Changes

The Wizard/president is annoyed by his guests -- by the demands of the people. He is a corrupt politician, a shrewd manipulator who seeks power for himself, ignores the needs of the people, and rules by fooling with people's minds. He selfishly sends them to destroy his enemy, the Wicked Witch of the West.  If she gets them, he is rid of a nuisance.  If they kill her, great--he will be pleased and then worry what to do next.   

The Wizard/president is annoyed by his guests -- by the demands of the people. He is a corrupt politician, a shrewd manipulator who seeks power for himself, ignores the needs of the people, and rules by fooling with people's minds. He selfishly sends them to destroy his enemy, the Wicked Witch of the West.  If she gets them, he is rid of a nuisance.  If they kill her, great--he will be pleased and then worry what to do next.   

[[Image:MCKINLEY-MYSTERY1896.JPG|thumb|300px|left|Candidate McKinley as mystery man behind a screen in 1896 editorial cartoon, surrounded by party wizards]]

[[Image:MCKINLEY-MYSTERY1896.JPG|thumb|300px|left|Candidate McKinley as mystery man behind a curtain in 1896 editorial cartoon, surrounded by party wizards]]

The Wicked Witch of the West represents the trusts, who took control of small businessmen and made them cogs in their empire, just as the Witch does with the heroes, using the Flying Monkeys as her tools.  The trust issue was in the headlines, with a popular solution--one actually used in 1911 against [[Standard Oil]] to dissolve them. Dorothy heaves a bucket of water and dissolves the Wicked Witch.

The Wicked Witch of the West represents the trusts, who took control of small businessmen and made them cogs in their empire, just as the Witch does with the heroes, using the Flying Monkeys as her tools.  The trust issue was in the headlines, with a popular solution--one actually used in 1911 against [[Standard Oil]] to dissolve them. Dorothy heaves a bucket of water and dissolves the Wicked Witch.

[[Image:Munchkins.jpg|left|thumb|375px|Munchkins resemble the Little People in this 1896 ''Judge'' cartoon that makes fun of silverite politicians; the Yellow Kid (center) was the very first comic strip character]]

[[Image:MUNCHKINS-LITTLE-PEOPLE.JPG|left|thumb|375px|Munchkins resemble the Little People in this 1896 ''Judge'' cartoon that makes fun of silverite politicians; the Yellow Kid (center) was the very first comic strip character]]

'''Toto''': Prohibitionist party (also called "Teetotalers")<br>

'''Toto''': Prohibitionist party (also called "Teetotalers")<br>

*Politicians of the era often talked about wizards. For example, one senator debating the gold and silver issue in early 1900 said, “We all know of the performances of the world’s magicians, but it has remained for the Wizard of Missouri [Senator Cockrell] to wave his magic wand or his magic head and double the price of the silver of the world.”<ref> ''New York Times'' February 16, 1900 p 1</ref> Baum may have turned the Wizard of Missouri into the Wizard of Oz, who frightened people with his giant magic head.

*Politicians of the era often talked about wizards. For example, one senator debating the gold and silver issue in early 1900 said, “We all know of the performances of the world’s magicians, but it has remained for the Wizard of Missouri [Senator Cockrell] to wave his magic wand or his magic head and double the price of the silver of the world.”<ref> ''New York Times'' February 16, 1900 p 1</ref> Baum may have turned the Wizard of Missouri into the Wizard of Oz, who frightened people with his giant magic head.

[[Image:1897MCK-WIZ.jpg|thumb|left|350px|1897 ''Judge'' cartoon shows McKinley as a Witch/Mother Hubbard, and little Toto-like dog as Uncle Sam. The cartoon proves that cartoonists depicted politicians as witches--and little dogs.]]

[[Image:1897MCK-WIZ.JPG|thumb|left|350px|1897 ''Judge'' cartoon shows McKinley as a Witch/Mother Hubbard, and little Toto-like dog as Uncle Sam. The cartoon proves that editorial cartoonists depicted politicians as witches--and included little dogs as characters.]]

* President McKinley was often called a "wizard" for his political skills. The Wizard of Oz seems to be the president of the Land of Oz. The "man behind the curtain" echoes the response  to automated store window displays.  

* President McKinley was often called a "wizard" for his political skills. The Wizard of Oz seems to be the president of the Land of Oz. The "man behind the curtain" echoes the response  to automated store window displays.  

* Dogs were often used in political cartoons to represent politicians or parties.  Perhaps "Toto" is a play on the word "teetotaler", and represents the Prohibitionists of the era, who were aligned with [[William Jennings Bryan|Bryan]] in the 1896 election.

* Dogs were often used in political cartoons to represent politicians or parties.  Perhaps "Toto" is a play on the word "teetotaler", and represents the Prohibitionists of the era, who were aligned with [[William Jennings Bryan|Bryan]] in the 1896 election.