Knocking Out 1924

Welcome aboard today's Graphical History Tour! You’re just in time to bid a fond farewell to the year 1924.

"Knock Out" by Arthur Johnson in Kladderadatsch, Berlin, Dec. 28, 1924

Some farewells to Old Man ’24 were fonder than others. Arthur Johnson, for one, was quite happy to see the old year go. German economic, domestic, and foreign affairs had actually begun to look up in 1924, but you couldn't convince Michel Q. Bürger of that any more than you could argue the same to today's electorates.

Instead of replacing it with a larger font, I've kept the caption to Johnson's year-end cartoon just as it originally appeared on the cover of Kladderadatsch. At the time, captions in German were always printed in Fraktur style font; foreign words, in this case "Knock Out" being borrowed from English, were printed in a Roman style font.

“Neujahr in Paris” by Hans-Maria Lindloff in Kladderadatsch, Berlin, Dec. 28, 1924

RHans-Maria Lindloff twits Mme. Marianne over French authorities' arrest of 60 Communists in Paris in December. The existence of French communists shouldn't have come as a surprise to anybody, really. Every country in Europe had its own cadre of reds loyal to the Commintern — Germany, birthplace of Marx and Engels, included.

Besides, the U.S. had shipped hundreds of American communists to Russia after the Great War, few of whom spoke any Russian. Surely some of them would have drifted westward to more fashionable and temperate cities by 1924.

"I Guess I'll Call It a Day" by James Donahey in Cleveland Plain Dealer, Dec. 31, 1924

On this side of the Atlantic, Republican-leaning Hal Donahey was fairly satisfied with the events of 1924. Father Time's ledger for the year included a recently completed round-the-world airplane flight by an American crew, the transatlantic flight of the ZR-3 Zeppelin, "better business confidence," the election of Calvin Coolidge as the 30th President of the U.S., and a "greater desire for world peace." Meanwhile, "LaFollette movement" lies in the waste bin of history.

"A Review of 1924" by Charles H. "Bill" Sykes in Life, New York, Dec. 25, 1924

Bill Sykes's two-page summary of the year for Life magazine covered just about every major news story of the year except for the murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks by Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb (the "Crime of the Century," and the basis for Hitchcock's "Rope").

Sykes added to Donahey's list the death of Woodrow Wilson, the conclusion of the Teapot Dome investigation, the Dawes Plan for Germany's reparation payments to the Entente allies, the two U.S. major party national conventions, a civil war in China, rising prices of wheat and corn, a visit to the U.S. by heir to the British throne Prince Edward, British suppression of a revolt against England in Egypt, a U.S. income tax cut, and rapprochement between Soviet Russia and France. 

And in the center of the second page, Sykes noted that the "prosperity" spoken of by Republicans had yet to fill the stockings of "Everybody."

Having now covered all the news that was fit to sketch, let's turn to the funny papers.

"Polly and Her Pals" by Cliff Sterrett for Newspaper Feature Service Inc., Dec. 31, 1924

Prohibition was now in its fifth year, so some folks such as Polly and her pals, who might have longed for the days when one rang in the new year with a glass of bubbly, made do with alternative libations instead. 

"Andy Gump" by Sidney Smith for Chicago Tribune Co., Dec. 31, 1924

If Polly's Pals had to make do with hypnotic suggestion for their holiday merriment, Andy Gump was able to partake of the real sauce.

The hooch came from his wife's Uncle Bim, the mustachioed fellow at the table, who had saved a carton of spirits since 1912. In spite of having vowed to himself to remain "as dry as the Congressional Record," Andy put on quite a show for the New Year's Eve party he arranged. He would renew his broken vow the following morning.

"That Guiltiest Feeling" by Clare Briggs for New York Tribune, Dec. 31, 1924 

As for the law-abiding citizens eschewing the devil's brew, you may be wondering how they passed the time without it. I've run across several cartoons toward the end of 1924 remarking on the brand new crossword puzzle craze sweeping the nation (you might remember John Knott's from my Thanksgiving weekend post). Clare Briggs seems not to think highly of the puzzles.

