Judge, 1906-05-05 · page 1 of 16
Judge — May 5, 1906 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes President Theodore Roosevelt's "Muckrake" speech—a famous address criticizing overzealous investigative journalists and reformers who expose scandals indiscriminately. The image depicts a figure (likely representing sensationalist press or radical reformers) violently attacking what appears to be a buffalo or ox labeled "The Daily Mule." The creature lies fallen with newspapers scattered around it. A cowboy-dressed figure watches from the right. Roosevelt's quoted text warns against indiscriminate character assassination, noting that even honest men attacked become defensive. The cartoon's title, "Now Let Him Look Up," suggests the fallen animal should consider the consequences of reckless muckraking. The satire defends Roosevelt's position that aggressive journalism, while sometimes justified, can be destructively excessive.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOL. 50 NO.1281 MAY 5 1906 PRICE 10 CENTS age Cmrente a7 ret Post Crmce at Rew fore as Geom Cass Marten Connon? W908 er susee Tine Aeomrends a8 4 Tease Man FROM PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S “MUCK- RAKE” SPEECH. «T hail as a benefactor every writer or speaker, every man who, on the platform, or in book, magazine or newspaper, with merci- less severity makes such attack [upon evil men and evil practices], provided always that he in his turn remembers that the attack is of use 4 only if it is absolutely truthful. The liar is no | whit better than the thief, and if his mendacity . takes the form of slander he may be worse than most thieves. It puts a premium upon knavery untruthflly to, attack an honest man, or even wit terical ion to assail a tian with untrth., An epidemic of indlocre inate assault upon character does no good, but very great harm. The soul of every scoundrel is gladdened whenever an honest man is as- sailed, or even when a scoundrel is untruth- fully assailed.” — ‘COPYRIGHT 1906 BY JUDGE COMPANY PUBLISMERS, 226 FOURTH AVE, MEW YORK NOW LET HIM LOOK UP.