Judge — January 3, 1903 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts various predatory animals labeled with trust-related labels ("OIL TRUST," "COAL TRUST," "SUGAR," etc.) surrounding the White House. The beasts appear menacing and are positioned as though circling prey. The cartoon critiques the monopolistic power of major industrial trusts in early 20th-century America—specifically oil, coal, and sugar cartels. By depicting them as dangerous wild animals, Judge magazine portrays these corporate entities as threats to democratic government itself. The White House at cartoon's center suggests the federal government is either powerless against or potentially captured by these economic powers. This reflects the Progressive Era's anti-trust sentiment, when politicians and satirists regularly attacked corporate monopolies as corrupting American democracy.