Judge — September 23, 1905 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts a hand labeled "U.S." holding a basket of squirming creatures representing various political corruptions and scandals. The labels visible include "Land Grafter," "Corrupt Senator," and "Graft" among the writhing figures. The cartoon satirizes the Roosevelt administration's anti-corruption efforts during the Progressive Era. The "good haul" refers to successful prosecutions or exposures of political corruption—portrayed as captured vermin being hauled in. The caricatured creatures and explicit "graft" labels reflect contemporary concerns about systematic corruption in government and business. This reflects Judge magazine's support for Progressive reform and anti-corruption initiatives that characterized early 1900s American politics.