"The New Year Puzzle" by Oscar C. Chopin in San Francisco Examiner, Dec. 31, 1924

Here's a typical crossword puzzle reference from the editorial page. I don't think Oscar Chopin quite grasped how crossing words actually works.

"What's the Trouble Here" by Harrison Cady in Life magazine, Dec. 25, 1924

This Life magazine cartoon doesn't have anything to do with the old or new year, but perhaps it explains Mr. Briggs's beef with crossword puzzles.

It's a good thing he wasn't around to witness Sudoko and Wordle.

"Toots and Casper" by Jimmie Murphy for King Features Syndicate, Dec. 31, 1924

Returning to the comics page: if boozing it up wasn't an option for everyone on New Year's Eve, an enthusiastic tradition of noise-making was certainly available. You can make out a few noisemakers at Toot's party; banging on pots and pans was an option almost anyone could afford.

Just stay clear of Mother's favorite cast iron skillet, if you know what's good for you.

"Keeping Up with the Joneses" by Arthur "Pop" Momand for New York Herald, Dec. 31, 1924

I had not been familiar with the work of Arthur Ragland Momand (1887-1987), or with the practice of taking one's New Year resolutions to one's lawyer.

Following through on Al McGinis's annual resolution could have resulted in a breach of contract with his creator, the premise of Momand's entire strip being his efforts to keep up with the Jones family. "Keeping Up with the Joneses" ran from 1913 to 1938, so I'll have to find out how the Joneses and McGinises kept up during the Great Depression.

Here's a strip you're more likely to remember:

"Little Orphan Annie" by Harold Gray for Chicago Tribune, Dec. 31, 1924

Harold Gray paused Little Orphan Annie's story to recap the year — perhaps as a favor to any newspapers taking the day off or picking up the strip anew. The day's installment serves as a reminder that there was a Mrs. Daddy Warbucks.

"Little Orphan Annie" debuted on August 5, 1924; and yes, it was Mrs. Warbucks who first brought Annie home from the orphanage — but with no intention of letting her stay at the Warbucks estate. Mrs. Warbucks sent Annie back to the orphanage or simply kicked her out onto the street several times in the early years of the strip, only to have her husband retrieve or rescue the girl after returning from his frequent business trips.

"Gasoline Alley" by Frank King for Chicago Tribune, Dec. 31, 1924

"Little Orphan Alley" wrapped up its 86-year run in 2010; but "Gasoline Alley" is still with us, as is 130-something-year-old Walt Wallet, heading his five-generation family. Its present cartoonist, Jim Scancarelli, gave fans a start earlier this year when he introduced a plot line that seemed to portend the end of the strip. It turned out instead that politicians at city hall within the strip planned to update the name of Gasoline Alley, and the extended Wallet clan banded together to stop the change.

At the end of 1924, Walt was the single father of a three-year-old who had been abandoned on his doorstep, so I don't know whether he had been invited to Mr. Wicker's New Year's Eve party. Little Skeezix had a nursemaid, Rachel Brown, a Black woman who presumably had no personal life outside of the Wallet household; thus I assume Walt would have been free to go ring in the new year with the boys.

Or perhaps he was overjoyed to stay home with the boy.

After all, he had already taken him to another party in Sunday's comic.

"'Cap' Stubbs" by Edwina Dunn for George Matthew Adams Service, Dec. 31, 1924

"Cap" Stubbs and his buddies joined in the noisemaking in Edwina Dunn's strip. Do you think Grandma actually let him run loose on the streets at midnight?

I'll close out our farewell to 1924 with Winsor McCay's final Sunday episode for the year of Little Nemo in Slumberland — with my apologies that I can't present it to you in the size Mr. McCay intended for it, or in color. I invite you to embiggen these as your device will allow, and imagine the colors as best you can.

"Little Nemo in Slumberland" by Winsor McCay for New York Tribune, Dec. 28, 1924

Toons of Thankfulness and Praise

I hope you have saved some room for some leftover Thanksgiving cartoons today. Our Graphical History Tour has whipped up a tasty dish from the editorial and comic pages of 1924.

