Judge — July 1, 1905 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes President Theodore Roosevelt's handling of a bucking bronco labeled "PROTECTIVE" (likely referring to protective tariffs). Roosevelt, depicted as a confident bronco buster on horseback, claims "It's all in knowing." Cleveland (shown at a distance) responds, "That's what I thought when I tried to ride it." The cartoon compares managing economic policy to breaking a wild horse. Roosevelt's boast suggests his superior skill, while the Cleveland reference (likely former President Grover Cleveland) implies even he underestimated the difficulty. The Capitol dome in background emphasizes the political stakes. The satire mocks Roosevelt's confidence in controlling complex economic forces through willpower and expertise alone.