Judge — August 8, 1908 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Satire: The 1908 Election This Judge magazine page from August 8, 1908 uses mock currency to satirize the competing visions of Republicans and Democrats during that election year. The top bill depicts **Republican currency** promising "four years of prosperity," featuring a man with a distinctive mustache (likely President Theodore Roosevelt or a Republican candidate). The bottom bill shows **Democratic currency** promising "four years of business depression," with a different portrait (likely William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate). The satire's point: Judge magazine is mocking Democratic pessimism by suggesting they campaign on economic gloom, while Republicans promise growth. The label "THE GENUINE BILL" for the Republican version and "THE COUNTERFEIT BILL" for the Democratic one makes the magazine's partisan position explicit—treating Democratic economic predictions as false or fabricated.