Judge — September 12, 1908 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis: "In the Grasp of That Everlasting Humbug" (Judge, September 12, 1908) This political cartoon depicts a grotesque demon or devil figure with wings labeled with what appear to be railroad company names ("ANTHRACITE," "SHORTLINE," "COURTS") carrying away a small horned devil or imp toward a crowd of observers below. The title and imagery suggest criticism of railroad monopolies or fraudulent business practices ("humbug") that Judge's editors viewed as predatory and inescapable. The flying demon likely represents a railroad magnate or the railroad industry itself as a malevolent force preying on the public. The labeling on the wings indicates specific companies or corrupt practices involved in this perceived scheme. The cartoon reflects early 20th-century Progressive-era anxieties about corporate power and trustbusting.