Judge — September 23, 1899 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a political cartoon from Judge magazine (copyright 1899). The caption "PUT HIS FOOT IN" refers to President McKinley stepping into a chaotic situation. The image depicts demons, devils, and monstrous figures erupting from what appears to be a bomb or explosive device, with crowds of people visible in the background. This likely satirizes McKinley's foreign policy decisions during the Spanish-American War era (1898-1899) or his intervention in the Philippines, suggesting his actions unleashed unintended consequences or "opened Pandora's box." The demonic imagery represents the chaos, violence, or moral complications resulting from his political decisions. The cartoon mocks the president for stumbling into a problematic situation, using exaggerated grotesque figures to convey the severity of the perceived misstep.