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Title: JM-149: Conundrum of the California Alien Land Law. 149
Summary: The top panel of this cartoon depicts a little girl, “states’ rights” crying over the grave of free silver. “Free silver” refers to the concept of the free coinage of silver, which was a popular idea for public policy among populists and other groups. Those in favor of free coinage of silver would argue that it would increase the circulation of currency, which would make wages higher and loan easier to obtain. Those against the free silver policy typically supported the gold standard, which was officially adopted by the United States in 1879. The gold standard limits the coinage of silver and other currency in circulation, because all currency must defined in the value of gold. Proponents of the gold standard argued it stabilized American currency, which allowed business to function. William Jennings Bryan, an influential American politician and Secretary of State (1913-1915), was an outspoken supporter of the free silver policy. In the top panel, William Jennings Bryan is abandoning states rights to go to California. William Jennings Bryan became involved with attempting to block discriminatory legislation against Japanese immigrants in California, such as the California Alien Land Law. This law placed restrictions of Japanese immigrants’ legal ability to acquire and own property. Such discriminatory laws created a tense diplomatic relationship with Japan. As Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan attempted to limit the impact of such legislation to improve relations between the United States and Japan. The idea behind many of these discriminatory laws in seen in the bottom panel. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-176: The daily bread line 1913
Summary: This cartoon depicts a line of men waiting for food during the winter. One of them is holding a sign that says, “He kept us out of work”. This sign is a play on President Wilson’s campaign slogan, “He kept us out of war”. There were some areas of United States economy struggling in 1913, making many individuals unemployed. In 1913, many criticized President Wilson’s economic initiatives to be harmful to workers, and contributing to increased in unemployment. Such initiatives included further limiting commercial trusts and requiring investigations be made when particular businesses changed the wages of their workers. These investigations would be used to evaluate the costs of the factories, which was needed to determine guilt of criminal acts. In response to these initiatives, many factories closed operations or began to limit the changes that could be made to workers’ wages. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-161: The refining influence of speculating in war stock
Summary: This cartoon shows two impressions of the same family living in the United States during World War I. The top panel displays the family before they bought war stocks. The bottom panel shows them after they purchased war stocks. In the top panel, the mother and father are lamenting on the carnage of the war, causing the death of millions in Europe. The couple is horrified at the seemingly senseless loss of life. In the bottom panel, the couple are thrilled the war is expected to drag on, because the value of their war stocks will continue to increase and provide a temporarily sustained income to the family. This cartoon is meant to illustrate Americans’ disturbing lack of empathy at the mere promise of profit. The United States notoriously made large profits throughout most of World War I selling weapons to use in the war, while remaining neutral in the conflict until 1917. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-137: 1912 Presidential Election. 137
Summary: This cartoon illustrates the events that occured in the presidential election of 1912. The top left panel shows former president, Theodore Roosevelt, obviously beating Taft in the primary elections. This reflected the fact that most voters at the time preferred Theodore Roosevelt to President Taft for reelection. The top right panel shows President Taft winning the primary election, because Roosevelt has been tackled by the credentials committee. The credentials committee was responsible for determining, which men were eligible to vote in the primary elections of 1912. The middle panel shows nominations for the Republican primary. The nomination of the left is for former President Theodore Roosevelt. The nomination on the right is for Charles Evans Hughes, former governor of New York. The bottom panel shows the race continuing, and a group of men sitting in a room. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-145: The Senate passes a parcels post bill. 145
Summary: This cartoon shows the US Senate passing the Post Office Appropriation Bill of 1912. The most controversial part of this legislation was the parcels post provision being held up in the comic. This provision divided the country into zones, which would be used to determine postage prices in the US. The provision was introduced by Senator Jonathan Bourne of Oregon to create uniform postage prices within specific areas of the United States. Senator Joseph Bristow of Kansas originally objected to the provision, claiming the price proposals of postage were too low to sustain. Eventually, the senators reached a compromise and the bill was passed with the maximum postage rate of 12 cents per first pound shipped within the total of eight zones created. This bill was thought to be beneficial to small businesses, regularized and lowering costs in specific zones. This bill was not well received by many within the US, particularly with some big business, as represented by the four large men in the top of the cartoon. One of these men reference former Senator Thomas Platt, an infamous political boss for the Republican party. The comment shows a shift occurring within Congress from conservative to more progressive policies during the 1910s. This shift is seen by the man commenting, “Darn those daily moosepapers”. This comment is most likely a reference to the progressive policies of President Theodore Roosevelt, who founded the Bull-Moose party in 1912. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-162: Why the U. S. must be strictly neutral