"Mr. Coolidge Breaks His Silence" by T.H. Webster for N.Y. World's Press Pub. Co., Nov. 27, 1924

Calvin Coolidge, in keeping with longstanding tradition, officially proclaimed that year's national day of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27, the last Thursday of the month. The troubled tom in T.H. Webster's cartoon would have waited in vain for a presidential pardon to save him from the butcher's axe.

The tradition of presidents pardoning a turkey or two at Thanksgiving was apparently inaugurated by John F. Kennedy (reports of meleagristic pardons by Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman are not supported by presidential records). The first official presidential pardon granted to a turkey was by George H.W. Bush in 1989.

"If We All Don't Get Our Share This Year It Won't Be Because the Turkey Isn't Big Enough" by J.N. "Ding" Darling in Des Moines Register, Nov. 27, 1924

Prosperity Triumphant was the theme of editorial cartoons in many a Thanksgiving Day newspaper in 1924. It was the midpoint of the Roaring ’20's, of course. The stock market was booming, employers were hiring, speakeasies were jumping, and flappers were, uh, flapping.

"We Have with Us Today" by William Hanny in Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 27, 1924

Republican-leaning editorial cartoonists offered plenty of cartoons for the day crowing that Americans ought to be thankful to reelected President Calvin Coolidge for the apparently robust economy everyone was enjoying. 

"Even They Have Something to Be Thankful For" by Clifford Berryman in Washington Evening Star, Nov. 27, 1924

Democrats and Progressives, on the other hand, were still eating crow, and the editorial cartoonists who had advocated the election of John Davis or Robert LaFollette shied away from political ruminations for the holiday.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith for Chicago Tribune Service, Nov. 27, 1924

Speaking of unsuccessful presidential candidates: Andy Gump — whose campaign manager had neglected to file Gump's candidacy — used the holiday to wax philosophical about his loss.

"Me and Mine" by Clare Briggs for N.Y. Tribune Co., Nov. 27, 1924

Elsewhere on the comics page, even in 1924, one did not necessarily head home for the holidays. The ladies in Clare Briggs's cartoon agreed to disagree over the relative merits of a home-cooked meal and not having to clean up after one.

"Cap Stubbs" by Edwina Dumm for George Matthew Adams Service, Nov. 27, 1924

It has been a long time since our tour has checked in on one of the very few female comic strip artists of the 1920's, so here is Edwina Dumm, presenting her titular "Cap" Stubbs with one of his typical conundra.

"Your Own Nightmare" by Jim Ring in Washington Times, Nov. 27, 1924

Returning to the editorial page: I guess Jim Ring didn't particularly care for the Thanksgiving holiday. Or perhaps being called upon to draw something for the Washington Times editorial page at the last minute because the editors or publisher there didn't care for whatever it was that their usual cartoonist, T.E. Powers, had offered them for the day.

"And Here's Another Problem" by John Knott in Dallas Morning News, ca. Nov. 26, 1924

As if Jim Ring hadn't burdened you with enough Thanksgiving nightmares, along came John Knott to remind us that it's time to flip the page on the calendar.

So therefore we bid you and yule a fond au revoir, a happy post-Thanksgiving, a toilichte St. Andrew's Day, and a merry month to come.

Gobble fa la la: la la la la!

Happy New Year

 ...from Andy and Min Gump!

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum new year's card this year features the first two rows of Sidney Smith's "The Gumps" for Sunday, December 31. Since your humble scribe highlighted Andy Gump's first run for Congress back in November, I'm passing this 100-year-old greeting on.

I don't have the full-color resources that they have at the BICL&M, but here's the rest of that day's "The Gumps," anyway.

P.S.: I'd been saving this Denver Post front page for years thinking I would use it at the end of 2022, then forgot all about it.

"'Bout Time to Turn Over a New Leaf" by A. Wilbur Steele in Denver Post, Dec. 30, 1922

Well, it's a shame to waste it, so here it is.

