JM-090: Grosvenor and Platt present different views on McKinley

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Editorial cartoon depicting Charles Henry Grosvenor and Thomas C. Platt presented as sideshow hawkers speaking to a group of people. They each point to a large banner focusing on President William McKinley behind them. On Grosvenor's banner, McKinley is presented as the "largest man in the world." On Platt's banner, McKinley is presented as the "smallest man in the U.S."
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JM-163: Suggestion for new seating arrangement in the Illinois state legislature

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This cartoon depicts the Illinois legislature in January of 1915. The legislature is divided into two groups, but not the traditional party divides of the Democrat and Republican parties. The two groups are "wet" and "dry." The members of the legislature sitting on the "wet" side are fervently against any prohibition legislation within the state of Illinois. The "dry" side is composed of politicians who favor implementing regulations of the distribution and sale of alcohol. The cartoon points out how this issue of prohibition has divided members of each political party, upsetting the status quo of the legislature (grouping by political party). These suggestions for alcohol regulations in Illinois were some of many being proposed throughout various levels of government in the United States at the time. Many found the temperance movement in the United States to be a more moral than political issue, making it a hotly debated topic within the Republican and Democrat parties. This cartoon was created only five years before the eighteenth amendment to the United States Constitution was passed, which declared the manufacture and sale of alcohol illegal. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)
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JM-188: New members of the club

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This cartoon depicts many issues leading to political discourse during the late 1910s in the United States. The old sources of political discourse such as "prohibition issue", "he kept us out of war issue", and "tariff issue" have been displaced by the overgrown and overwhelming new issues. The "prohibition issue" refers to the question of whether alcohol should be a legal substance in the United States. The "he kept us out of war issue" refers to the fact that, despite his promise, the United States entered World War I under President Wilson. The "tariff issue" refers to what goods (if any) should have a tariff placed on them to protect the economic interests of the United States. The new issues overtaking the room were a relatively new source of political conflict. The "league amendments issue" refers to the United States entering the League of Nations. If the United States had joined the League of Nations, it would have to surrender some of its national sovereignty, which made it an unacceptable option to many politicians. The "cost of living" was a relatively new issue in the United States. It refers to the unusually high cost of necessary items, while many worker's wages remained low by comparison. The "daylight savings issue" refers to the issue of whether the United States should continue to use daylight savings time. The United States had adopted daylight savings time in 1918. Many countries adopted daylight savings during World War I as a way to lower the need to use coal. The transition to daylight savings time had been problematic, and many in the United States thought it should be abandoned. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)
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JM-191: Don't wreck that car!

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This cartoon shows railroad employees fighting with railroad employers in a car named "U.S. Prosperity", which is carrying the United States in the back seat. There were many railroad employee strikes in the first half of the twentieth century, usually protesting against poor pay and/or working conditions. Railroads were one of the most efficient methods of transportation, especially the transportation of goods. This made railroads critical to the health of the United States economy. In the corner of this cartoon, President Woodrow is yelling at the employers and employees to not wreck the car. While the role was not extensive, the government did take an interest in these railroad disputes, and made sure they were eventually settled. This intervention was usually performed to ensure the railroads would continue to ship American goods throughout the United States. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)
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JM-175: Don't drop the pilot!

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This cartoon show Uncle Sam talking with President Wilson, Force, and Politics. Uncle Sam is insisting these parties do not allow someone to take the principle of arbitration outside the "ship of the state". Arbitration is a form of dispute resolution that gained popularity during the world wars. It was a quick and efficient way to resolve personal and commercial disputes without the time and effort associated with moving a claim through the traditional judicial system. The United States government began to use arbitration as a way to efficiently solve disputes involving wartime resources. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)
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