This cartoon depicts the 1913 Ottoman coup d'état, in which the Committee of Union and Progress overthrew the monarchy of the Sultan. The Committee of Union and Progress was a political group, which had aligned itself with the Young Turks. The young Turks were a group that sought to turn the Ottoman Empire into a constitutional government. A statesman in Constantinople, Kamil Pasha had been working to eliminate the Committee of Union and Progress. In response to this, the Committee launched a coup, and quickly ousted the Ottoman government. The Hellespont, now referred to as the Dardanelles, was a waterway near Constantinople. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

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 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 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)

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 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.

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)

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)

Editorial cartoon depicting five scenes about the Democratic convention in St. Louis. Wilson and Bryan appear.

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)