Meanwhile, in Non-Gump Election News

"Keeping to the Main Highway" by Gustavo Bronstrup in San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 9, 1922

I hope you enjoyed our recounting the past two Saturdays of Andy Gump's election to Congress and the recount that took his victory away. But it's time now to get serious and to catch up on what really happened in the off-year election of 1922.

Gustavo Bronstrup, with a nod to the initially victorious Mr. Gump, celebrates the Republican sweep in California that year. Friend Richardson was elected Governor and Hiram Johnson was reelected Senator, both by landslides. (Ironically, Richardson, supported by a Republican majority in the legislature, would proceed to undo several policies enacted when Johnson had been Governor.) 

The Proposition 19 straw man fallen off the back of the car represents a defeated constitutional amendment that would have granted the governor authority to create and fund a board to develop, distribute and fix rates for water and electrical energy.

"Nearly Everybody in the House Knew..." by John Knott in Galveston Daily News, Nov. 10, 1922

The California results ran counter to the national trend that year, however: Democrats gained 72 seats in House and a net gain of six seats in the Senate. 

"Shrinkage? It's a Washout" by Nelson Harding in Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Nov. 9, 1922

The Democrats' gain was not quite enough to regain the majority lost in the elections of 1918 and 1920, but was an impressive showing nonetheless, and set off a wave of prognostication as to where the Republican Party had gone wrong.

"Now We'll Hear the Specialists" by Edwin Marcus in New York Times, Nov. 12, 1922

One of Edwin Marcus's "specialists" is an "anti-prohibitionist" who doesn't look anything like the Mr. Dry used by every other cartoonist of the time (see John Cassel, below). That may well be because Mr. Dry looks more like an undertaker than a doctor; but it leaves me suspecting that Marcus had everything drawn before the election results were in but the labels and the elephant head.

"After the Downpour" by John Cassel in New York Evening World, Nov. 10, 1922

To the extent that Republicans were hurt by the "wet" vote, it was primarily because they happened to have more incumbents in office than the Democrats did in 1922. Prohibition sentiments pro and con crossed party lines; support for the 18th Amendment included both conservative Southern Democrats and northern progressive Republicans. Opponents included big-city Democrats and Republicans alike.

"Home Again" by John Knott in Galveston Daily News, Nov. 13, 1922

One of my disappointments in covering the 1922 election is that I was not able to turn up any cartoons by John Knott of the Dallas News and Galveston Daily News having anything substantial to say about the Klan candidate Texas elected to the U.S. Senate that year. Instead, he chose to celebrate Tennessee returning its governor's chair to the Democrats — and I do apologize for that character carrying Miss Tennessee's bags.

"The Retreat of the Lame-Duck Brigade" by John Baer, reprinted in National Leader (Minneapolis), December, 1922

Former Congressman John Baer cites a few of the ailments diagnosed in Edwin Marcus's cartoon and adds a few more: a proposed sales tax (to replace the income tax), an anti-strike bill, and a subsidy for shipbuilders.

What I was expecting to see in the National Leader was a celebration of Minnesotans' election to the Senate of the Farmer-Labor candidate, Henrik Shipstead, ousting Republican Senator Frank B. Kellogg, seated in the wheelchair in Baer's cartoon. (The Democrats' candidate, Anna Dickie Olesen, came in a distant third). The Farmer-Labor Party was the offspring of the Leader's "Non-Partisan League," after all, and the Leader had emblazoned a heroic sketch of Shipstead all over the front page of its November issue.

Front page of National Leader, Minneapolis, MN, November, 1922

Other than that, however, the Leader seems not to have found much to say about his campaign or his election.

Shipstead, a former and future Republican, would serve in the Senate until losing a GOP primary in 1947. An isolationist, anti-Semite, and conspiracy monger (Protocols of the Elders of Zion and all that crap), a senator described by the British Foreign office as "bigoted and crotchety," he is not remembered fondly these days.

"A Case for Careful Diagnosis" by J.N. "Ding" Darling in Des Moines Register, Nov. 13, 1922

But returning again to 1922: it must be noted that for all this talk of the Republican Party needing to find out where it had gone wrong, the 1920's would continue to be a solidly Republican decade in most of the United States.

