Judge — November 16, 1907 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Explanation of Judge Magazine Cartoon (November 16, 1907) This political satire attacks President Theodore Roosevelt by depicting a caricatured figure holding a long scroll labeled "Roosevelt is to Blame." The scroll lists numerous grievances—bad weather, crop failures, business downturns, insomnia, poverty, and stock market losses—attributing all of them to Roosevelt's policies or leadership. The caption "Don't Mind This Fellow" suggests the cartoon is mocking critics who blame the president for every societal problem, regardless of whether those problems fall under presidential control. The exaggerated, grotesque facial features and theatrical pose emphasize the absurdity of indiscriminate fault-finding. The satire defends Roosevelt by ridiculing his opponents' tendency to blame him for matters beyond any president's actual authority.