Summary: This comic depicts the United States flag having forty eight stars, because Hawaii and Alaska would not become states until 1959. Each star has a ethnicity or nationality listed on it to represent the different types of immigrants assimilating and/or remaining in the United States after moving from different locations. The quote below the comment reads, “Why the US must be strictly neutral and tolerant if we expect these citizens to remain good Americans.” This cartoon suggests that if the United States were to enter World War I, it would outrage the immigrants of the countries upon which the United States declared war. This was a common concern of United States citizens before the United States entered World War I. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-160: The Christmas Carol that was not rehearsed
Summary: This cartoon highlights and humorizes the lack of agreement between President Woodrow Wilson and his Secretary of State, Robert Lansing. In December of 1916, President Wilson issued a peace note, explaining his position on the United States involvement in World War I. President Wilson wished to help negotiate peace talks between the allies and Germany, which had been recently suggested by Germany. President Wilson also wished to keep the United State a neutral party within World War I, not providing military support to either side. In this peace note, Lansing offered an addendum saying, "The United States already in the war economically, was being drawn in militaristically." This caused a great upset in the Wilson administration as the President tried to emphasize the need for peace without completely discrediting his Secretary of State. The cartoon highlights this discomfort by showing Lansing and President Wilson essentially singing a different tune. A shocked Uncle Sam (citizens of the United States) sits listening to the pair and is unsure what to think of the spectacle. This cartoon uses Christmas carols as a humorous reminder that this incident occurred within the week before Christmas in December of 1916, less than six months before the United States would eventually enter World War I. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-141: The great spring take-off. 141
Summary: This is a satirical piece commenting on a series of tariffs on fabrics, especially those used in the clothing industry. A tariff on cotton caused great outrage among the middle class, especially women. Most antagonists of the bill stated cotton was too essential to clothe the people of the United States to unnecessarily drive up the cost. Unlike other fabrics, wool had been able to move through the United States without having a new tariff placed upon it. It appeals to the common man’s (and woman’s) feelings of the lack of need for wool rather than cotton esp in the summer months like May. The author is writing to hear then President Taft’s and former President Roosevelt’s opinions. This is because President Taft and his former leader, Theodore Roosevelt both favored the passed tariffs on fabrics. President Taft himself signed the tariff on cotton and was heavily in favor of supporting tariffs rather than income taxes, which were just beginning to be commonly employed in the United States. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-173: National defense
Summary: The top panel of this cartoon depicts Congress attempting to slow Uncle Sam driving a automobile and is used to represent the fast moving sentiments for national defense. The donkey is being used to suggest the actions of Congress are aligned with the democrat interests of the time. National defense is passing through pork and casting it to the side. The word “pork” is being used to describe projects and/or funding given by Congress to benefit certain areas or populations in the country. An example of pork would be Congress awarding money for a damn to be built in a specific state. The bottom panel has two possibilities that stem from the sentiments of the top panel. The scenario on the left depicts a man dissatisfied with increased taxes that Congress would have to impose to fund national defense interests. The scenario on the right shows the same man having to pay tributes to an invader. The bottom panel suggests that tax increases for national defense are in the best financial and personal interest of citizens. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-143: Awkward mistake in the date. 143
Summary: This cartoon portrays President Taft writing a message to Congress. In 1912, President Taft ran for reelection, most notably campaigning against his predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt, in the Republican primary. President Taft would eventually win the Republican primary. After losing that election, Roosevelt ran for president after creating his own party, the Bull-Moose party. The campaigning between Roosevelt and Taft was rigorous, and they ultimately split the the Republican vote in the 1912 presidential election. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-144: Peace Talk
Summary: In the first panel, capital and labor are in an argument. This is a personification of the series of labor disputes between workers and large business owners that were a common product of the Industrial Revolution. Usually these disputes were about implementing better employment practices such as better wages, workers’ compensation, safety regulations, etc. This argument is delaying the train of 1916, which holds the economic prosperity the United States experienced due to it funding and manufacturing supplies for the European nations fighting in World War I. Uncle Sam, the United States, is attempting to resolve the conflict between Labor and Capital, so they can become ready to experience the prosperity 1916 is bringing. Notice the bottom notation says this “peace” is necessary. The second panel portrays a wide view of the world with the United States on the left and Europe on the right. On the left, Uncle Sam (the United States) is being asked by humanity to intervene and mediate in Europe. This exchange references those who thought the United States had a moral duty to help end World War I in Europe. On the right side of the panel, is a depiction of the World War I conflict being shielded from the glow of peace (the sun). The Allies (Britain, France, Italy) are fighting with the Teutons (Germany and its allies with Germanic roots). Looming over this fight are the personifications of financial and physical death. This shows the devastation World War I has caused in Europe. The last panel depicts the internal debate between politicians in the US about what action should be taken regarding European intervention. On the left, “progressive” politicians pull the elephant ( the Republican party) towards peace, meaning they want the US government to help European nations negotiate a peace. Notice the Progressive politician is dressed in relatively simple clothing, which suggests he appeals more the common man. The “old guard” politician is pulling the Republican party away from peace, meaning he wishes the United States to remain neutral and not intervene in World War I. He is dressed more upscale, which suggests his ideas represent the older, more wealthy population that is profiting on the war. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-140: Proposed solution to the disputed problem. 140