"He Fits the Niche" by John Cassel in New York Evening World, Nov. 8, 1922

To wit: 1922 saw the election of one of the Democratic Party's enduring heroes, Alfred E. Smith, as Governor of New York. As the party's presidential nominee in 1928, he would lead the Democrats to their third consecutive landslide loss.

And lucky for him, too.

GUMP DEFEATS TRUMAN

Last week, we saw cartoon character Andy Gump elected to Congress in 1922 as an Independent candidate by a razor-thin margin over his Republican opponent, Sylvester Skink.

You didn't think that would be the end of the story, did you?

The Gumps by Sidney Smith, in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 17, 1922

Before Andy Gump came along, Sidney Smith had a daily cartoon in the Chicago Tribune called "Old Doc Yak," about a talking goat and his family. Doc Yak had a house, drove a car, and did all sorts of non-goat things, until at some point, Tribune editor-cum-publisher Joseph Patterson suggested to Smith that he should draw a cartoon about an Everyman type character living an ordinary life with an ordinary wife. The sort of person Patterson called a "gump."

So, in 1917, Old Doc Yak sold the house and the car to newcomer Andy Gump, a character patterned after an acquaintance of Smith's brother named Andy Wheat, whose lower jaw had been removed due to an infection that developed from a tooth extraction.

Thus was a marketing powerhouse born. By 1922, The Gumps were appearing in animated short films in theaters, and the Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News were syndicating the comic strip from coast to coast. Universal Pictures began producing two-reel movies of the Gumps in 1923, starring ex-Keystone Cop Joe Murphy as Andy and Fay Tancher as wife Minerva.

Andy Wheat, rather than being upset by Smith's caricature of him, even had his name legally changed to Andy Gump.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 20, 1922

You should, however, see the incongruity of having common Everygump Andy Gump going to Washington. The Gumps was a continuity strip, not a one-off movie like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; how was Andy Gump to maintain what made him appealing in the first place in the halls of Congress?

The Gumps by Sidney Smith in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 1922

So, inevitably, after some initially encouraging returns, the recount turned in Sylvester Skink's favor. And there was nothing Gump could do to stop the steal.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 23, 1922

One peculiar detail about this entire story line is that at no point did Sidney Smith allow for there to be a Democratic candidate in the race. That is only natural at this point after Election Day, having put Messrs. Gump and Skink within a few dozen votes of each other. But I find no mention of a Democrat running for Congress in Gump's district even before Election Day, 

Gump would have been prevented from running as a Democrat because the publishers of the Chicago Tribune were committed Republican loyalists; a Democratic hero on the pages owned by Joseph Patterson and Col. Robert McCormick was simply out of the question. Besides, casting Andy Gump as an Independent was more true to his origin as a typical, everyday, regular fella, and certainly not a partisan hack.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 27, 1922 

The lure of public office would nevertheless prove irresistible to Mr. Andrew Gump, his promises to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The Gumps by Sidney Smith in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 28, 1922

In two years, partisan hack or no, he would throw his hat into the presidential ring — and continue to do so again and again election cycle after election cycle...

The Gumps by Sidney Smith in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 29, 1922

... setting a precedent for future comic strip characters from Pogo Possum to Snoopy to Zippy the Pinhead.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 30, 1922

Andrew Gump Elected Mayor of Congress

Return we now to the pivotal election year of 1922...

Detroit Free Press, Nov. 8, 1922

...in which a cartoon character was elected mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan.

Or not.

Either the Detroit Free Press headline writer didn't skim any further than the first paragraph of the article beneath it, or was a victim of autocorrect nearly a century before it was invented.

Or maybe John Wallace and H.C. Plass missed out on reporting the real news out of Hamtramck in favor of their own attempt to match wits with Chicago Tribune cartoonist Sidney Smith.

