“As a Final Resort”

The Republicans' clear choice for their Presidential nominee in 1904 was President Theodore Roosevelt, but there was no front-runner for the Vice Presidential spot. This cartoon playfully suggests that the Republicans might have to use a lottery system to choose their candidate. Blindfolded potential nominees are shown hoping to draw the single black bean--representing the Vice Presidency--from the bowl. In the end, Charles Fairbanks of Indiana, the tall candidate in the front row, won the nomination by vote at the convention and joined Roosevelt on the ticket. In November the Roosevelt-Fairbanks ticket scored an impressive victory over the Democratic ticket of Alton B. Parker and Henry W. Davis.