Summary: This cartoon depicts the potential candidates for the Republican primary election of 1912. The first candidate portrayed on the left is President Taft, who was running for re-election. The second candidate is James Sherman’s, President Taft’s former vice president. The next candidate is a senator from Massachusetts, Boies Penrose. William Barnes, Jr., a politician and journalist from New York, is displayed as a potential runner. The last candidate depicted in the cartoon is Winthrop Crane, another senator from Massachusetts. All these men appear to be eager to run in the Republican primary in the top panel. However, some of these men are accused of being fraudulent candidates. This means they have been accused of not actually been favored by the public to run for the presidency To ensure their legitimacy, a man suggests a preferential primary. A preferential primary is an election that determines the nominee for the presidency through the preference of voters or through delegates (these delegates most vote for the winning primary candidate). The practice of a preferential primary contradicts against the tradition of political bosses attempting to organize the outcome of elections. The candidates of the elections all find this news distressing in the bottom panel. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-139: For chairman of the convention. 139
Summary: This cartoon shows Lady Justice presiding over the Republican Convention for the 1912 primary election. Former president, Theodore Roosevelt, was running against president incumbent Taft. President Roosevelt seems to have more delegate votes than Taft, but Taft would ultimately be renominated for the presidency. Roosevelt claimed Taft stole delegates that should have been awarded to him, making him lose the election. After losing the Republican primary, Theodore Roosevelt began his own party, the Bull-Moose Party. Taft and Roosevelt would eventually split the Republican vote, which allowed Woodrow Wilson to be elected as president in 1912. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-159: The value of ideals. 159
Summary: Editorial cartoon depicting William Jennings Bryan lecturing to earn money in the aftermath of his loss in the 1900 senatorial election. Bryan charged $500 per speech or lecture, and he was the most popular speaker on the Chautauqua circuit from 1900 to 1912.

Title: JM-148: Japan objects to the weapon which he himself has never hesitated to use. 148
Summary: This cartoon personifies United States relations with Japan in 1913. Japan is criticizing California for employing Japanese exclusion laws. These laws are most likely a reference to the California Alien Land Law of 1913. This law prohibited "aliens ineligible for citizenship" from owning agricultural land or possessing long-term leases, but permitted short-term leases lasting up to three years. This act was problematic for diplomatic relations with Japan, as it directly discriminated against Japanese citizens. This law also limited the number of Japanese immigrants to come to the US. While this law actually had little tangible backlash on Japanese citizens, it caused a large amount of tension between Japan and the US. Japan is also illustrated wielding the weapon of exclusion laws. In response to California's discrimination laws, Japan threatened to begin creating policies, which would discriminate against Americans. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-132: Fifty years from now
Summary: This cartoon depicts an aged version of Katherine Elkins and Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of Abruzzi. Katherine Elkins was the daughter of Senator Stephen B. Elkins, an influential politician from West Virginia. The Duke of Abruzzi was Commander in Chief of the Italian fleet and fifth in line for the Italian throne. They met through a series of social events in the United States, and their courtship was covered by the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers for over two years. The Duke of Abruzzi needed the permission from the King of Italy to marry. If the couple had married without royal permission, then Ms. Elkins would not have received a royal title or estates and The Duke of Abruzzi would have received reprimand from the crown. When this cartoon was drawn, the Duke and Ms. Elkins were rumored to be engaged, but still waiting for the King’s blessing to wed. Eventually, the King would deny this request and the couple separated around 1912. Katherine Elkins went on to marry Billy Hitt, the son of an Illinois congressman. The Duke Abruzzi led the Italian navy through World War I, and he oversaw the Italian colony of Somalia. The Duke of Abruzzi married as well, and died in 1933. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-158: The President has important business in Massachusetts. 158
Summary: This cartoon shows President Taft racing out of the White House with an ax for his predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt. While President Taft was in office, Theodore Roosevelt continued to remain active in policy. This cartoon was published with article indicating former President Roosevelt sought to protect International Harvester Company, which was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. There had been a series of letter by Theodore Roosevelt published, which indicated Roosevelt was involved with encouraging the government to not pursue International Harvester Company. President Taft was leaving for Massachusetts to give a speech to denounce the actions of Theodore Roosevelt. President Taft also wished to remind the American people how much he had done to eliminate trusts to protect the American people. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-130: Hello, Is that the coroner?
