Political Cartoon C: The caption of this 1928 cartoon reads: “Puritan Civilization, which has built a sturdy, orderly
nation, is threatened by smith.” The 1928 presidential election pitted Republican Herbert Hoover against Democrat
Al smith. Smith, the outspoken four-time governor of New York, was the son of Irish immigrant parents. Smith’s
initial rise in politics had been through the New York City Tammany Hall political machine. A Roman Catholic, he
attracted the support of “new immigrants” from Southern Europe. In contrast to Hoover, Al Smith stood for public
ownership of some power companies and pledged to end Prohibition. This cartoon shows Smith carrying a heavy
load of political liabilities in 1929. His burdens include an irresponsible drunk labeled “wet crowd,” an immigrant, a
friar (representing the Catholic faith), and the Tammany tiger.