Description: This cartoon shows William McKinley, presidential candidate of the Republican Party in 1896, as a nursemaid torn between two charges. The child on the floor, which he says he actually loves best, is labeled "High Protection," as a reference to McKinley's goal of enacting high tariffs to protect American manufacturing. On his lap sits a baby identified as "Gold Standard." During his time in the House of Representatives, McKinley had focused on the tariff issue. However, the election of 1896 was focused on the question of the gold standard. The Republicans, led by McKinley, insisted that the national economy depended upon the currency remaining tied to the gold standard; that is, that the paper money be entirely backed by gold held by the federal government. The Democrats, and their candidate William Jennings Bryan, advocated a loosening of this standard by backing the currency with both gold and silver. McKinley received much of his financial backing from Republicans determined to maintain the gold standard, and this thus became the key issue he had to address during the campaign. McKinley won the presidency in 1896 and again in 1900, and served until he was assassinated in 1901. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: CA7_P15
Subjects: McKinley, William, 1843-1901; Political cartoons; Political culture--Ohio--History; Presidents--United States; Economic issues
 

Description: In this editorial cartoon, William McKinley is shown as torn between the two forces in the 1896 controversy over the gold standard. McKinley, dressed as Napoleon, is trying to ride his hobby horse of "High Protection," but is being pulled to either side by a "gold bug" and a "silverite." High protection is a reference to McKinley's desire to enact a high tariff on foreign imports to protect American manufacturing. During his time in the House of Representatives, McKinley had focused on the tariff issue. However, the election of 1896 was focused on the question of the gold standard. The Republicans, McKinley's party, insisted that the national economy depended upon the currency remaining tied to the gold standard; that is, that the paper money be entirely backed by gold held by the federal government. The Democrats, and their candidate William Jennings Bryan, advocated a loosening of this standard by backing the currency with both gold and silver. McKinley won the presidency in 1896 and again in 1900, and served until he was assassinated in 1901. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: CA7_P20
Subjects: McKinley, William, 1843-1901; Political cartoons; Political culture--Ohio--History; Presidents--United States; Economic issues
 

Description: A group of protestors stands in opposition to NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, which established a trade bloc between the United States, Canada and Mexico when it went into effect in 1994. Opponents of NAFTA largely took issue with the effect it could have on American workers, the environment, and economic growth. This photograph was taken by photographer Allen Zak for publication in the Columbus Free Press newspaper. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B04F10_05
Subjects: Demonstrations; Protests and protestors; Activism; Economic issues; Labor--Ohio;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph showing attendees at the Hard Times Conference was taken for publication in the Columbus Free Press newspaper. The Hard Times Conference, held January 30-February 2, 1976, in Chicago, was organized by leftist political groups including the Weather Underground and the Prairie Fire Organizing Committee with the intent of uniting a variety of radical groups. The Columbus Free Press began as a bi-weekly publication in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. An underground newspaper, it replaced the Ohio State University publication The People, Yes. The earliest known issue of the newspaper appeared on January 4, 1971. The newspaper underwent a series of name changes over the decades, with titles including the Columbus Free Press & Cowtown Times (1972-1976), the Columbus Freepress (1976-1992) and The Free Press (1992-1995). The paper, which covered many liberal and progressive causes, was an alternative to mainstream news sources in central Ohio with the slogan “The Other Side of the News.” In 1995, the paper ceased publication briefly before reemerging as a website in early 1996, and returning as a print publication under the Free Press title in the form of a quarterly journal in 1998. Published under various frequencies during the first part of the 21st century, the Free Press again became a nonprofit monthly publication in 2017 with both a print and web presence, published by the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and operated by a volunteer staff and board. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1301AV_B04F10_06
Subjects: Demonstrations; Protests and protestors; Activism; Economic issues; Social movements;
Places: Chicago (Illinois)