Hold: Stop the Silent Invasion (1920)

Racist poster shows Uncle Sam stopping Japanese immigrant "claw" on California

This poster supports the reelection of Senator James D. Phelan, a political and civic figure who was an important force in the anti-immigrant, Japanese exclusion movement. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1914, and his reelection campaign in 1920 was focused on preventing what this poster called the "Silent Invasion." It shows a claw-like Japanese hand (with the Imperial chrysanthemum emblem) grasping for California - and stopped by the hand of Uncle Sam from the East (presumably Washington). Phelan lost his reelection campaign, but continued to be active in the exclusion movement and played a role in the adoption of the federal Immigration Act of 1924, which prohibited Japanese immigration.

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James Duval Phelan (April 20, 1861 – August 7, 1930) was an American politician. He served as Mayor of San Francisco from 1897 to 1902 and represented California in the United States Senate from 1915 to 1921. Phelan was also active in the movement to restrict Japanese and Chinese immigration to the United States. More at Wikipedia

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Title: Hold: Re-Elect James D. Phelan U.S. Senator

Sub Title: And let him finish the work he now has under way to stop the Silent Invasion.

Collection: Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection: 2181.01

Creator: Dan Sweeney

Other Creators: Henry C. Wehr

Date: 1920