Judge — December 30, 1905 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Resolutions Page - Judge Magazine, 1905 This page presents satirical "New Year's Resolutions" from prominent public figures of 1905. The format mocks the practice of New Year's pledges by having famous politicians and businessmen make self-aware, often contradictory commitments. Notable figures include Theodore Roosevelt (admitting "slothfulness"), William H. Taft (promising to make a canal in Panama), and Charles W. Fairbanks. The humor lies in each resolution revealing the figure's known flaws, ambitions, or controversies—presented as if they're reforming themselves, which readers would recognize as unlikely. The central illustration shows a "Desperate" rescue scene, likely a separate editorial cartoon commenting on contemporary crisis or crisis-response. Overall, the page uses irony to satirize the hypocrisy of public figures' stated intentions versus their actual behavior.