1908
| Candidate |
Popular
|
Electoral
|
| William H. Taft Republican |
7,676,258
|
321
|
| William J. Bryan Democrat |
6,406,801
|
162
|
| Eugene V. Debs Socialist |
420,380
|
0
|
| William H. Taft, 1908, by George G. Bain from the Libr. of Congress Prints & Photographs Div. (public domain) |
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The Democrats looked again to William Jennings Bryan in 1908. Although the Republican Party nominated William H. Taft, it seemed as though it were Roosevelt running because of his vigorous campaigning for the man he had selected to be his successor. Here "John Alden" Roosevelt woos "Priscilla" Republican Party for "Miles Standish" Taft in a Joseph Keppler cartoon (31A-1067050). To many observers, Bryan's question in this cartoon seemed appropriate (31B-1067051).
Bryan's liberal support in the West had been undermined by Roosevelt's progressive policies, and although he tried to lead a dramatic campaign, as seen in this poster, his approach had grown stale (31C-1067054). Bryan had lost his attraction and Taft won the election.
One interesting caricature was published at this time. This caricature of Theodore Roosevelt, one of thousands submitted to La Follia di New York, was drawn by the famous tenor Enrico Caruso (31D-1067055).
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