Judge — October 13, 1900 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Judge Magazine Analysis - October 13, 1900 This page satirizes the 1900 U.S. presidential election through fake currency designs. The two bills parody competing candidates: **Top bill**: Features "Bill McKinley" worth "100 Cents or One Dollar" in "Gold" — supporting President William McKinley's re-election campaign, which championed the gold standard. **Bottom bill**: Shows "Bill Bryan" worth "53 Cents or Only" in "Free Silver" — mocking William Jennings Bryan's Democratic platform advocating free silver coinage, which opponents feared would devalue currency. The satire suggests Bryan's free-silver position would literally make money worth less. The "Take Your Choice of the Two Bills!" caption frames the election as a choice between sound currency (McKinley/gold) versus inflationary risk (Bryan/silver). This reflects a central 1900 campaign debate.