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.

This cartoon depicts Lord Roberts, a prestigious military officer from Great Britain who served all around the world, most heavily in India. Lord Roberts was greatly respected by his colleagues, and he was admired by the common people of Britain. He was also one of the few military officers who warned of the impending war with Germany -- World War I -- as early as 1908. In this cartoon, Lord Roberts is identified by his nickname, "Bobs" on the front of his uniform. This cartoon shows Lord Roberts being led away by death. Death himself has his head hanging while carrying what is assumed to be Lord Roberts' sword. This is a portrayal of his death when visiting Indian soldiers fighting at the front at St. Olmer's in France during World War I. Lord Roberts contracted pneumonia and died shortly after contracting the disease. John McCutcheon personally knew Lord Roberts and described him as "as an alert and spry little man with ruddy cheeks, courteous and deferential to the degree of courtier, energetic in his manners and conversation, and with a character as beautiful and lovable as some ancient hero drawn with the pen of an idealist." This cartoon depicts one of the millions of lives lost in World War I. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Editorial cartoon depicting the changing world in three panels. Coal is threatened by Oil in the first, William Jennings Bryan upholds different standards in the second; and where Conquest once subjugated people, so does a Mandate.

This cartoon depicts a man who has been affected by news of combat in World War I. In the left panel, "Pan-Germany" is confident about his ability to win the war. Pan-Germany is a concept that stems from the ideology of Pan-Germanism. It is a school of thought, which believes all ethnic Germans and German-speaking people should be united under one state, Pan-Germany. While Pan-Germany was never a real state, Germanic peoples still shared a similar language and culture. In the right panel, Germany quickly becomes alarmed as news of Ally victory comes to his desk. Although Pan-Germany was confident of his ability to win World War I, he did not anticipate the United States becoming a serious threat to the war effort. The United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

The cartoon shows the interpreted process of peace talks during World War I. The top panel shows the German people being dragged to peace by the Kaiser Wilhelm II. The second panel shows the Reichstag calling for peace after the kaiser orders them to begin discussions. In 1917, the United States had entered World War I, and Germany's and the Axis powers' chance of victory was becoming smaller and smaller. This made them more willing to negotiate for peace than in previous years of the war. The third panel shows the American stock market falling in value. This drop in the stock market was caused by the peace talks. Supplying weapons and other resources in World War I significantly improved the economy of the United States. Many factories and other means of productions had been created solely to meet the needs of the global conflict. As World War I came to a close, the United States large profits from the war effort began to decline. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

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)

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)

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)

Editorial cartoon depicting Wilson holding reins titled "Wilson policies" of a donkey heading toward the San Francisco Convention, where Bryan is placing a flag of his policies.

This cartoon compares three speeches. The first speech on the left was Patrick Henry's famous speech, in which he stated "Give me liberty or give me death!". This speech was given on the eve of the Revolutionary War. The second speech was by Stephen Decatur, a commodore in the United States Navy. Decatur's speech was given at the conclusion of the War of 1812. The final speech was given by Private Sammy Jones during World War I. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

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)

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)

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)

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)

This cartoon depicts Uncle Sam trying to divide "U.S. Bread" among various nations. In 1915, World War I was being fought in Europe, but the United States was maintaining a neutral position. Despite its neutrality, the United States supplied resources and arms to nations during the war. All of the countries sitting at the table are nations who lobbied for resources from the United States during the war. England is attempting to block Germany's chance of receiving resources from Uncle Sam. This is representative the attempts of the British government to limit the United States aid to Allied Powers, most often England. The United States is also sitting at the table, looking worried about sharing the beard with other nations. The United States distributing more resources than it could afford was a fear for many Americans in the 1910s. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Editorial cartoon depicting William Howard Taft encouraging a free trade accord between the Midwest and Canada.