A powerful line-up

Secretary of War William H. Taft labeled “Full-back,” President Roosevelt labeled “Quarter-back,” and Uncle Sam labeled “Center” holding a ball with the words “Justice for Treason” stand on a football field looking at a group of men with a sign, “25th Infantry.” In the stands beside the group of men is one man holding a pennant labeled “T–Traitor” while the other side has a big “W” with a megaphone shouting, “Rickety Ram, Rickety Ram, Theodore, William, and Uncle Sam.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

It would be hard to find a political cartoon about the Brownsville Affair more blatantly dismissive of the implicated black soldiers. The controversy was the dishonorable discharge of an entire regiment suspected but never found guilty of any act related to the murder and wounding of two men outside a bar near their barracks. Outside the South, this cartoon by Jack H. Smith was the boldest in support of President Roosevelt’s hardline position, his Secretary of War, William H. Taft; and by the cartoonists’ icon of Uncle Sam, the nation as a whole.

“Treason” is a strong term that the Washington Herald did not hesitate to apply about this case, but the facts never were certain — and still are not, in a matter that festers. That Roosevelt probably would have summarily applied stern justice as he saw it — that is, not a matter of race but of discipline — made little difference to critics. The Herald, right in the nation’s capital, was not among his critics on this issue.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-21

Creator(s)

Smith, Jack H., -1935

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Page Count

1

Production Method

Printed

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