The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-08-15
ORIGIN OF THE
PARTY EMBLEMS
Thomas Mast Conceived
Idea Of Elephant and
Donkey.
GREATEST CARTO0NIST
Comic Conception Begun in
Harpers by the Inimitable
Artist of America.

Uncle Joe Cannon, Champ CLARK,
Genornl Sherwood OF ohio and some
other elderly congr grossmon were con-
fnbustiu- ir tho clo1kroom OF tho
capii1. 200, other day WHOM a. young
member uf tho house wanted TO
know tho origin % the use OF tho
elephant and the donkey ns the en-
hlnm. Ger caricauiag purposes. ~
the republican and democratic par
ties
Several different versions Of the
adoption Of the cariraturoS were ad-
vnnccd aud finally ono OF tho
younger men was detailed TO Get out
on a kind OF political naturalists on
redltlon 10 trace the custom To ii0
lair. 10 find out how, whom and why
II originated.
Tho trail led far aficld, but tho
quarry was finally run down In New
York city. says the Washington star.
'Tlg an Interesting yarn. matcH. draw
near.
Tho elephant and tho donkey we're
created by the great cartoonist
Thomas Mast. In HarporR, Tho
genesis Of the idea, however. was
with the New York Herald.
one Sunday morning In Novem-
her, 1874, tho New York Herald pub
llshcd fake" story describing the
escape OF animals from the 200. II
attracted Widespread attention on
account OF It's graphic portrayal aud
vivid descriptions. IT was accom-
panied by pictures Of all kinds or
animnls---elcphants donkoys, lions
and In fact n regular Noahs ARK col
lection.
Later, the same month, Mr.. Mast
published IA cartoon I'm liarpor's por-
trayinR an elephant. and calling II
the republican party. The idea was
that the elephant. on account or It's
great strength and burden bearing
capacity. simulated the republican
party. which had 20 carry the burden
OF the cry OF nepotism then being
raised against General Grant
A couple of weeks later Mr.. Mast
published another cartoon depicting
the donkey as the emblem or the
democratic party.
william Jennings Bryan, who has
keen sense OF humor ana who en-
Joys cartoon at his own expense,
II IL ip clever, has never resented tho
adaptation Of tho donkey to the carl
catiring of the democratic party.
lie likes to be pictured In Its COM
pany.
At n notable dinner in Washington
several years ago he took occasion
to point with pride" to tho lowly
donkey az emblematic OF his party.
He glowingly described the domestic
virtues OF the faithful animal, its
patience under the infliction OF
heavy burdens,
In tho political campaigns OF sue
ceeding years following tho example
set by Mr.. Mast, the cartoon has
been regarded as a powerful political
weapon, and the use OF II has grown.
Nast's cartoons were effective In
breaking up the notorious Tweed
ring and had far reaching effect In
many political campaigns. state and
national.
Theodore Roosevelt was probably
the most extensively "cartooned"
American, " such a word can be
coined for the occasion. and enjoyed
the cartoons ms long as they were
not maliciously vicious or purposoly
and falsely mnloVolent. He had a
sonse Of humor and knew how to
give and take In the rough sport Of
testing. and he usually gave as good
as he got
Political parties nowadays uso
cartoons extensively in their cam
paigning, and one Of the heavy
items OF cost is the placarding OF
the country with cartoons at the en.
pense of the opposition.