Vote on Military Bonus Bill

Voting is the engine of democracy. Decisions at all levels of government are based on this expression of popular will. The House and Senate take many votes on each measure they debate. Votes in committee lead to votes in the full House and additional votes in the Senate. Typically, by the time a law is passed, Members of Congress have had many opportunities to demonstrate their support or opposition. The House of Representatives voted 333-70 to endorse a hotly contested military bonus plan for persons who served in World War I. Cartoonist Clifford Berryman employs two of his most memorable characters, Uncle Sam and teddy bear, to count the "yea" and "nay" votes on the bonus bill, which would face tough sledding in the Senate.

This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.