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JM-145: The Senate passes a parcels post bill. 145
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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)
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JM-146: The troubles of Turkey. 146
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This cartoon shows the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in two separate conflicts. The top panel, shows the Ottomans surrendering the province of Tripolitania after Italy captured it in the Italo-Turkish War. The Italo-Turkish War occurred from September 29, 1911, to October 18, 1912. The bottom panel shows the Ottoman’s final defeat at Khanhadjigogo in the First Balkan War. The First Balkan War occurred from October of 1912 to May of 1913, and was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Balkan League. The Balkan League was a collection of the states of Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro. The Balkan League was formed to increase military strength, and to promote the mutual interest of all four nations. The Balkan League had seen the Italo-Turkish War had weakened the Ottoman Empire, and quickly attacked to take advantage of their position. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)
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JM-160: The Christmas Carol that was not rehearsed
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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)
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