leader, Richard Croker, was a master of political machinations and was often criticized for using his power to manipulate elections and appointments for personal gain. In this cartoon, the figurehead of "M. Clellan" represents Mark H. Smith, who was a reform candidate running against the Tammany-backed candidate for mayor of New York City. The image suggests that Smith was being "nailed down" or fixed in place by Croker and the Tammany machine, implying that his political career was being controlled and manipulated by the powerful political organization. The use of the ship "Tammany" and the figurehead imagery is a common metaphor in political cartoons of the time, representing the idea that politicians were little more than decorative symbols, with the real power lying in the hands of the political machines that controlled them. This cartoon serves as a reminder of the political climate of the early 20th century and the role that powerful political organizations played in shaping American politics.
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