Judge — July 14, 1900 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Prosperity" This Judge magazine cartoon satirizes industrial prosperity, likely from the early 1900s. The large letters spelling "PROSPERITY" dominate a factory scene with massive smokestacks belching dark smoke. The cartoon appears critical of claims of national economic well-being—the irony is evident: factories pollute heavily while workers labor below in harsh conditions. The bottom caption references "Bryan" and mentions "Confound this smoke!" This likely references William Jennings Bryan, a populist presidential candidate who opposed big business interests. The satire suggests that while industrialists and politicians tout "prosperity," the reality for ordinary people involves smoke, pollution, and difficult working conditions. The cartoon questions whether industrial growth truly benefits everyone equally.