Judge — September 23, 1911 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1912 political satire page attacks President William Howard Taft (the central figure in "Papa and His Boys"). The cartoons mock Taft's administration and policies: **Top panels** criticize Taft's judicial record and unpopularity—the jar suggests he's "pickled" or preserved, while the suicide reference questions his political viability. **"Papa and His Boys"** portrays Taft as a stern father controlling smaller figures (likely representing political factions or policies), with a "Gate Closed" barrier suggesting blocked opportunities. **Bottom panels** attack Democratic promises about cost-of-living increases ("Broken Promises") and mock what appears to be railroad policy ("A New View"), with exaggerated figures suggesting corruption or mismanagement. The overall message: Taft's leadership is ineffective, contradictory, and harmful to ordinary Americans.