Summary: This cartoon is an editorial depiction of the fear of war with Japan in later 1910. At the time, the army of Japan was growing, and they were seeking new technology and funding. This was combined with Japan seizing territory around it, such as parts of Korea. These military actions made relations between the United States and Japan more tense, even to the point where California was proposing legislation to limit the rights of Japanese citizens. The Chicago Tribune took a relatively relaxed approach to the situation, asserting relations between the United States and Japan were nowhere near a declaration of war. Journalists came to this conclusion, because the costs of war were too great for both sides. Ultimately, President Taft sought to avoid public fear by seeking to dismantle rumors of war by publicly announcing the United States intention of peace with Japan. This cartoon shows Taft crushing the personified Japanese war scare while on the phone saying "Hello, is that the coroner? Well, say, come up in about 10 minutes. I'll have a nice job for you." (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-136: Adjusting the Russian treaty difficulty
Summary: This cartoon illustrates tense diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States in 1911. The Treaty of 1832 between the United States and Russia was created to give citizens of both countries specific rights such as economic freedoms or freedom of movement, whether they resided in Russia or the United States. Slowly beginning in the 1890s and continuing into the 1900s, Russia was limiting the rights of Jewish citizens from the United States. Eventually these citizens’ United States passports were no longer accepted by the Russian government, which was clearly against the Treaty of 1832 (or the Treaty of Constantinople). Outraged by this breach, Congress issued the Sulzer Resolution, which called for the immediate nullification of the Treaty of 1832 due to Russia’s violation of its contents. The first panel of the cartoon shows the beginning of the political tension between Russia and the United States. Russia was offended by the language of the Sulzer Resolution, stating they never fully violated the treaty. The second panel shows United States resentment of Russia’s discrimination of their citizens. The third panel shows the United States compromising with Russia by changing the wording and nuance of the dispute to appeal to Russia’s sensibilities. During this political tension, President Taft held a strong desire to maintain diplomatic relations with Russia. Despite Taft’s efforts, diplomatic relationships between the United States and Russia remained strained due to a lack of compromise from either side. (Summary created by Mary Delano, History Intern, Spring 2018)

Title: JM-193: If things only worked out according to the prospectus!
Summary: The top left panel is captioned, “The Peace Conference, as the world was led to expect”. The caption references Woodrow Wilson presenting his “14 Points” at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. The Paris Peace Conference was held after the end of fighting in WWI, and resulted in the creation the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles was the document which formally ended WWI, and laid out the terms of surrender for the Axis powers. Wilson’s “14 Points” speech outlined his ideas for peace to thrive after such a brutal and catastrophic war. The first point in Wilson’s speech is “Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view”. The purpose of this point was to avoid the secret alliances that led to many countries becoming involved in WWI. The top right panel shows Wilson’s “14 Points” in the trash and is captioned, “The Peace Conference as it actually worked out”. The shows three men signing a secret treaty. Based on their appearances and the context of the cartoon these men are mostly likely President Woodrow Wilson (the left), Prime Minister of France, Georges Clemenceau (the middle), and Prime Minister of England,David Lloyd George (the right). The bottom shows a meeting of the League of Nations, and is captioned “The League of Nations, as the world is led to expect”. The League of Nations was Woodrow Wilson’s idea to create a body of the world’s nations, which would foster international cooperation and support. The League of Nations is the fourteenth point in Wilson’s “14 Points” being described as “A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike”.The League of Nations operated from 1920 to 1946, and faced significant problems from nations having varying international interests. The bottom right panel shows five men sitting at a table with the caption, “The League of Nations if it follows the precedent set by the Paris Conference”. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

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