Truck and Barter

“Cartoonist W. A. Rogers features presidential hopeful Thomas C. Platt, former and future senator from New York, as a huckster peddling "presidential water-melon" to his rivals for the Republican nomination of 1896. Platt cleverly hopes to make the "boys" sick from eating too much of the sweet fruit, so that he can claim the crown himself. Governor Levi P. Morton ("L.P.M") of New York, former vice president (1889-1893), in lace collar and boater, is already gorging himself; Congressman Thomas Reed of Maine (left), former and future speaker of the house, wearing a clownish polka-dot shirt, looks on curiously; and, Governor William McKinley of Ohio (center), who ordered the National Guard to put down labor unrest in his state, appears concerned, but has his toy sword in case of trouble. In the background, Benjamin Harrison, former president of the United States (1889-1893), emerges from his "Ice Wagon" (a pun on his nickname, "the human iceberg," reflecting his cold personality).

With the country in an economic depression, and the Democratic Party deeply divided over monetary policy (stable gold versus inflationary silver), the positive prospects for a GOP victory in 1896 induced a number of Republican candidates to enter the field. By the end of 1895, McKinley had become the leading contender, but serious favorite-son candidacies were advanced by Reed, Morton (who captured support of the New York delegation from Platt), Senator William Allison of Iowa, and Senator Matthew Quay of Pennsylvania. Former president Harrison withdrew his name from consideration in early 1896.

Born in 1843, McKinley fought in the Civil War as a young man, and upon its conclusion, studied and practiced law in Canton, Ohio. In 1876, he won election as a Republican to Congress, where he quickly became a spokesman for high protective tariffs. In 1889, he became chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, using the position to ensure passage of the McKinley Tariff of 1890, which raised the average levy on imports to 48% (the highest rate in American history to that date). Angry voters turned him and other protectionist Republicans out of office later that year. McKinley, though, remained popular in his party and state, and was elected governor of Ohio in October 1891, and reelected two years later...”

Related;
"Historical Aspects of U.S. Trade Policy "