Judge — June 11, 1904 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis: "Clear the Way! The big guns going into action" This June 1904 Judge cartoon satirizes Vice-President Theodore Roosevelt's political ambitions. The central caricatured figure (likely Roosevelt, given the "Vice-Presidential Road" label) operates a cannon labeled "CANNON," firing toward the Roosevelt building visible in the background. The imagery suggests Roosevelt aggressively clearing obstacles on his path to higher office—the "big guns" being deployed metaphorically and literally. The cartoon appears critical of Roosevelt's forceful political maneuvering, depicting him as a military figure literally blasting his way forward. The exaggerated features and action convey satirical mockery of his ambitions and methods. This reflects 1904 political tensions surrounding Roosevelt's presidential aspirations following McKinley's assassination.