San Francisco. Just wait ’till I get you outside!
Subject(s): California--San Francisco, Japan
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One man angrily gestures at another man labeled “Japan” standing on a platform with a club labeled “The Sign of the Big Stick” hanging over head. Caption: “San Francisco: Just wait ’till I get you outside!”
Comments and Context
This cartoon by “H” neatly summarizes the facts and the subtext of a complicated and thorny issue of the day — particularly thorny in 1906.
The figure with the broad hat represents Californians who agitated against Japanese immigrants; San Francisco was a hot-spot of opposition to Asian immigrants and the site of street riots. President Roosevelt took especial interest in prejudice and violence — even states’ anti-immigrant exclusion laws — motivated by liberal sentiments, justice, and a brewing diplomatic crisis with Japan.
Tokyo’s pride was offended by California nativism, and anti-American riots and governmental measures commenced in Japanese cities. The cartoon’s depiction of Roosevelt’s Big Stick as a benign Sword of Damocles indicated to what extent Roosevelt was associated with pacific intentions.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-12-08
Creator(s)
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Page Count
1
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
San Francisco. Just wait ’till I get you outside!. [December 8, 1906]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301358. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Hedrick, T. K. (Tubman Keene). San Francisco. Just wait ’till I get you outside!. [8 Dec. 1906]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. August 3, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301358.
APA:
Hedrick, T. K. (Tubman Keene)., [1906, December 8]. San Francisco. Just wait ’till I get you outside!.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301358.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. August 3, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
