Judge — August 13, 1904 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Explanation for Modern Readers This August 1904 *Judge* cover satirizes the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis. The central figure is a donkey (symbol of the Democratic Party) wearing a grotesque grin, labeled "St. Louis" on its platform base. The donkey displays a circular portrait of what appears to be a political figure (likely a candidate or party leader being ridiculed). Flanking the donkey are caricatured figures in small vehicles, possibly representing rival factions or candidates competing for party control. The "Blue Ribbon" reference in the caption suggests the cartoon mocks the Democrats' selection process at their convention. The overall message ridicules the Democratic Party's nomination proceedings as chaotic or absurd—the donkey's exaggerated features and the circus-like scene emphasize this mockery of the convention itself.