Judge — March 14, 1903 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Judge Magazine Political Cartoon Analysis **Date & Publication:** March 14, 1903, Judge magazine (Vol. 44, No. 1117) **Cartoon Title:** "Why Not?" **Content:** The cartoon depicts Uncle Sam (tall figure in striped pants) speaking to a smaller caricatured figure labeled as representing industrial/economic interests. Behind them is a cityscape with labeled infrastructure: "Great Canal," "Vast Mines," and "Railroads." **The Satire:** Uncle Sam complains that "Everything we have is big except our navy. Why not build a navy to correspond?" This advocates for major naval expansion. The cartoon appears to support American naval building during the Roosevelt administration, likely referencing contemporary debates over naval power and American imperial interests circa 1903. **Context:** This reflects early-20th-century American expansionism and the strategic importance placed on naval supremacy.