Judge — December 14, 1901 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts a naval shipyard or dock scene. A figure stands atop what appears to be a large warship or vessel under construction, while below are multiple completed ships lined up in a harbor. The prominent masthead "MEND THE LINK" with chain imagery suggests naval/industrial strength. The partial text "GS UP A NEW MOTTO" (likely "RINGS UP A NEW MOTTO") references the McKinley quote visible in the header: "We must have more ships." The satire appears to critique American naval expansion policy during the McKinley administration (early 1900s). The cartoon illustrates the government's emphasis on building warships, possibly mocking either the aggressive militarization program or the difficulty/contradiction between stated intentions and actual naval production capacity. The architectural setting and industrial focus emphasize America's industrial/military-industrial complex during this imperialist period.