Judge — April 30, 1898 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes the President's adoption of a "ball-bearing wheel"—a metaphor for some new policy or approach. The image shows what appears to be an early automobile or mechanical device with rotating wheels, with figures operating or riding on it. The cartoon likely critiques the President for implementing a supposedly modern or efficient solution that the cartoonist views skeptically. The "ball-bearing" reference suggests the satire concerns technological innovation or administrative efficiency being adopted at the executive level. Without the publication date visible, the specific President and policy remain unclear, though the cartoon's style suggests early 20th century. The cartoonist's intent appears critical—suggesting the new approach is either impractical, unstable, or merely cosmetic change rather than substantive reform. The mechanical imagery emphasizes the cartoonist's skepticism about the initiative's actual effectiveness.