I haven't found any serious reporting that Andy Gump beat the flesh-and-blood candidates to be elected mayor of newly incorporated Hamtramck in 1922, although he did receive at least one vote in the race for Senator from Michigan that year, and no doubt a smattering of votes in various other contests around the country.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith, in Chicago Tribune, Sept. 5, 1922

For months, the titular character of Sidney Smith's syndicated comic strip had been waging a congressional campaign in the cartoon. Here's how the Detroit Free Press reported the results on Election Day: 

"Andy Is 100 Proof," Shout Supporters, "And He Don't Wear a Collar"

A citizen of Hamtramck who appeared at Gump headquarters during the evening proved himself slightly mixed on the issues of the campaign. This gentleman evidently had in mind Mr. Gump's declaration that he was 100 per cent for the people and wore no man's collar. "I voted for Gump," announced the Hamtramck citizen, "because he is 100 proof and don't wear no collar." Mr. Gump invited the caller into the rear room. He emerged, cheering loudly for Gump.

BY JOHN T. WALLACE & H. C. PLASS.

At 1 o'clock this morning the returns so far received in the great Gump congressional race gave:

• Andrew Gump, Independent, 30,906
• Republican candidate, 30,904
• Democratic candidate, 30,901

Feverish activity was evident at Gump headquarters. Mr. Gump's campaign manager remarked it would be advisable to make a round of the downtown precincts to see how the count was going.

"But I will need a little change for taxicab fare and other expenses," said the manager.

Immediately thereafter Mr. Gump was seen writing out a check.

"It's all in," stated John A. Schaufer.

"What do you mean, the bankroll?" inquired Roy Latham.

Schaufer dignifiedly explained that he meant Gump was a winner because he had carried the seventeenth ward.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith in Chicago Tribune, Oct. 18, 1922

Newspapers which have opposed the candidacy of Mr. Gump, reviling him from the outset of his campaign, stated in their early editions that if he won, his victory would be due to the lavish expenditure of the money he received by compromising the famous breach of promise suit the Widow Zander brought against his Uncle Bim.

"Gump," declared one of these anti-Gump sheets, "has tried to corrupt the electorate."

"Let 'em rave," said Mr. Gump when he was interviewed at his headquarters at the Hotel Dresdemona. "I am 100 per cent for the people. The final returns will show me the winner. I have vanquished the special interests. I wear no man's collar."

"Your collar is wilted," spoke up the Widow Zander, who had been in the campaign headquarters since early in the evening. "Let me run out and get you a fresh one."

"Oh, Min."

"You needn't bother," said Mrs. Gump, coming forward. "I have one in my bag for the congressman."

"Oh, Min," exclaimed Andy Gump.

The Widow Zander melted into the throng.

Just then, a courier brought in the returns from the second precinct, first ward, of Hamtramck. They gave Gump 217; the Republican candidate, 13; the Democratic candidate, 21.

"Mayor [Peter C.] Jezewski seems to be delivering the goods," was candidate Gump's only comment.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 2, 1922

―

Andy Gump has just departed hurriedly from home for his headquarters, having received word from his campaign manager that the election boards in some of the river precincts are counting him out. He showed great excitement, but refused to talk to reporters.

―

After reaching his headquarters and listening to his manager's report of crooked counting in certain precincts, Mr. Gump said, "I care naught for my own political fortunes, but the sanctity of the ballot box, the palladium of American liberties, must be preserved at all hazards. I would just as sternly demand that a crook who stole a vote for me go to jail as one who stole from me."

―

Candidate Gump has just been in telephonic communication with the chief of police. He demanded that chief immediately send officers to the polling places where tampering with the count is said to be in progress. The chief listened attentively to what Mr. Gump had to say and promised to investigate the matter within the next few days.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 6, 1922

―

The Widow Zander has arrived at Gump headquarters. She was cheered loudly by the crowd gathered in the street as she alighted from her car. An intoxicated individual, however, caused the widow to blush by shouting, "How's Uncle Bim?"

―

Little Chester just called up headquarters. "Is my papa elected?" he inquired. Mr. Gump went to the phone. "Go to bed now, Chester," he said. "You will never grow into a great man like your father unless you get plenty of sleep while you are young."

