Judge — February 22, 1908 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Cover, February 22, 1908 This political cartoon satirizes William Jennings Bryan, the three-time Democratic presidential candidate. The caption "Bryan Casts a Shadow Over Our Prosperity" expresses Republican opposition to Bryan's political influence. The caricature shows Bryan as a menacing figure looming over an industrial cityscape (with factory smokestacks), casting a dark shadow. The "1908" label suggests this addresses the upcoming 1908 election. Bryan's exaggerated features and threatening posture convey conservative fears that his populist politics—particularly his opposition to big business and monetary policies—threatened American economic growth and industrial prosperity. The cartoon reflects Judge's Republican editorial stance and business-friendly perspective of the era.