Judge — July 25, 1908 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "On the Square" This July 1908 *Judge* cartoon depicts a man with a distinctive mustache positioned within a Masonic square and compass symbol. The labels read "TAFT" (top), "PROTECTION" and "PROSPERITY" (on the compass arms), and "BEING A SQUARE DEAL FOR CAPITAL" and "SQUARE MEAL FOR LABOR" (on the square's sides). The cartoon satirizes Theodore Roosevelt's successor, William Howard Taft, by presenting him as a Masonic-aligned figure embodying Republican promises: protectionism, prosperity, and "square dealing" to both capital and labor. The Masonic imagery suggests hidden influence or secret allegiances. The satire likely critiques whether Taft could genuinely fulfill these competing interests, or if the "square" positioning was merely symbolic positioning rather than substantive policy.