Judge — November 24, 1900 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis This November 24, 1900 *Judge* cover satirizes President William McKinley's recent election victory. The cartoon depicts "Judge" (the magazine's mascot character, in top hat) wielding a large dinner pail as a weapon or flag. The pail bears text referencing McKinley's election platform emphasizing "protection to the American workingman" and "a popular completion of Nicaragua Canal" with suppression of the Philippine insurgency. The satire suggests McKinley is using working-class economic promises (the "full dinner pail") as political cover for imperialist military ventures abroad—particularly in the Philippines and Central America. The figure appears cynical about whether rhetoric matching workers' interests actually aligns with his administration's true priorities.