―

The first precinct to report gives, Andrew Gump, independent, 102; the Republican candidate, 103; the Democratic candidate, 101. Mr. Gump looked serious as he scanned these returns. Then he retired to his room, took a flat object from his hip pocket, and closed the door.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith, in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 8, 1922

―

Shortly after the polls closed, Andy Gump, Independent candidate for congress, 100 per cent for the people, cabled to Uncle Bim Gump in Australia, "The battle is over. I stand at the parting of the ways. One leads to the capitol, the other to the poorhouse."

His friends and admirers pointed out that their candidate had always been for preparedness.

―

Gump's campaign manager, after a survey of the first returns that trickled in, announced: "Indications are that Gump wins by a neck."

Those in the room glanced at the candidate's neck, and broke into wild cheering.

"A landslide for our candidate!" they shouted.

―

Early returns from the silk stocking district along the Boulevard indicated that Gump had been snowed under there. Candidate Gump's only comment was, "Oh, Min!"

The Gumps by Sidney Smith, in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 9, 1922

―

Arrival of returns from the Widow Zander's precinct caused a stir in Gump's headquarters. The caller read: "Republican, 44; Democratic, 41; Independent, 0." Gump leaped on the table.

"The double-crossing, two-faced hussy; not even her own vote!" shouted Gump. Just then the caller yelled, "Hey! A mistake in the transmission — Gump gets 100; Democratic, 41; Republican, 44."

"I always said," remarked Candidate Gump, "that Henrieta Zander was one of the finest women in the world. I knew she would deliver her precinct strong."

―

Mr. Gump has just received the following cablegram from Australia: "Hope you are winning; kindly take $100 from remains of your campaign fund and purchase some suitable gift for Mrs. Zander. Will wire bank draft to reimburse you. (Signed) Uncle Bim." Immediately after reading the cablegram, Candidate Gump was seen in deep conversation with his campaign manager. The manager was overhead [sic] to say, "That's all there is; there isn't any more."

―

"It seems to be nip and tuck," Andy Gump's campaign manager remarked to him as the returns began to filter in. "That being the case," the candidate responded, "we might as well have a little nip ourselves." They retired to a rear room and closed the door.

The Gumps by Sidney Smith, in Chicago Tribune, Nov. 10, 1922

―

Candidate Gump was greatly cheered by a telegram from Shady Rest, where Andy used to fish with Old Timer before Old Timer was married. Old Timer's wife sent the message, collect. It read, "We know you have won. You can't keep a good man down. I'll bring Old Timer to visit you in Washington."

―

A delegation of prohibition advocates arrived at Gump headquarters, and expressed the hope that Mr. Gump, if the returns finally put him in congress, would stand for the strict maintenance of the Volstead act. Mr. Gump replied, "Gentlemen, I wear no man's collar." There was thunderous applause.

―

Andrew C. Baird, Wayne County Democratic chairman, admitted shortly before midnight that Andy Gump had a good chance to defeat the Democratic candidate for Congress. "Anyway," said Mr. Baird, "Mr. Gump's Christian name is the same as mine, and I think he will lne up with our party instead of with the Republicans. We also have other tastes in common."

―

"I wear no man's collar," Mr. Gump remarked when informed of  Chairman Baird's statement. "Nevertheless I will call around to Mr. Baird's office and see what he has to offer."

―

At 11:45 p.m. Dave Gordon, deputy county treasurer, claimed the election of Andrew Gump by more than 100 plurality. The Republican and Democratic candidates were said to be preparing to apply to Judges Harry J. Dingeman and Thomas W. Cotter for orders to impound ballot boxes pending a recount.

―

Shortly after midnight, marching clubs from the Anti-Saloon league and the W. C.T. U. headed by a big Gump campaign banner swept cheering into the Hotel Desdemona and into Parlor A, where tea, ice cream, sandwiches and lady fingers were served.

Soon afterward, a marching club from the Society Opposed to Prohibition, with a Gump banner at its head, marched into Parlor H. Hall boys were kept busy carrying ginger ale, mineral water, and seltzer into Parlor H. One of the local prohibition enforcement officers stood outside the door, as a guarantee to Gump's temperance friends that no liquor would be seen taken into the room.