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

What you’re looking at

# Judge's Political Billboard: Analysis 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.