Judge — August 14, 1909 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This **Judge** magazine cartoon satirizes American spending on the Spanish-American War (1898). The central figure, labeled "REFUSED DAME" (likely representing Lady Liberty or America), confronts a well-dressed gentleman who appears to represent war profiteers or political leaders. The placard explicitly states the war's "COST OF THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR: $50,000,000. DEATH, SUFFERING, AND PRIVATION." The satire critiques how wealthy interests benefited financially from the conflict while ordinary Americans suffered casualties and hardship. The "Dame" refuses to accept this outcome, suggesting public rejection of the human and financial costs. The cartoon reflects contemporary anti-war sentiment questioning whether the war's expense and casualties were justified.