The good samaritan

President Roosevelt as a good samaritan offers a bottle labeled “Extra Session” to a fallen figure of rolled-up papers labeled “Cuban Reciprocity Treaty.” The U.S. Capitol is visible in the background.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The day before the date of this issue of Puck (which illustrates that magazines traditionally, by exigencies of production, printing, and distribution, had cover-dates a week or two different from the calendar), President Roosevelt transmitted a message to Congress. It addressed matters between the United States and Cuba.

Other than the Philippines, where armed conflict occurred, no other former possession of Spain won in the recent war proved more complicated than Cuba. In large part this was a predictable result of Cuba’s economy, despite centuries of careless or brutal colonial rule from Madrid, being somewhat more advanced in commercial and social areas. It had industries and commercial intercourse that approached that of many independent, smaller, countries.

The treaties with Spain and, specifically, Cuba itself had many negotiations, modifications, and renewals by the end of 1903, although the war was only four years removed. Additionally, the Platt Amendment that guided the establishment of Cuban governmental and economic infrastructure, was complicated, and encompassed the additional provisions of the lease of bases to the United States.

Even more complicated was the friction between American businesses — trusts — that clashed with Cuban interests. Speaking very generally, the United States originally sought four naval bases; these were reduced to two (Guantanamo and Bahia Honda), and finally reduced to Guantanamo in perpetuity. Sugar became a sticking point between Washington and Havana; and Cuba eventually received protection, with trade guarantees granted to sugar-beet producers in the United States.

There were frequent and complex negotiations, but Roosevelt recognized that the United States had extended implied rights as to eventual independence, and trade guarantees so Cuba would not be crushed by America’s economic dominance. When the Sugar Trust and senators with their own interest blocs roiled the issues at one date-marker in Cuba’s long climb to independence, Roosevelt intervened.

In his message of November 10, 1903, Roosevelt called for honoring the pledges to Cuba; he demanded reciprocal trade agreements (lessened rates for Cuban interests, but not free trade) and threatened to call an extra session of Congress — as a holiday break approached — in order to honor American pledges and codify the negotiated terms.

Cartoonist Keppler reacted to the headlines and events quickly to product a finished cartoon and mature common, on deadline.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-11-11

Creator(s)

Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956

Period

U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)

Repository

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Page Count

1

Record Type

Image

Resource Type

Cartoon

Rights

These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.

Citation