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Secretary of State Root sends President Roosevelt a letter from Francis March Hatch of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association in which Hatch writes that the Hawaiian Islands should be left out of any effort to exclude Japanese laborers from the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-19
Francis March Hatch explains to Secretary of State Root that Hawaii’s sugar plantations will suffer if Japanese laborers are excluded. With sugar exports constituting 97% of the profits generated, Hawaii relies heavily on Japanese labor and the profits it provides. The situation is so dire that Hatch feels it appropriate to write Root directly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-13
David Starr Jordan apologizes for the labor unions in San Francisco. Unfortunately, the school board exerts almost complete control over who can enroll in the local schools and has segregated Japanese children. Jordan advises Kakichi Mitsukuri that the Japanese government should continue to limit the immigration to the United States, despite the fact that Hawaii is in desperate need of labor. Jordan believes that those who immigrate to Hawaii only stay for a short period of time and then quickly move to San Francisco, which is only making the situation worse. Japan in moving forward with these negotiations should never accept an inferior position. President Roosevelt aims to treat them fairly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-10
William H. Moody is informing Benjamin F. Barnes that he received his letter from Governor Carter. He states that he knows what the President wants for his judicial appointments for Hawaii.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-10
Governor Carter of Hawaii informs President Roosevelt that due to some information that was unfavorable to the sale of bonds, he has dispatched Alatau L. C. Atkinson to follow up on the matter with the Department of the Interior. Carter mentions Atkinson’s credentials, and says that he possesses Carter’s confidence. He hopes that while Atkinson is in Washington, D.C., he might be able to advocate for several causes relevant to Hawaii.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-08
Several little boys—”South America,” “Cuba,” “Porto Rico,” “Hawaii,” and the “Philippines”—sit at a table. Uncle Sam, seated at one end, reads the “President’s Message.” President Roosevelt uses the “big stick” to tap “Cuba” on the head.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-07
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit about recent guests at the White House and taking walks. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt needed a break and took Ethel Roosevelt away for forty-eight hours on the Sylph. He says his hands are full with California trying to keep Japanese out of their schools. Congress is refusing to provide fortifications for the Philippines and Hawaii or allow Roosevelt to build up the navy. Kermit has taken notes on the envelope.
1907-02-04
John J. Wynne discusses the political views of Catholics in the United States. He praises President Roosevelt’s desire to be impartial to religion in his appointments, but worries about the anti-Catholic views of some of his appointees. Wynne wishes that Eugene A. Philbin could have attended the Fourth Annual Convention of the Federation of Catholic Societies in Detroit, and encloses a letter from one of his subscribers in Hawaii. Finally, Wynne states that he does not sympathize with the criticisms of Reverend John B. Worrall and believes that Cardinal Francesco Satolli should have been received with honor at Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-24
Uncle Sam, holding a firecracker, tries to reassure a concerned-looking female figure with wings labeled “Peace” that all the noise she hears is for the celebration of the Fourth of July. Celebrating with Uncle Sam are several figures labeled “Alaska, New York, Texas, Mass., Hawaii, Porto Rico, North, South.” One disgruntled figure labeled “Philippine” is climbing over a wall. An African American is sitting near Uncle Sam. Some are lighting strings of firecrackers, “Texas” is shooting guns, and “Mass.” is firing a cannon in celebration. The “Philippine” climbs over a wall, the only disgruntled child in the group. The U.S. Capitol building is in the background and a dove with olive branch hovers over the figure of “Peace.” Caption: Uncle Sam–It’s all right! There’s no fighting! The noise you hear is just my family celebrating!
Since the founding of the United States, its enlargement and expansion of territories was relatively gradual and organic. Texas, Alaska, and even the recent annexation of Hawaii were slow-paced compared to the “population explosion” depicted by Keppler in this cartoon. Puck Magazine consistently approved.
Uncle Sam and Columbia dance in a line with figures representing “Cuba, Porto Rico, Labor, Capital, Farmer, Philippines, [and] Hawaii” at the entrance to the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, visible in the background. Puck is at center in the foreground.
The meaning of this cartoon is found in its date: the first issue that Puck‘s cartoonists and editorial writers could absorb the results of the 1900 presidential election, and share reactions with readers. Without exulting in the election of any particular candidates, Puck simply celebrated the fact that another contentious campaign was ended. For the first time in the history of the United States, icons besides Uncle Sam and Columbia, capital and labor, were joined by the (rather awkwardly depicted) symbols of new territories from around the world.
Uncle Sam buries the Statue of Liberty in a cemetery which has graves for Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Hawaii, as a man representing Cuba looks on. Item is regarding United States imperialism and how it treats those in newly acquired lands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-01
Judge George D. Gear is shown giving a toast at the head of a banquet table. Caption: At a banquet given by Chinese a few days ago, Judge Gear proposed the toast: “Success to Crime.” When taken to task by another guest he explained that if it had not been for the increase in crime the bench would not have got a third judge.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-22
Theodore Roosevelt sits at his desk as an onlooker holding a salary bill sits behind him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-02-21
President Roosevelt requests information on a report that was made public pertaining to a conversation between an officer of the Hawaiian National Guard and General Arthur MacArthur. The matter in the report is improper for a public document and its publication was improper.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-14
Theodore Roosevelt is dealing with concerns about the U. S. Territories of Hawaii and Alaska in the Progressive Party, linked to the use of Territorial delegates to “smash” the Republican Party, referring to the Republican National Convention’s nomination of President Taft. However, Roosevelt believes that sentiments will be fixed for the Territories.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-08-12
Theodore Roosevelt is concerned about the arbitration treaty. He views it either as a lie, because the American people will not allow it to be observed, or as a path to “national impotence and degradation.” Roosevelt is concerned about the potential arbitration of some issues if requested by foreign powers, such as unlimited Japanese immigration or Germany’s right to purchase the Danish West Indies. He does not believe that Senator Lodge should support the treaty without several revisions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-12
Theodore Roosevelt is pleased with Marshall Stimson’s letter as he had been communicating with prominent men on the subject. He has tried to increase the Navy and fortify Hawaii and the Pacific Coast, but faced difficulties doing so. Roosevelt considers The Valor of Ignorance sound in its purpose but finds Homer Lea overstates matters, making his argument less impressionable.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-19
President Roosevelt agrees with William Kent, and outlines the foreign policy stance he believes the United States should follow in its relationship with Japan. Roosevelt has come to see the matter of Japanese workers immigrating to the United States as “a race question.” He believes that Japanese citizens should not be permitted to settle permanently in America. However, Roosevelt does not want to provoke a war by offending the “sensitive” Japanese government and population. Current legislation in California and Nevada banning Japanese children from public schools frustrates him, because it is offensive to Japan and does not prevent immigration. Roosevelt wants to forbid Japanese immigration while treating the Japanese government politely and continuing to build up the American navy. He seconds Kent’s view that Japanese laborers should not work on Hawaiian sugar plantations. Roosevelt would prefer to send laborers from Spain, Portugal, or Italy, who could become naturalized United States citizens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-04
President Roosevelt is glad that Margaret Laura Russell Knudsen was able to come to Washington, D.C., for the National Rivers and Harbors Congress. He asks her to take his greetings to the women of the Hawaiian islands on her return, and wishes them good luck in the conservation of the water supply and preservation of the forests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-19
President Roosevelt has sent John Callan O’Laughlin’s letters to Secretary of State Elihu Root. They are particularly valuable in what they say regarding Japan and Hawaii. He notes that it is impossible for him to get Congress to do what he wants. Roosevelt would like Congress to provide for the building of four new battleships and allow the naturalization of the Japanese.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-13