Judge — June 12, 1909 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page satirizes the **tariff debate** in American politics. The top cartoon shows various political figures reacting with shock to Uncle Sam's actions, captioned "It gives them all a shock." The bottom cartoon depicts Uncle Sam identifying "where the pain is" — pointing to a tariff-related wound. The figure labeled "Aldrich" (likely Senator Nelson Aldrich, a prominent Republican associated with tariff policy) appears distressed. The left panel, titled "Let Go!!! Tariff," shows a tangled mass of industrial/commercial interests, suggesting tariffs created complex, difficult-to-untangle economic problems. **Context**: This appears to critique the Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909), which raised duties on imports. The satire suggests tariffs caused widespread economic pain for various constituencies while benefiting specific interests — a common Progressive Era criticism of protectionist policies.