1908 GET ON THE RAFT WITH TAFT SHEET MUSIC PRESIDENTIAL POLITICAL

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1908 GET ON THE RAFT WITH TAFT SHEET MUSIC PRESIDENTIAL POLITICAL:
$35.00

GET ON THE RAFT WITH TAFTCampaign Song (1908)Words by Harry D. KerrMusic by Abe Holzmann
LARGE FORMAT SHEET MUSIC4 page song
(Back Cover offers teaser of OLD FAITHFUL March and Two Step,also by \"Raft with Taft\"composer Abe Holzmann)
On GET ON THE RAFT WITH TAFT:
The following was posted in the Winning Hearts & Ears blogSubject: Music in Political Campaigns

“Get On A Raft With Taft” was written in support of the lawyer and one-time college wrestling champion, William Howard Taft, in his 1908 run for the presidency as the Republican nominee. “Raft” was the biggest hit of the election season—this at a time when made-to-order campaign songs were widely performed and distributed via sheet music.

The jaunty mug-raising tone is typical for campaign songs of the era, designed for rousing sing-along sessions. And whether Taft was able to “save the country” from unspecified rising tides, the song makes a good case for the sturdy raft-building technology of the early 20th century, given that the Taft tipped the scales at over 300 pounds.

Turning to the lyrics, the primary targets of “Get On A Raft With Taft” are big business (trust busting was one of Taft’s major platforms), money in politics, and yellow journalism. Taft’s leadership abilities are applauded—he’s helming the raft after all—and his honest, personable disposition is praised.

This is a wonderful piece of American history, political history,American presidential history.

While it is over a century old and subject to signs of time, it looks wonderful overall.

The lovely hand-tinted color cover shows President Taft in a warm and positive light. The music is complete and in very good shape despite some darkening at outer edges, advertising stamp of a long-since-disappeared music emporium, some small tears and creasing.