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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
McKinley Prices Are Upon Us!
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

McKinley Prices Are Upon Us!

Artifact ID1969.80.128
Object Type Cartoon Clipping
Artist (United States, 1857 - 1937)
Date ca. November 1890
Medium Paper, ink
DimensionsOverall H 13 1/4 in x W 10 1/8 in (33.7 cm x 25.7 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionCartoon from the November 5, 1890 Puck magazine. Frame 1: A man (“Jay Gould”) tells a man with a toolbox and a man with a hoe, “If the new tariff makes clothing cost more, you’ll have to get along with one suit instead of two!”. Frame 2: A man looks in the mirror at his badly cut hair while holding his scissors. Additional text at lower center: “If you can’t afford to patronize a barber, cut your own hair.”. Frame 3: A woman pushes a plow that a man is yoked to. Additional text at lower center: “If you can’t afford to keep a horse, you’ll have to pull the plow yourself.”. Frame 4: A man leaves two babies in a basket at the doorstep of a building (“Foundling Asylum”). Additional text at lower center: “If you can’t afford to keep your last pair of twins, you’ll be obliged to part with them.”. Frame 5: A man and woman jump up and down. A boy stands on his hands and a baby holds weights while sitting in a highchair. Additional text at lower center: “If you can’t afford a fire, you must keep warm by violent exercise.”. Frame 6: Two families surround a table with a thin turkey in the middle. One of the men rolls dice. Additional text at lower center: “If you can’t afford to buy a turkey all alone, club in with your next door neighbor, each pay half, and then have a raffle to see which family shall eat it.”. Caption: "McKinley Prices Are Upon Us! A Galaxy of Gouldisms for the Laboring Classes." Additional text at upper center: “Puck.”. Artist's signature lower center: “F. Opper.”
Historical NoteThe McKinley Tariff, introduced by Ohio Representative William McKinley in 1890, placed taxes on foreign goods to protect American producers and made prices rise.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThis item was given to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum Collection in 1969.
Credit LineGift of Mr. Ralph E. Becker
National Archives Catalog CollectionLyndon B. Johnson Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 192413)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts to the LBJ Library (National Archives Identifier 189698391)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
Use Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
Person Referenced Jay Gould (United States, 1836 - 1892)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place Gifted
New York
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