Judge — March 30, 1907 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "He Can't Hatch It" (Judge, March 30, 1907) This editorial cartoon depicts a demonic creature sitting on a large egg labeled "DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMIN 1908." A smaller demon-like figure stands nearby, appearing distressed. The satire comments on the Democratic Party's difficulty selecting a presidential nominee for the 1908 election. The egg symbolizes the nomination itself—something the party struggles to "hatch" or bring to fruition. The grotesque creatures represent either the party's internal chaos or the candidates themselves. President Theodore Roosevelt had pledged not to seek another term, creating uncertainty about succession. The cartoon mocks Democrats' inability to unite behind a viable nominee, suggesting their nomination process was monstrous or impossibly difficult. The title's pun reinforces the idea that success seemed beyond their grasp.