Judge — March 30, 1907 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts a military figure in the foreground wielding orders marked "GENERAL ORDERS" and "PANAMA CANAL WILL BE BUILT BY THE U.S. ARMY" and "TAFT." Behind him charges an elephant (the Republican Party symbol) alongside military forces toward the Capitol building and a "CANAL ZONE" sign. The satire criticizes President Taft's administration for militarizing Panama Canal construction. The cartoon mocks what appears to be aggressive governmental overreach—using military authority to commandeer the canal project. The "charge" suggests forceful, perhaps reckless action by the Taft administration in pursuing this imperial infrastructure project, likely referencing contemporary debates about American expansionism and the proper civilian versus military control of such undertakings.