Judge — May 8, 1897 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Carpet-Cleaning" This May 8, 1897 *Judge* cartoon satirizes President McKinley's economic policies. The eagle (representing America) looms large above two businessmen discussing the Dingley Tariff Bill. One figure appears to be McKinley himself, defending protective tariffs as necessary "dust-beating" after three years of economic depression from free-trade policies. The "carpet" metaphor represents the American economy. McKinley argues that tariff protection will restore business health by shielding domestic industry from foreign competition. The Capitol building visible in the background emphasizes this is about national policy. The satire criticizes the administration's impatience—McKinley won't wait for natural recovery, insisting his tariff solution will aggressively "clean" the economic mess caused by previous free-trade depression.